PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ichioka Kaori (ranked 2184 p4p, 2726 weight class) and Gerardo Blanco (ranked 279 p4p, 360 weight class). Kaori comes to the cage accompanied by GOZEN. This should be fireworks!

Kaori
vs
Blanco

194 cm
22
210
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
220
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

MADNESS Apparel

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ichioka Kaori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gerardo Blanco!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanco throws a right hand that misses
and Kaori counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Blanco misses with a jab to the body
and Kaori counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Gerardo Blanco has been cut.
Kaori's jab looks to have found its range, popping Blanco under the eye.
Kaori slips a straight right by Blanco.
Blanco falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Kaori to counter with a crisp jab.
Blanco throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kaori counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kaori on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kaori lands a nice hook to Blanco's body. Blanco takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Blanco misses with a double jab
and Kaori counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blanco thinking.
Kaori has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blanco throws a combination that misses
and Kaori counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That has opened up Gerardo Blanco's cut even more.
Blanco takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Blanco looks winded!
Blanco swings widly with a right hand
letting Kaori counter with a right hand.
Blanco misses with a combination
and Kaori counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Blanco misses its intended target.
Blanco gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

The cut above Gerardo Blanco's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Blanco misses with a looping right.
As Blanco looks to move away, Kaori throws a big counter combo but Blanco just gets out of the way.

Kaori cracks Blanco with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Kaori has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Blanco to stand back up!

Blanco is rocked!
Kaori knocks out Blanco with a massive right hand! The ref tackles Kaori before he can follow up with any more strikes and that's it everyone. Kaori picks up the big W with a huge KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ichioka Kaori!
A relieved looking Ichioka Kaori thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.