PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shin Ya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hidetoshi Nakata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hidetoshi Nakata will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ya
vs
Nakata

170 cm
22
170 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shin Ya!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hidetoshi Nakata!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nakata looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ya!

Nakata swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ya is now in Nakata's guard. A big mistake from Nakata there, giving up the dominant position!

Nakata is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ya thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ya wants to pass the guard but Nakata is keeping the position.

Nakata looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nakata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ya chips away with some ground and pound.

Nakata working for submissions but it's allowed Ya to get to half guard.

Nakata actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ya looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nakata wants to get back to full guard.
Ya is looking to advance position but Nakata won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nakata trying to control from the bottom.

Ya is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakata has managed to free his arm - good work.

Nakata actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Nakata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ya pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Ya.

Ya is working for a submission of some sort.

Ya is working for a kimura but Nakata is defending it quite comfortably.

Nakata actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nakata has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ya is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nakata.

Nakata is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ya is aware though and is defending well.
Nakata looks gassed!
Ya slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Ya tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Ya is trying to get an arm triangle but Nakata is defending well.
Nakata is looking to regain half guard here but Ya keeps moving and retains side control.
Nakata takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nakata looking for submissions off his back.
Nakata trying to control from the bottom.

Ya is working for a kimura but Nakata is defending it quite comfortably.

Ya seems to be looking for submissions.
Ya trying to mount his opponent but Nakata defends it.
Nakata is trying to get back to full guard.
Ya thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shin Ya will probably get the nod.
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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Nakata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nakata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nakata wants to clinch up but Ya keeps it at a distance.
Nakata fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nakata shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ya pinned against the cage. Ya gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nakata fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ya keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nakata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ya paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ya decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Nakata looking for submissions off his back.
Ya passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nakata!
Nakata taking shots to the head.

Ya working for a submission but Nakata is keeping him at bay.

Ya is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nakata has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is trying desperately to improve position.

Ya goes for an armbar but Nakata turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Nakata.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakata stopping the sweep attempt from Ya.
Ya keeping moving, preventing Nakata from controlling successfully.
Nakata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ya looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakata is one step ahead there.
Nakata wants to pass the guard but Ya is keeping the position.
Nakata thows a big elbow that misses.
Ya is trying to control the position but Nakata postures up.
Nakata with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Nakata decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Nakata is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ya has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ya wants to get back to full guard.
Ya is looking to control Nakata's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ya avoid being mounted?
Nakata thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ya's head.

Nakata is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ya defends it well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ya is refusing to be controlled, as Nakata sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Nakata looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Ya dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakata tries to clinch up.
Nakata fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakata tries for a takedown but Ya circles away easily

and Ya counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ya.

Ya drops back looking for a leg! Nakata is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nakata manages to kick Ya off! Ya jumps back into Nakata's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ya accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ya is working Nakata over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ya with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Nakata is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ya is aware though and is defending well.
Nakata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ya throwing strikes but missing.
Ya cracks Nakata with a solid left hand.

Nakata has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ya thows a big elbow that misses.

Nakata throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata trying to control the position.

Nakata working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ya doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ya manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ya connects with a couple of short punches.
Nakata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ya thows a big elbow that misses.
Ya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakata is keeping the position for now.

Nakata has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ya can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ya postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shin Ya overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakata has his foot on Ya's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ya works his way back into a safe position though.
Ya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nakata works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ya drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Ya as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Nakata screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Ya! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Shin Ya!
Shin Ya retains his welterweight title!