PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenshin Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esta me Dinero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Nakamura
vs
me Dinero

150 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
130 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kenshin Nakamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Esta me Dinero!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dinero defends it nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Nakamura.
Nakamura could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Nakamura tries for a kimura but Dinero is defending well.
Dinero wants to get back to his feet.

Nakamura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dinero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.

Nakamura swings around for an armbar but Dinero sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Nakamura's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dinero wants to control from the top but Nakamura keeps moving.
Dinero wants to pass the guard but Nakamura is keeping the position.
Dinero trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dinero wants to pass the guard but Nakamura is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nakamura is controlling Dinero's posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Esta me Dinero hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Dinero closes the distance and clinches.
Nakamura prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dinero pushes off an throws an elbow but Nakamura leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Nakamura turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nakamura manages to end up in side control.
Dinero is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Dinero tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura wants to finish this one by submission but Dinero is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Nakamura.
Dinero is trying to stand.
Nakamura tries to control but Dinero wriggling away.

Nakamura goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dinero turns into him and now he's in Nakamura's guard.
Nakamura has control of Dinero's left arm, preventing Dinero from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dinero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nakamura is keeping the position for now.
Nakamura controlling Dinero's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Kenshin Nakamura wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nakamura wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshin Nakamura dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dinero fails with the takedown

and Nakamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dinero's guard.
Nakamura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nakamura decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dinero, up you get!
Dinero misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dinero tries to land a leg kick but Nakamura saw it coming and moves away.

Nakamura gets the takedown into side control.

Nakamura looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dinero is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Nakamura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nakamura prevents Dinero from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Nakamura wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dinero, who protects the arm well.
The strikes coming from Nakamura are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Dinero is trying to get back to his feet.

Nakamura goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dinero has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nakamura but great work by Dinero.
Dinero wants to take a breather but Nakamura manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dinero.

That's two 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.
Dinero trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dinero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nakamura is proving hard to escape from.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Esta me Dinero wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dinero with a poor takedown

and Nakamura counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dinero's guard now.
Kenshin Nakamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esta me Dinero.
Nakamura makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nakamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Nakamura drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dinero looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dinero looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dinero!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Nakamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dinero wants to control for a moment but Nakamura uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

Dinero is looking for a kimura here.
Kenshin Nakamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dinero is trying to control the action in half guard but Nakamura is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshin Nakamura dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dinero tries to sprawl but Nakamura drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura here.
Dinero wants to get back to his feet.
Nakamura trying to control from Dinero's half guard. Dinero has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Nakamura drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dinero dives on top into guard.
Dinero is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dinero forces his way into half guard.
Dinero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nakamura keeps working.
Dinero wants to advance to full mount but Nakamura doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

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.
Dinero wanted to stand there but Nakamura had control of the position.
Nakamura is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dinero trying to control but Nakamura is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinero postures up in Nakamura's guard and throws a big left but Nakamura blocks it.
Nakamura managing to control the position.

Kenshin Nakamura has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Dinero instigates a clinch.
Nakamura prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dinero stops a takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Dinero stops a takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Dinero trying to stall but Nakamura improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dinero throws an elbow but it misses.
Dinero is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nakamura is keeping busy.
Nakamura has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dinero avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Nakamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dinero tries to land knees in the clinch but Nakamura avoids the damage to the body.
Dinero stalling in the clinch but Nakamura improves position.
Nakamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dinero pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dinero misses with a takedown

and Nakamura counters with a takedown into side control.
Dinero pushes Nakamura away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nakamura gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Nakamura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dinero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Nakamura tries for a kimura but Dinero is defending well.
Dinero is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenshin Nakamura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakamura, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

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