PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Uchimura Nakata (ranked 1705 p4p, 68 weight class) and Lester Limbaugh (ranked 2847 p4p, 108 weight class). Lester Limbaugh struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakata
vs
Limbaugh

162 cm
20
132 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
149 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple 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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Uchimura Nakata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lester Limbaugh!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Limbaugh sprawls well initially but Nakata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nakata blocks the strikes from Limbaugh.
Limbaugh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakata scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nakata working over Limbaugh with some ground and pound. Limbaugh looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Limbaugh throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Limbaugh is pressing down on Nakata's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Limbaugh trying to strike off his back.
Limbaugh striking from his own guard.
Limbaugh striking off his back but it's not causing Nakata any problems.
Nakata lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Limbaugh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nakata is one step ahead there.
Limbaugh has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nakata scoring with some ground and pound.
Limbaugh thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Nakata scoring with some ground and pound.
Nakata working some strikes from top position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nakata cracks Limbaugh with a solid left hand.
Limbaugh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nakata pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Limbaugh is keeping the position for now.
Limbaugh scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom.
Nakata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Limbaugh doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nakata stands up over Limbaugh, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nakata working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Limbaugh striking off his back but it's not causing Nakata any problems.
Nakata wants to control from the top but Limbaugh keeps moving.
Limbaugh throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom.
Nakata passes Limbaugh's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Limbaugh gets full guard.
Nakata not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Limbaugh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nakata has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nakata scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Limbaugh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Limbaugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakata lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Limbaugh throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Limbaugh throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Limbaugh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Limbaugh trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nakata is in close to Limbaugh's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nakata looking to pass the guard.
Nakata working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nakata pushing down on Limbaugh's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Limbaugh is looking for a sweep. Nakata is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nakata is looking to take a break and control but Limbaugh is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Limbaugh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakata scores with a couple of nice shots.
Limbaugh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nakata wants to pass to mount but Limbaugh is defending the position.
Nakata is keen to just control but Limbaugh is a slippery customer.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Limbaugh misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nakata drops an elbow to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Limbaugh has hold of Nakata's hands but Nakata slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is trying to control. Limbaugh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nice strikes from Nakata there.
Nakata lands strikes from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nakata winds up and cracks Limbaugh with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Limbaugh missing with punches from the bottom.
Nakata lands with a punch from half guard.
Nakata working over Limbaugh with some ground and pound. Limbaugh looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Limbaugh gets back to full guard.
Limbaugh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nakata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Nakata makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nakata sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Limbaugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Limbaugh trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Limbaugh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nakata controls the pace.
Limbaugh lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Nakata postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Nakata keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Nakata trying to control the position from guard on top but Limbaugh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Limbaugh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nakata looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Limbaugh is on top in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Limbaugh scoring with some ground and pound.
Nakata trying to control the position here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Limbaugh's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uchimura Nakata dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nakata scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nakata landing strikes.
Nakata knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Limbaugh on the ground.
Nakata lands an elbow.
Limbaugh is looking for a sweep.
Nakata lands some shots froms side control.
Nakata is working Limbaugh over with some ground and pound from side control.
Limbaugh wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Limbaugh is not content to let Nakata control the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Nakata blocks the strikes from Limbaugh.
Limbaugh tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nakata wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Limbaugh takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nakata is chipping away with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Limbaugh throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Nakata grinds an elbow into Limbaugh's temple.
Limbaugh takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Limbaugh striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakata cracks Limbaugh with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Limbaugh felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Uchimura Nakata overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Limbaugh takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Nakata in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Limbaugh sneaks back into half guard.
Limbaugh on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nakata working Limbaugh over with strikes.
Nakata blocks the strikes from Limbaugh.
Limbaugh taking some punishment here, with Nakata in his half guard.
Nakata wants to take a breather but Limbaugh is having none of it.
Nakata working the head and body with strikes.
Nakata not doing much here.
Nakata moves nicely into side control.
Nakata avoids the strikes from the bottom by Limbaugh.
Nakata is chipping away with strikes.
Limbaugh sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakata landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nakata seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nakata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Limbaugh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nakata working the head and body with strikes.
Limbaugh is refusing to be controlled, as Nakata sits in half guard.
Nakata working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Nakata winds up and cracks Limbaugh with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nakata trying to control from half guard but Limbaugh is working away.
Nakata lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Limbaugh works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nakata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Limbaugh can do to turn this around?
Nakata distracts Limbaugh with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Limbaugh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Limbaugh will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Nakata is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakata lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Limbaugh wants to sweep here but Nakata controlling him for the moment.
Nakata trying to control but Limbaugh is working from the bottom.
Nakata's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nakata working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Limbaugh lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Limbaugh preventing the sweep.
Limbaugh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakata trying to keep a closed guard but Limbaugh is proving a slippery customer.
Limbaugh won't allow Nakata to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Limbaugh's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Limbaugh stands and throws Nakata's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Limbaugh lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Limbaugh working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nakata sneaks back into half guard.
Limbaugh is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Limbaugh throwing shots but Nakata is blocking nicely.
Nakata controlling the position for now.
Limbaugh lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nakata throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nakata works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nakata lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Limbaugh thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Limbaugh trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nakata wants to control from the top but Limbaugh keeps moving.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uchimura Nakata dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Nakata shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nakata showed some decent athleticism there.
Nakata working Limbaugh over with strikes.
Nakata blocks the strikes from Limbaugh.
Limbaugh moves into full guard.
Nakata stopping the sweep attempt from Limbaugh.
Nakata lands a couple of elbows.
Limbaugh doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Nakata controlling from the top position.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Limbaugh trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Nakata lands a couple of digs.
Nakata with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nakata connects with a couple of short punches.
Limbaugh 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.
Nakata works over Limbaugh with some ground and pound from guard.
Limbaugh throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Nakata passes Limbaugh's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nakata is trying to control. Limbaugh wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Limbaugh throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Limbaugh throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nakata seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Limbaugh punching from the bottom.
Nakata drops an elbow to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Nakata takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Limbaugh striking from half guard on the bottom.
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. Nakata connects with a nice short shot to Limbaugh's temple.
Nakata slows the pace down in half guard.
Nakata scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Nakata.
Nakata scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
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. Nakata connects with a nice short shot to Limbaugh's temple.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Nakata winds up and cracks Limbaugh with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nakata scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nakata is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Limbaugh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nakata seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nakata is nestled in close to Limbaugh, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Limbaugh is refusing to be controlled, as Nakata sits in half guard.
Nakata is controlling the pace.
Nakata trying to control from half guard but Limbaugh is working away.
Nakata wants to pass the guard but Limbaugh is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Limbaugh is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nakata scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nakata lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nakata slips a nice elbow through Limbaugh's hands, connecting with Limbaugh's forehead.
Limbaugh throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nakata is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nakata scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nakata is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nakata working Limbaugh over with strikes.
Nakata is keen to just control but Limbaugh is a slippery customer.
Limbaugh scores with a few weak punches.
Nakata is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nakata looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Limbaugh on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakata lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Limbaugh taking some punishment here, with Nakata in his half guard.
Limbaugh misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Nakata is looking to advance position but Limbaugh won't allow it.
Nakata drops an elbow to the side of Limbaugh's head.
Nakata lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nakata winds up and cracks Limbaugh with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nakata trying to control the action but Limbaugh is working from the bottom.
Limbaugh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Nakata there.
Nakata working the head and body with strikes.
Limbaugh wants to get back to full guard.
Nakata working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Limbaugh tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Lester Limbaugh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Limbaugh missing with punches from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uchimura Nakata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uchimura Nakata!