PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kento Kawamata (ranked 1641 p4p, 1584 weight class) and Eerikki Salmi (ranked 219 p4p, 210 weight class). Salmi has chosen Korpiklaani - Ievan Polkka as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kento Kawamata could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Eerikki Salmi's chin.

Kawamata
vs
Salmi

189 cm
31
207
15 - 9 - 0

190 cm
30
220
12 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Kento Kawamata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eerikki Salmi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salmi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kawamata.
Kawamata misses with a looping left.
Kawamata lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kawamata throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Salmi counters with a straight right hand.
Kawamata misses with a lunging right hand
and Salmi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Salmi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Salmi backs away, Kawamata returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Salmi as he connects with a hook.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Salmi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Salmi misses with a straight right.
That kick from Kawamata tenderised Salmi's leg. Salmi is trying to keep his angry face on.

Kawamata gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kawamata effectively controlling the action here.

Kawamata pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kawamata looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A nice leg kick from Kawamata, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kawamata fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kawamata throws a hook to the side of Salmi's head but Salmi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salmi works Kawamata's body with a nice hook.
Kawamata ducks under a wild hook from Salmi.
Salmi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kawamata missing with a left hand there. Salmi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamata bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salmi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kawamata scores with a three punch combo!
Salmi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kawamata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kawamata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kawamata walks into a left hand.
Kawamata looks to throw the jab but Salmi is out of range.

Salmi lands a big right hand that sends Kawamata crashing to the mat! Salmi stays standing though and waves Kawamata back to his feet!

Kawamata is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kawamata moves out of range of the strikes.
Oh Kawamata is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Salmi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kawamata seems to have got his legs back now.
Salmi on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kawamata lands an overhand right.
Salmi misses with a straight left.
Kawamata scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kawamata throws a front kick aimed at Salmi's knee but Salmi avoids it well.
Kawamata looks to land a body kick but Salmi moved away.

Salmi lands a big right hand that sends Kawamata crashing to the mat! Salmi stays standing though and waves Kawamata back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salmi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kawamata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Salmi.
Salmi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Salmi lands a big uppercut and Kawamata crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Kawamata looks OK. Salmi waves Kawamata back to his feet!
Kawamata connects with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Salmi misses its intended target.
Kawamata slips under a jab.
A solid body kick from Kawamata.
A big left from Salmi misses.
Kawamata uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salmi.
Kawamata fires out a quick counter leg kick but Salmi just manages to avoid it.
Kawamata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kawamata cracks Salmi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kawamata just misses with a punch to the body.
Salmi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kawamata throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kawamata finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Salmi! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata staying out of range there.
Kawamata slips a straight right by Salmi.
Salmi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kawamata had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Salmi misses with a lunging right hand
and Kawamata counters with a stiff right hand.
Kawamata moves out of range as Salmi strikes.
Kawamata slips under a jab from Salmi.
Salmi misses with a right hand
and Kawamata counters with a nice uppercut.
Salmi misses with an uppercut.
Kawamata moves out of range of the strikes.
Kawamata throws a hook but Salmi avoids it easily.
Salmi connects with a single shot there.
Kawamata connects with an inside leg kick.
A jab from Salmi misses.
Kawamata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salmi.

Kawamata has closed the distance and engaged Salmi in a clinch.
Salmi scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salmi throws a head punch that misses.
Kawamata digs a right hand into Salmi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Salmi's gas tank.
Kawamata lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Salmi to his knees! Kawamata keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kento Kawamata!
After winning the bout, Kento Kawamata thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.