PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conrad Poohs (ranked 4445 p4p, 430 weight class) and Yuji Nagata (ranked 4499 p4p, 435 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Poohs
vs
Nagata

178 cm
28
160 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

175 cm
28
165 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Condemned

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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Conrad Poohs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yuji Nagata !
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poohs gets tackled into the cage by Nagata . Nagata maintains the clinch.
Poohs tries for a takedown but Nagata manages to get underhooks.

Poohs breaks the clinch.
Poohs on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Nagata has Poohs up against the cage in a clinch.
Nagata has Poohs pressed against the cage.
Poohs can't get the takedown.
Nagata misses with a hook from the clinch.

Nagata breaks the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Poohs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Poohs is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Nagata .
Poohs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nagata circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Poohs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poohs walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nagata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Poohs.

Nagata clinches.
Nagata lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poohs is trying to break free.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nagata creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Poohs wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Poohs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Poohs walks into a stiff left hand from Nagata .
Poohs tries for a takedown but Nagata circles away easily
and Nagata counters with a nice body shot.
Nagata 's coach down at Holding Cell was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nagata 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Nagata falls off balance throwing a combination

and Poohs counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Poohs is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Nagata is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Nagata has escaped and now he's on top!

Poohs keeping moving, preventing Nagata from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poohs looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nagata has picked Poohs up and slammed him! Poohs can't keep hold of the triangle and Nagata manages to pass to side control!
Poohs manages to get back to half guard.
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!

Poohs looking for submissions off his back.
Nagata not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagata is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Poohs tries to get to full guard but Nagata has control of the leg.
Nagata seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poohs does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Poohs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Poohs blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nagata .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Poohs looking for submissions off his back.
Nagata seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nagata is trying to control. Poohs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuji Nagata dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nagata misses with a low kick as Poohs jumps back.
Poohs appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nagata fails in his attempt to clinch.

Nagata closes the distance and clinches.
Poohs is trying to break the clinch but Nagata is controlling him.
Nagata misses with a punch on the inside.

Nagata 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nagata tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Poohs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nagata with a jab.
Poohs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nagata avoids it really well and circles away.
Nagata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagata looks to land a left hand but Poohs moved out of range nicely.
Poohs changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Poohs changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nagata looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Conrad Poohs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poohs is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nagata knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Poohs working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nagata struggling a bit here.

Poohs is trying to get an arm triangle but Nagata is defending well.

Poohs is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nagata is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nagata wants to control but Poohs postures up.
Nagata wants to get back to his feet but Poohs drags him back down.
Poohs working away.

Poohs goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Nagata has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Poohs but great work by Nagata .

Nagata decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nagata tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poohs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Poohs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nagata .
Poohs feinted with a counter takedown.
Nagata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yuji Nagata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagata tries to close the distance and clinch but Poohs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nagata throws a lazy uppercut

and Poohs counters with a shoot takedown. Nagata fights it but they end up in guard.
Nagata is wriggling around but Poohs manages to pass to half guard.

Poohs seems to be working for a kimura but Nagata defends the submission attempt.
Nagata works his way to full guard. Good work.

Poohs postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Nagata is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Poohs, into his guard.

Nagata stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poohs gets tackled into the cage by Nagata . Nagata maintains the clinch.
Nagata tries to throw a body punch but Poohs avoids it by throwing Nagata back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nagata .
Nagata pushes Poohs back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Nagata doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nagata landing knees to the body.

Nagata breaks the clinch.

Nagata moves into the clinch.

Poohs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nagata tries to clinch but Poohs moves out of range.
Nagata tries to clinch there but Poohs circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuji Nagata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Nagata works Poohs's body with a nice hook.
Yuji Nagata seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Poohs shoots and misses
and Nagata counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nagata lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poohs circles away quickly and effectively.
Poohs appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nagata keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Nagata moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Poohs shoots in but no luck this time.
Nagata doesn't manage to clinch there - Poohs circles away.
Poohs half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nagata fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poohs manages to avoid it.
Poohs feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poohs shoots and misses
and Poohs takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conrad Poohs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poohs circles away from the clinch attempt

so Poohs counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poohs won't allow Nagata to sweep him here.

Poohs has gone for a leg lock! Nagata slips out almost immediately though and dives into Poohs's guard.

Nagata engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Nagata has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Poohs looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nagata avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Poohs working for a triangle but Nagata defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poohs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nagata defends well.
Conrad Poohs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nagata trying to control the position from guard on top but Poohs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Poohs looking for a guillotine here but Nagata defends easily.
Nagata trying to control but Poohs is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Yuji Nagata is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nagata is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuji Nagata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nagata 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuji Nagata !