PBP Commentary

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

Asuke
vs
Nakamura

163 cm
20
170 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

182 cm
25
174 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ritsuko Asuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Asuke as Nakamura shoots in.
Nakamura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Asuke.
Nakamura moves away from the strike by Asuke.
A swing and a miss from Asuke.
Asuke ducks right into an uppercut from Nakamura.
Asuke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nakamura ducks right into an uppercut from Asuke.
Nakamura staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Asuke does it's job there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Asuke!

It looks like Shunsuke Nakamura has been cut.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Asuke misses the jab.
Ritsuko Asuke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Asuke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nakamura.
Nakamura throws out a loose jab but Asuke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nakamura darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asuke. Nakamura does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuke misses with a wild body shot.
Asuke throws a right hand that misses
and Nakamura counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Asuke just misses with a punch to the body.
Asuke looks to land a combination but Nakamura avoids it well.
Asuke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nakamura.
A telegraphed right hand from Asuke misses the target.

Nakamura is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Asuke's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Asuke looking for submissions off his back.

Asuke looking for submissions off his back.
Nakamura performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Asuke looking for submissions off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nakamura looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Asuke looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nakamura with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Asuke actively working from the bottom here.

Asuke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nakamura pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nakamura in particular looking to stall.
Asuke pushes Nakamura off looking to stand but Nakamura dives back in and keeps control.
Asuke wants to sweep but Nakamura has passed to side control!
Nakamura remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakamura wants to control but Asuke is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shunsuke Nakamura will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Asuke throws a lazy uppercut
and Nakamura counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Asuke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nakamura.
Asuke misses with a shot to the body
and Nakamura counters with a nice uppercut.
Nakamura throws a good cross that connects.

Nakamura shoots in and gets a takedown into Asuke's guard.
Asuke keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Asuke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Asuke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nakamura is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Nakamura got a little sloppy there for a moment and Asuke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nakamura has managed to get both his arms back between Asuke's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuke working a defensive guard here.
Nakamura won't allow Asuke to sweep him here.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Asuke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nakamura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nakamura wants to control from the top but Asuke keeps moving.

Asuke is looking for a triangle here but Nakamura uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nakamura is staying tight to Asuke's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Asuke wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuke is looking for a sweep.
Asuke is working hard here to advance position.
Nakamura controls the position.
Asuke is looking to reverse the position.
Nakamura taking a breather here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asuke is trying to improve his position.

Nakamura wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Asuke, who protects the arm well.
Asuke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to move into full mount but can't pass Asuke's legs.
Nakamura taking a breather here.
Nakamura is looking to take a break and control but Asuke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shunsuke Nakamura has got the better of the ground game so far.
Asuke is trying to buck Nakamura off.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Asuke keeps working.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Nakamura working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura is trying to get an arm triangle but Asuke is defending well.
Nakamura just content to control the position.
Nakamura has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Asuke!
Asuke can't escape the position.
Nakamura controlling his opponent.
Asuke is squirming around, avoiding Nakamura's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Asuke is looking to improve his position but Nakamura isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shunsuke Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shunsuke Nakamura's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Asuke keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Asuke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shunsuke Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakamura moves away from the strike by Asuke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Asuke misses with a few strikes there.
Asuke swings for the body but Nakamura moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Asuke throws a lazy uppercut
and Nakamura counters with a low kick, right behind Asuke 's knee.
Nakamura tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Asuke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura tries to clinch
and Asuke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nakamura takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Asuke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asuke misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asuke swings widly with a right hand
and Nakamura counters with a right hand to the body.
Nakamura moves in looking to clinch but Asuke pushes him off.
Asuke lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Asuke misses with a hook.
Asuke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Asuke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Asuke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nakamura moves away.
Ritsuko Asuke is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to clinch up but Asuke keeps it at a distance.
Asuke defending well as Nakamura loads up on a big left hand.
Asuke misses with a hook. Nakamura ducked under it nicely.
Nakamura tries to clinch but Asuke moves out of range.

Asuke tries to keep at a distance but Nakamura has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nakamura misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shunsuke Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nakamura is trying to drag Asuke to the mat but Asuke just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Nakamura on the inside.
A short right from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries to score a body lock takedown but Asuke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Asuke jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nakamura walks away with a smile on his face. Asuke gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Asuke misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nakamura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Ritsuko Asuke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A short uppercut from Nakamura.

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 Ritsuko Asuke.
I think Nakamura 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

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