PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mr Miyagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pauly Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mr Miyagi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Miyagi
vs
Nakamura

173 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Miyagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pauly Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Miyagi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nakamura is trying to defend but Miyagi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Miyagi trying to control the action but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
Miyagi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Miyagi decides to return to a standing position.
Miyagi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nakamura.

Miyagi closes the distance and pushes Nakamura back into the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Miyagi.
Nakamura wants to break free but Miyagi has control.
Nakamura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nakamura can't break the clinch.
Miyagi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura letting Miyagi take a breather here.

Nakamura decides to pull guard.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakamura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nakamura works his way into side control.
Miyagi is trying to get back to half guard.
Miyagi sneaks back into half guard.
Miyagi trying to control but Nakamura postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nakamura wants to pass the guard but Miyagi is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Miyagi is breathing heavily.
Miyagi manages to get to full guard.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miyagi is keeping the position for now.
Miyagi looking for a sweep. Not yet Miyagi, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Miyagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nakamura misses with a wild body shot.

Nakamura shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miyagi is trying to defend but Nakamura finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Miyagi won't allow Nakamura to pass to mount.

Miyagi makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Miyagi misses with a takedown

and Nakamura counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nakamura not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Nakamura has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakamura prevents Miyagi from improving his position.

Nakamura stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Miyagi to get to his feet.
Miyagi tries to clinch but Nakamura moves away

and Nakamura counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miyagi avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nakamura.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauly Nakamura dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nakamura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Miyagi slips a jab from Nakamura.
Miyagi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nakamura.
Miyagi misses with a takedown attempt

and Nakamura counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Miyagi wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy.
Miyagi is pressing down on Nakamura's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Miyagi wants to sweep here but Nakamura controlling him for the moment.
Nakamura content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Miyagi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nakamura off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Miyagi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Miyagi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nakamura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nakamura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nakamura distracts Miyagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Miyagi trying to control the position.
Pauly Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wanted to stand there but Miyagi had control of the position.
Nakamura trying to control but Miyagi is working from the bottom.
Nakamura tries to free his leg and advance position but Miyagi is retaining full guard.
Nakamura works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Miyagi wants to control but Nakamura is keeping busy.
Nakamura has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Miyagi works to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Miyagi is looking to sweep but instead, Nakamura has passed into half guard.
Nakamura looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Miyagi manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Miyagi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura shoots for a takedown but Miyagi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nakamura misses with a series of wild punches.

Miyagi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nakamura manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pauly Nakamura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Miyagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miyagi as he jumps to the side.
Miyagi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Miyagi gets a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Miyagi goes for a takedown attempt but Nakamura pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Miyagi closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyagi has had enough of the clinch but Nakamura keeps him there for the moment.
Miyagi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakamura effectively controlling the action here.
Miyagi stalling in the clinch but Nakamura improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura looking to throw knees to the head but Miyagi is blocking nicely.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Miyagi with a poor takedown
and Nakamura counters with a big head kick but Miyagi shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Miyagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Miyagi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Miyagi is fighting to break Nakamura's control of his arms but Nakamura is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Miyagi prevents Nakamura from getting back to his feet.
Miyagi looking to pass the guard.

Miyagi stands and steps away. Nakamura gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Nakamura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura stands up and beckons Miyagi to his feet.
Miyagi avoids the head kick by Nakamura.
Miyagi doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura lands a nice shot that snaps Miyagi's head back.
Nakamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Miyagi pinned against the cage. Miyagi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nakamura shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miyagi defends it nicely.

Nakamura fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Miyagi sprawls well initially but Nakamura persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Miyagi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi is trying to control but can't.
Miyagi is trying to stand.
Nakamura is trying to control. Miyagi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Nakamura stands up from half guard.

Nakamura darts in and clinches Miyagi up against the cage.

Nakamura is fighting off a takedown attempt but Miyagi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nakamura to the mat. Nakamura regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Miyagi won't allow Nakamura to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miyagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nakamura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Miyagi trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.
Miyagi is looking to work some ground and pound but Nakamura has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pauly Nakamura.
I've got Nakamura winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauly Nakamura!