PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ivory Moody (ranked 25076 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nakamura (ranked 3695 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Moody
vs
Nakamura

150 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivory Moody!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakamura connects with a high kick.
Moody could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nakamura looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Nakamura clinches.
Moody is trying to pull guard but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nakamura clinches with his opponent.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura misses with a wild combination.

Nakamura has closed the distance and engaged Moody in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura is pressed up against the cage. Moody has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nakamura down to the mat. Nakamura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Moody looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Moody avoids the head kick by Nakamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nakamura misses with a wild combination.
Moody tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nakamura manages to circle out of the way.
Moody looks to land a combination but Nakamura avoids it well.
Moody misses with a two punch combination.

Nakamura clinches with his opponent.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Moody.
Nakamura throws a combination that misses
and Moody counters with a three punch combo that has Nakamura backing up. Nakamura nods at Moody to acknowledge the strikes.
Moody dives in and grabs Nakamura's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nakamura pushes down on Moody's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivory Moody. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moody is defended easily by Nakamura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura darts in and clinches Moody up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Moody.
Moody misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nakamura.
Moody taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moody slowing the pace effectively.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nakamura rushes Moody and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Moody working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moody tries to land knees in the clinch but Nakamura avoids the damage to the body.
Moody tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nakamura avoids it.
Moody can't find room to land a body shot as Nakamura controls the action.
Moody throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nakamura blocks an elbow strike from Moody.
Nakamura has had enough of the clinch but Moody keeps him there for the moment.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nakamura misses the shot to the body.
As Nakamura tries to get set, Moody tries to push him back and clinch up but Nakamura manages to avoid the attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Moody lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nakamura has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nakamura and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nakamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Moody counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Moody.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moody wants to break the clinch but can't.
Moody drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Moody's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nakamura can't break the clinch.
Moody goes for a takedown attempt but Nakamura pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Nakamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Moody, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moody stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nakamura looks to land a combination but Moody avoids it well.
Moody wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A right-left combo lands from Nakamura.
Moody doesn't manage to clinch there - Nakamura circles away.

Nakamura gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Moody just misses with a elbow thrown towards Nakamura's brow.
Moody tries to land a knee to the head but Nakamura blocks with his arms.

Moody breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakamura misses with a leg kick

and Moody counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.
Moody tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Moody struggles to land a body shot inside as Nakamura controls his hands.

Nakamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moody is looking to clinch but Nakamura is avoiding it.

Moody rushes Nakamura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Moody tries to pull guard but Nakamura won't allow it.
Moody with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Moody pushes off an throws an elbow but Nakamura leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Nakamura's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Moody tries to score a body lock takedown but Nakamura shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivory Moody. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moody misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nakamura.
Moody tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Moody tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura breaks the clinch.
Moody swinging wildly here.
Moody blocks the body kick.
Nakamura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nakamura misses with a kick to the body.
Moody wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moody cracks a nice hook into Nakamura's ribs.
Moody swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nakamura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Moody is looking to counter the offense by Nakamura and move into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moody is defended easily by Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moody scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Moody.
Nakamura misses with a few strikes there.
Hiro Nakamura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moody gets tackled into the cage by Nakamura. Nakamura maintains the clinch.
Nakamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura avoiding damage as Moody throws knees to the body.
Moody throws a knee to the head but misses.
Moody using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nakamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Moody tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Moody is trying to drag Nakamura to the mat but Nakamura just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Moody with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moody tries to throw a body punch but Nakamura avoids it by throwing Moody back against the cage.
Ivory Moody has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Moody tries to stall but Nakamura uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiro Nakamura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nakamura misses with a few strikes there.

Nakamura closes the distance and clinches.
Moody is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Moody's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Moody wants a takedown but no success here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nakamura tries to keep at a distance but Moody has taken the fight into the clinch.
Moody drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nakamura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nakamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura thows a leg kick but Moody checks it

and Moody counters by moving into the clinch.
Nakamura prevents a body shot from Moody.
Nakamura is trying to break the clinch but Moody has him pressed against the cage.
Moody misses with a body punch.
Moody can't find room to land a body shot as Nakamura controls the action.
Moody is trying to push Nakamura away but Nakamura has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Moody missing with knees to the body.
Moody using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nakamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Nakamura manages to break the clinch.
Nakamura throws a left and a right that both miss
and Moody counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakamura clinches with his opponent.
Moody stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Moody tries a body shot but Nakamura blocks it.
Moody tries to pull guard but Nakamura won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivory Moody. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Moody's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nakamura swinging wildly here.
Moody is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hiro Nakamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nakamura swings for the body but Moody moves out of range.
Nakamura walks into a straight right hand from Moody.
Moody fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nakamura throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Moody counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura misses with a few strikes there.
As Nakamura tries to get set, Moody tries to push him back and clinch up but Nakamura manages to avoid the attempt.

Nakamura moves into the clinch successfully.
Moody stalling against the cage.
Nakamura on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Moody really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Nakamura blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Moody looking for a takedown.

Nakamura manages to break the clinch.
Nakamura looks to throw a body kick

and Moody counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Moody.
Moody scores with a shot to the side of Nakamura's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moody slowing the pace effectively.
Moody creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Moody is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nakamura pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Moody using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Moody is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Nakamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura throws the kick towards the body but Moody avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moody misses with a body shot.
Nakamura tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivory Moody has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiro Nakamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Moody throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nakamura is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

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 Ivory Moody.
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 29:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!