PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bart Paw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shin Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bart Paw looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Paw
vs
Nakamura

175 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

160 cm
25
133 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bart Paw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shin Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Paw fails with an attempt to clinch.

Nakamura instigates a clinch.
Nakamura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paw shoots for a takedown but Nakamura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nakamura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nakamura fails to land the takedown.
Paw appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paw pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nakamura changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Paw shoots in but Nakamura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Paw tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nakamura swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Paw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paw is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nakamura sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Paw with that takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Nakamura's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Nakamura rushes Paw and presses him up against the cage.
Paw can't break the clinch.
Paw is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paw tries to pull guard but Nakamura holds him up against the cage and eventually Paw drops back down to his feet.

Nakamura jumps guard and drags Paw to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Nakamura pushes Paw off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Paw shoots for a takedown but Nakamura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nakamura is looking for the big counter here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakamura.
Nakamura shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paw pinned against the cage. Paw gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paw goes for a double leg but Nakamura avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nakamura continues to drive forward.
Nakamura misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bart Paw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Paw tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nakamura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paw has been working on his balance at Cozad The Island, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Nakamura.
Paw throws a head kick that Nakamura semi-blocks.
Paw doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.
Nakamura unleashes a big counter combination but Paw bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Paw cracks the inside of Nakamura's front leg.
Nakamura doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Paw counters by clinching up.
Nakamura looks winded!
Nakamura is leaning against Paw and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Paw tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Paw wants to take the fight to the mat but Nakamura manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've been informed that Nakamura has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Paw tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Nakamura lands a takedown into guard.
Paw is controlling Nakamura's posture.
Paw can't keep his opponent in guard - Nakamura advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Paw actively working from the bottom here.
Nakamura tries to pass the half guard into mount. Paw knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Nakamura dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Paw dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Nakamura. That did some damage!

Nakamura shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Paw has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Nakamura is on him like a limpet, forcing Paw back against the cage.
Paw tries to work over Nakamura's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paw wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Paw is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nakamura gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Paw jumps guard but Nakamura turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Nakamura decides to pull guard.

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

Nakamura scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Nakamura clinches.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paw tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Paw has his takedown stuffed

and Nakamura counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Paw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Paw 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. Paw gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paw is fending him off so far but Nakamura persists. Nope, Paw circles away and we're back to standing.
Bart Paw is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paw fails with the takedown
and Nakamura counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paw doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.

Nakamura clinches up with Paw and pushes him back against the cage.

Paw manages to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paw fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paw moves to clinch but Nakamura breaks away
and Nakamura counters with a left and a right that stings Paw.
Nakamura leaves Paw with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shin Nakamura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nakamura.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paw tries to clinch but Nakamura moves out of range.
Paw tries to clinch up.
Paw misses with a takedown attempt
and Nakamura counters with a two punch combo.

Paw is rocked!

Nakamura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Paw to the mat! Paw manages to get full guard.
Oh Paw is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paw being controlled here, momentarily.
Paw seems to have got his legs back now.
Paw keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.
Nakamura tries to stand but Paw is controlling from the bottom.
Paw really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Paw trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shin Nakamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Paw gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Paw wants to break free but Nakamura has control.
Nakamura lands a body punch.
Nakamura lands a nice shot to the body.
Nakamura utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Nakamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Paw. No joy for Nakamura on that attempt.
Nakamura lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Nakamura.

It looks like Bart Paw has been cut.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Paw looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paw decides to stand and escape the position.
Nakamura tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Paw defends well and Nakamura ends up having to push Paw into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Paw tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakamura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Nakamura's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Paw throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Paw moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Nakamura takes the fight into the clinch.
Paw tries to pull guard but Nakamura holds him up against the cage and eventually Paw drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Paw just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bart Paw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shin Nakamura.
Come on Nakamura - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Paw successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Paw looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakamura is one step ahead there.
Nakamura stops Paw from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paw is trying to control the position but Nakamura postures up.
Nakamura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nakamura sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Paw's guard.
Nakamura performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Paw looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nakamura wants to pass to mount but Paw is defending the position.
Shin Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nakamura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paw does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Paw is trying to stand.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nakamura sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nakamura clinches.
Paw has Nakamura pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nakamura landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shin Nakamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nakamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30

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