PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Tomori (ranked 2651 p4p, 3260 weight class) and Aleksander Kazimierz (ranked 148 p4p, 176 weight class). Kazimierz is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJFjXtHcy4. This should be fireworks!

Tomori
vs
Kazimierz

171 cm
30
142
14 - 10 - 0

175 cm
27
140
10 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Aleksander Kazimierz!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazimierz shoots for a double leg takedown but Tomori sprawls well. He's pushed Kazimierz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tomori moves into the clinch successfully.

Tomori breaks from the clinch.
Kazimierz shoots in but no luck this time.
Kazimierz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tomori pinned against the cage. Tomori gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Kazimierz.
Kazimierz shoots in for a double leg but Tomori sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kazimierz misses with a takedown attempt - Tomori sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tomori clinches.
Kazimierz takes a shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazimierz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tomori avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tomori lands with a right to the head.
Kazimierz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tomori prevents it.
Kazimierz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori scores with a shoulder strike.
Tomori lands with a left to the head.
Tomori lands with a short shot to the head.
Tomori prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tomori pushes Kazimierz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kazimierz wants a takedown but no success here.
Tomori pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tomori gets through Kazimierz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kazimierz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tomori fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tomori has managed to clinch.
Tomori fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kazimierz tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tomori closes the distance and pushes Kazimierz back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tomori changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kazimierz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kazimierz shoots in looking for a takedown. Tomori tries to sprawl out of it but Kazimierz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tomori manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kazimierz fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tomori stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tomori lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tomori stalling.
Tomori scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tomori has Kazimierz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kazimierz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tomori lands a nice uppercut.
Kazimierz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tomori pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tomori tries a head kick but it misses.
Tomori slaps away a takedown attempt from Kazimierz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kazimierz.
Tomori throws a big counter combination but Kazimierz scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Tomori gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kazimierz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tomori pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomori wants to clinch.

Tomori takes the fight into the clinch.

Tomori's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kazimierz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tomori defends well and Kazimierz ends up having to push Tomori into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kazimierz.
Tomori is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kazimierz.
Tomori shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kazimierz as he avoids it easily.
Kazimierz shoots for a takedown but Tomori saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tomori forces Kazimierz back against the cage and clinches.
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!
Tomori manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tomori pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tomori gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Tomori dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kazimierz shoots in looking for a takedown but Tomori manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kazimierz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Tomori clinches up with Kazimierz and pushes him back against the cage.
Kazimierz wants a takedown.
Tomori stalling in the clinch.
Tomori tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kazimierz's elbow.
Hiroki Tomori has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Kazimierz gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tomori is trying is best to control the position here.
Kazimierz not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tomori is not content to let Kazimierz control the position.
Tomori has a hand on Kazimierz's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kazimierz takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori tries to buck Kazimierz off but Kazimierz takes his back!
Kazimierz is looking to control Tomori but Tomori is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori trying to control the position but Kazimierz manages to sink in the hooks.
I would not like to be Tomori right now.
Kazimierz has the hooks in. Tomori is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Kazimierz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tomori defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Even with his hooks in, Kazimierz manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Tomori prevents Kazimierz from getting a body triangle.
Kazimierz misses with punches from the back.
Tomori knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazimierz on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazimierz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tomori defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Kazimierz missing with strikes.
Tomori takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Tomori wants to get back to his feet.
Kazimierz struggling to land strikes to the head as Tomori covers up.

Kazimierz is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Well, with Kazimierz on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Tomori is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Kazimierz avoiding Tomori 's attempts to control his hands.
Tomori is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori just trying to survive but Kazimierz is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kazimierz controlling well, preventing Tomori from escaping the position.
Tomori is covering up but some of the strikes from Kazimierz are getting through and doing damage.
Tomori wants to get back to his feet.
Kazimierz throwing damaging strikes from the back! Tomori could be in trouble here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kazimierz working for a choke but Tomori is defending well.

Tomori showing good submission defense here.
Kazimierz lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz biding his time, looking for the opening.
Tomori trying to get back to his feet but Kazimierz is in full control for now.
Kazimierz lands with a hammerfist to the side of Tomori's head.
Tomori trying to get back to his feet but Kazimierz is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kazimierz patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Tomori wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Kazimierz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tomori clinches up with Kazimierz and pushes him back against the cage.
Tomori with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tomori is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kazimierz can do to turn this around?
Tomori lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kazimierz.

Kazimierz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Tomori regains guard immediately.
Kazimierz stops Tomori from standing up.
Kazimierz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tomori wants to stand but Kazimierz is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazimierz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tomori looking to control.
Kazimierz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kazimierz is controlling him.
Tomori keeping moving, preventing Kazimierz from controlling successfully.
Tomori is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kazimierz dives into side control.
Tomori is trying to buck Kazimierz off.
Kazimierz looks up at the clock and then as Tomori takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kazimierz smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori holds on to Kazimierz's head and controls the position momentarily.

Kazimierz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kazimierz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tomori is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kazimierz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Check out the look on Kazimierz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tomori manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kazimierz wants to pass the guard but Tomori is defending well.
Aleksander Kazimierz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tomori is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz is just content to waste time from the top position. Tomori takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kazimierz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kazimierz distracts Tomori with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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.
Kazimierz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kazimierz wants to control from the top but Tomori keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kazimierz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tomori's guard.
Kazimierz trying to control but Tomori is working from the bottom.
Kazimierz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tomori wants to stand and escape but Kazimierz is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Kazimierz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazimierz 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!