PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Maverick (ranked 4491 p4p, 425 weight class) and Shinji Nakamura (ranked 4314 p4p, 338 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Maverick
vs
Nakamura

178 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyle Maverick !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maverick clinches up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maverick .

Maverick breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Maverick momentarily.

Maverick has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maverick scores with a knee to the head.
Nakamura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maverick gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nakamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Maverick manages to pull guard.
Nakamura won't allow Maverick to get back to his feet.

Maverick pushes Nakamura off and scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Maverick clinches.
Maverick prevents the takedown attempt.
Maverick 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. Maverick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Maverick clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick stalling.
Maverick connects with a knee to the head.
Maverick landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Nakamura tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kyle Maverick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Nakamura.

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

Maverick forces Nakamura back against the cage and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Maverick breaks from the clinch.
Nakamura shoots for a takedown but Maverick saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Maverick drives through and clinches with Nakamura against the cage.

Maverick jumps guard.
Nakamura tries to stand but Maverick is controlling from the bottom.

Nakamura decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maverick rushes Nakamura and presses him up against the cage.
Maverick lands an elbow inside that Nakamura shrugs off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nakamura has Maverick pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maverick manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Maverick .

Maverick manages to break the clinch.

Maverick closes the distance and clinches.
Nakamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maverick lands a damaging elbow.

Maverick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Nakamura does no damage.
Nakamura dives in and grabs Maverick 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maverick pushes down on Nakamura's head and hops out.
Nakamura looks winded!
Nakamura scores with a decent looking hook.
Nakamura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maverick can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maverick closes the distance and pushes Nakamura back into the cage.

Maverick manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Maverick lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nakamura is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Maverick tries to free his leg and advance position but Nakamura is retaining full guard.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Maverick from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maverick in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura trying to keep a closed guard but Maverick is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maverick trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Maverick is trying to stand.

Nakamura is looking for a kimura but Maverick is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakamura to get the leverage.

Maverick has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Nakamura is on him like a limpet, forcing Maverick back against the cage.
Nakamura takes an elbow to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maverick drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nakamura gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Maverick dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nakamura misses with a double jab.
Nakamura fails with the takedown.
Maverick tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nakamura manages to circle out of the way.
Nakamura shoots in for a double leg but Maverick sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Maverick rushes Nakamura and presses him up against the cage.
Maverick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nakamura can do to turn this around?
Nakamura is trying to force a seperation but Maverick has the dominant position.
Nakamura is trying to break free.

Maverick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakamura fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maverick avoids it really well and circles away.
Kyle Maverick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Nakamura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maverick closes the distance and clinches.
Nakamura jumps guard but Maverick stands there with Nakamura around his waist. Nakamura gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nakamura is breathing heavily.

Maverick jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maverick looking for a guillotine here but Nakamura defends easily.
Maverick bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nakamura's guard.

Maverick throwing strikes but missing.

Maverick gets to his feet. Nakamura looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Maverick lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Maverick clinches up against the cage.
Maverick gets underhooks to prevent Nakamura's takedown attempt.
Nakamura tries to break the clinch but Maverick is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maverick tries to pull guard but Nakamura forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Maverick with a knee to the head.
Nakamura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maverick 's elbow.
Kyle Maverick has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Maverick to work.
Maverick lands an elbow inside that Nakamura shrugs off.
Maverick fails to pull guard.
Maverick taking a breather.
Maverick drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nakamura looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maverick avoiding damage as Nakamura throws knees to the body.
Maverick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maverick is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nakamura is defending well.
Nakamura takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nakamura misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nakamura misses with a body punch.
Maverick connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nakamura's face.
Nakamura is trying to maintain a safe position but Maverick gets an underhook and turns Nakamura into the cage.
Nakamura working hard to break the clinch.
Maverick comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nakamura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maverick just stands there and leans against the cage.
Maverick has Nakamura pressed against the cage, preventing Nakamura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maverick slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Maverick successfully pulls guard.
Nakamura is pushing down on Maverick 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maverick is fighting to maintain full guard but Nakamura has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nakamura is trying to control the action in half guard but Maverick is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maverick is trying to control but Nakamura manages to pass to mount!

Nakamura looking to secure an arm triangle but Maverick defends it well.
Nakamura wants to take his opponent's back but Maverick doesn't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maverick wants to control but Nakamura is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Maverick dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nakamura lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Maverick shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nakamura as he jumps to the side.
Nakamura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Maverick has closed the distance and engaged Nakamura in a clinch.
Maverick keeps control of Nakamura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maverick lands an elbow that stopped Nakamura in his tracks for a moment.

Maverick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maverick closes the distance but Nakamura moves to the side
and Nakamura counters with a left and a right that stings Maverick .
Shinji Nakamura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakamura tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maverick defends well and Nakamura ends up having to push Maverick into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nakamura has a takedown stuffed.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nakamura rushes Maverick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maverick fails to pull guard.
Nakamura takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice body punch from Maverick .
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maverick as Nakamura tries to tie him up.
Maverick lands a knee to the head.
Nakamura has had enough of the clinch but Maverick keeps him there for the moment.

Maverick successfully pulls guard.
Maverick trying to strike off his back.
Nakamura wants to pass the guard but Maverick is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maverick manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Maverick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maverick takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nakamura keeps the fight on the outside.
Nakamura let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Maverick forces Nakamura back against the cage and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maverick .
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maverick lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maverick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Maverick . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura taking a breather.

Maverick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maverick fails with an attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Maverick .
Nakamura looks to land a body kick but Maverick moved away.
Maverick attempts a counter takedown but Nakamura avoids it well and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura throws a head kick but Maverick moves out of range.
Nakamura fails to land with a series of punches.

Maverick moves into the clinch.

Maverick breaks the clinch.
Nakamura throws a combination. Maverick tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Maverick darts in and clinches Nakamura up against the cage.
Maverick controlling the action here for a moment.
Maverick scores with a knee to the head.

Maverick manages to break the clinch.
Nakamura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nakamura stuffs the takedown attempt from Maverick . Maverick gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Maverick forces Nakamura back against the cage and clinches.
Maverick with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Nakamura is trying to break the clinch but Maverick has him pressed against the cage.
Maverick keeps control of Nakamura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nakamura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maverick stalling against the cage.
Nakamura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nakamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maverick avoids it.
Maverick leaning against his opponent.
Shinji Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyle Maverick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nakamura manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Maverick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maverick , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Maverick !