PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroshi Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiroshi Nakamura has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Hall's chin.

Hall
vs
Nakamura

172 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Hall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura misses with a body kick.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Hall moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nakamura.
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Nakamura.

Hall scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hall moves into full mount!
Hall tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura wants to try and get back to his feet.
Hall controlling the pace for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michael Hall just wasn't active enough.

Nakamura gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hall to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hall stays in close to Nakamura's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Hall.
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hall tries to keep at a distance but Nakamura has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nakamura looks winded!
Nakamura is looking to break free of the clinch but Hall has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hall is trying to pull guard but Nakamura turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hall creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hall has Nakamura pressed against the cage, preventing Nakamura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hall fails to pull guard.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.
Nakamura scores with a hook.
A head kick misses from Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a series of punches but Hall moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hall dives in and grabs Nakamura's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes down on Hall's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Hall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hall fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hiroshi Nakamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
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 Michael Hall will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hall fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura avoids it really well and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Nakamura gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hall makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hall.
Hall trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Hall's closed guard. He's half up but Hall has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Hall pivots and extends the arm, Nakamura falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Hall! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Hall!
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Hall thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.