PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Nakajima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Landon Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Nakajima
vs
Stevenson

176 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroki Nakajima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Landon Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson throws a hook to the side of Nakajima's head but Nakajima sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nakajima stuffs the takedown attempt from Stevenson. Stevenson gets slowly back to his feet.
Nakajima tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nakajima misses with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Nakajima. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Stevenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakajima pinned against the cage. Nakajima gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hiroki Nakajima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Stevenson.
Nakajima with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Nakajima gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nakajima seems keen to control Stevenson's posture.
Nakajima has momentary wrist control but Stevenson slips an elbow through the middle.
Nakajima working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stevenson.
Stevenson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stevenson throwing strikes but missing.
Nakajima preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson distracts Nakajima with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stevenson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Stevenson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nakajima on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nakajima tries to get out of the position.
Nakajima trying to keep a closed guard but Stevenson is proving a slippery customer.
Stevenson throws a big right hand that misses.

Nakajima manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Stevenson looks gassed!
Stevenson is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakajima has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakajima manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nakajima is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Stevenson shoots for a takedown but Nakajima saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Good exchange - Nakajima coming out on top.
Nakajima lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakajima defends it nicely.
Hiroki Nakajima is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nakajima plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nakajima throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nakajima lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Nakajima tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nakajima misses with a straight right.
Donk. Stevenson catches Nakajima right on the button with a cross.

Stevenson scores with a takedown into Nakajima's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakajima pulls Stevenson in close to his closed guard and prevents Stevenson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Stevenson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stevenson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stevenson lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Stevenson trying to move into half guard but instead Nakajima has managed to sweep!
Stevenson trying to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stevenson holds on and takes a little breather.
Stevenson has a closed guard, preventing Nakajima from standing up.
Stevenson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakajima's guard.
Stevenson throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Landon Stevenson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nakajima takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nakajima thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson shoots in looking for a takedown. Nakajima tries to sprawl out of it but Stevenson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nakajima manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakajima tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hiroki Nakajima is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevenson scores a takedown into full mount!
Nakajima regains half guard.
Stevenson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakajima trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nakajima to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson landing some decent shots from guard.
Nakajima wants to stand and escape but Stevenson is having none of it.
Stevenson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Stevenson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nakajima. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevenson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson throws a strike but Nakajima rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevenson controls Nakajima momentarily but Nakajima frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stevenson wants to sweep here but Nakajima controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevenson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nakajima. That one must have hurt.

Stevenson shoots in and bounces Nakajima off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Stevenson throws a strike but Nakajima rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Stevenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakajima wants to stand but Stevenson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Stevenson has Nakajima pulled in close to control his posture.

Nakajima stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nakajima will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.
An inside leg kick lands from Nakajima.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Stevenson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nakajima keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nakajima is working hard here to advance position.
Nakajima takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Nakajima is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Landon Stevenson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nakajima's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stevenson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Stevenson working the strikes but Nakajima uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Stevenson wants to advance to full mount but Nakajima doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Stevenson stops Nakajima from standing up.
Stevenson preventing the sweep.
Stevenson scoring with some ground and pound.
Stevenson throws a big right hand that misses.
Stevenson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nakajima wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakajima manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakajima stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stevenson.
Stevenson working the strikes but Nakajima uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Landon Stevenson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stevenson throws a strike but Nakajima avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Stevenson throws and elbow that misses. Nakajima uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stevenson's guard. Nice move by Nakajima!
Stevenson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson is working an open guard so Nakajima takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Nakajima has managed to clinch.
Stevenson tries to score a body lock takedown but Nakajima shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nakajima is working for takedown but Stevenson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nakajima gets underhooks to prevent Stevenson's takedown attempt.
Hiroki Nakajima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Landon Stevenson.
Nakajima scores with a shot to the side of Stevenson's head.
Nakajima lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stevenson.
Stevenson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nakajima looking to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nakajima.
Nakajima lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nakajima has had enough of the clinch but Stevenson keeps him there for the moment.
Stevenson cracks Nakajima with a nice body shot.

Stevenson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Stevenson manages to end up in side control.
Nakajima is trying to control Stevenson's posture but Stevenson avoids it.
Nakajima regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakajima moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevenson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson lands a couple of digs.
Stevenson postures up in Nakajima's guard and throws a big left but Nakajima blocks it.
Stevenson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakajima works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stevenson throws and elbow that misses. Nakajima uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Stevenson's guard. Nice move by Nakajima!
Stevenson wants to sweep here but Nakajima controlling him for the moment.

Nakajima stands up and waves to Stevenson to follow him.
Hiroki Nakajima has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiroki Nakajima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Nakajima.

Stevenson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nakajima!
Nakajima regains half guard.
Nakajima is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stevenson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stevenson's back!
Landon Stevenson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nakajima is persistently looking for the submission but Stevenson is defending it well.
Nakajima misses with an elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hiroki Nakajima.
I think Stevenson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Landon Stevenson!