PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fuuta Nimiya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nimiya comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fuuta Nimiya is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

McDonald
vs
Nimiya

190 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Tokyo United Fightwear
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fuuta Nimiya!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nimiya tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nimiya has a takedown stuffed.
McDonald's corner calls for a 1-2. McDonald obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nimiya fails with a takedown attempt.
McDonald looks to land a combination but Nimiya avoids it well.
Nimiya blocks the body kick.
Nimiya misses with a head kick.

Nimiya has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nimiya throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McDonald blocks it with crossed arms.
Nimiya lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nimiya with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McDonald tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nimiya smiles and moves away.
McDonald throws a chopping leg kick but Nimiya manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald misses with the combination.
Nimiya should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
McDonald fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nimiya is out of range.
McDonald scores with a punch to the head.
McDonald throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McDonald misses with a double jab
and Nimiya counters with an outside leg kick.
Nimiya throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McDonald.
Nimiya leaves McDonald with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McDonald is breathing heavily.

Nimiya clinches up with McDonald and pushes him back against the cage.

Nimiya's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nimiya throws a right hand that McDonald ducks under and follows up with a left that McDonald also avoids with ease.
McDonald throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald avoids the head kick by Nimiya.
McDonald misses with a jab, cross combination.
McDonald throws a series of punches but Nimiya avoids them all with ease.
A cross from McDonald lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nimiya shoots for a takedown but McDonald saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Steve McDonald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fuuta Nimiya.
McDonald tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McDonald misses with a wild combination.
Nimiya connects with an inside leg kick.

Nimiya gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nimiya throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McDonald blocks it with crossed arms.
McDonald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McDonald gets underhooks to prevent Nimiya's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nimiya looking to throw knees to the head but McDonald is blocking nicely.
McDonald is trying to pull guard but Nimiya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nimiya tries a knee to the head but McDonald blocks it.
Nimiya tries to land a knee to the head but McDonald blocks with his arms.

Nimiya pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steve McDonald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nimiya drives through and clinches with McDonald against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Nimiya.
Nimiya connects with a nasty looking knee right to McDonald's face.

Nimiya pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nimiya.
A punch combination from McDonald misses.
McDonald misses with a combination
and Nimiya counters with a big head kick but McDonald shrugs it off.
McDonald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDonald throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nimiya throws a series of punches but McDonald avoids them all with ease.
Nimiya fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nimiya has closed the distance and engaged McDonald in a clinch.
Nimiya lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
McDonald jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nimiya walks away with a smile on his face. McDonald gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nimiya forces McDonald back against the cage and clinches.

Nimiya jumps guard and drags McDonald to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fuuta Nimiya will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nimiya has managed to clinch.
Nimiya stalling in the clinch.
Nimiya tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McDonald just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nimiya drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nimiya trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McDonald wants to stand but Nimiya is controlling his posture from full guard.

Nimiya scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald throws a solid leg kick but Nimiya takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McDonald.
McDonald is looking to land body kicks.
McDonald swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Nimiya instigates a clinch.
Nimiya connects with a knee to the head.

Nimiya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDonald throws a right hand that Nimiya ducks under and follows up with a left that Nimiya also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDonald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McDonald finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nimiya avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McDonald throws a low kick but Nimiya moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McDonald. No joy for Nimiya on that attempt.
McDonald falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nimiya finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nimiya tries to land a knee to the head but McDonald blocks with his arms.
McDonald is trying to drag Nimiya to the mat but Nimiya just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nimiya is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nimiya jumps guard.

Nimiya is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. McDonald presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Nimiya tries a knee to the head but McDonald blocks it.
McDonald is trying to pull guard but Nimiya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Nimiya manages to break the clinch.

Nimiya darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McDonald misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nimiya throwing shots but McDonald is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nimiya throwing shots but McDonald is blocking nicely.

Nimiya is working for a submission of some sort.
McDonald blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nimiya.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nimiya controlling the action here.
Nimiya has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nimiya decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuuta Nimiya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nimiya moves into range and clinches up with McDonald.
McDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nimiya stalling in the clinch.
McDonald has Nimiya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nimiya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nimiya looking to throw knees to the head but McDonald is blocking nicely.
Nimiya wants a takedown but no success here.

McDonald wants the takedown. Nimiya is fighting it off but McDonald persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nimiya's guard against the cage.
Nimiya throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Nimiya throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
McDonald has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nimiya throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Nimiya thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nimiya will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nimiya has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McDonald can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Nimiya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nimiya manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Nimiya tries a knee to the head but McDonald blocks it.
Nimiya with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Nimiya manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fuuta Nimiya has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nimiya doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
McDonald postures up and lands a big shot to Nimiya's brow.
McDonald throws a big elbow that misses.
McDonald scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nimiya trying to control the position.
Nimiya striking off his back but it's not causing McDonald any problems.
Nimiya tries to strike from the bottom.
McDonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nimiya is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nimiya has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.
McDonald knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nimiya on the ground.
McDonald passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McDonald connects with a nice short shot to Nimiya's temple.
Nimiya has hold of McDonald's hands but McDonald slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McDonald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nimiya's head.

Nimiya kicks off McDonald and gets to his feet.
McDonald swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nimiya counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Nimiya clinches with his opponent.
Nimiya lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nimiya prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve McDonald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nimiya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steve McDonald is winning the standup battle so far.

Nimiya closes the distance and clinches.
McDonald is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nimiya misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nimiya's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nimiya drives through and clinches with McDonald against the cage.
McDonald throws a head punch that misses.
McDonald is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nimiya putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McDonald in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nimiya tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McDonald just stands there and leans against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nimiya escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fuuta Nimiya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McDonald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nimiya circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fuuta Nimiya.
I've got Nimiya 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fuuta Nimiya!
Post fight, Fuuta Nimiya took to the microphone: 'Next... Thanks to Team Goroshi - Tokyo United Fightwear - Kaiser Fightwear'.