PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panda Four (ranked 1836 p4p, 2481 weight class) and Gunnar Kimura (ranked 258 p4p, 347 weight class). Gunnar Kimura will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Four
vs
Kimura

150 cm
26
205
12 - 9 - 0

189 cm
26
205
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Panda Four!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gunnar Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Four wants to clinch up but Kimura keeps it at a distance.

Four takes the fight into the clinch.

Four has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kimura uses from the top position.

Kimura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Four has a closed guard, preventing Kimura from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Four escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kimura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Four working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kimura has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Four looking for submissions off his back.
Four is looking to improve his position.
Four is working hard here to advance position.
Kimura tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Four wants to improve his position but Kimura is controlling well.

That's two 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.
Kimura is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Four looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Four actively working from the bottom here.
Four might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kimura wants to stand but Four has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura throws an overhand right that lands on Four's shoulder, as Four tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Four will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kimura throws a big shot that misses.

Four scores with a takedown into Kimura's guard.

Kimura manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kimura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Four ducks under a wild hook from Kimura.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Four.
A swing and a miss from Kimura.
Kimura waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Four.
Kimura throws a low kick, looking for Four's leg but Four calmly moves out of range.
Four tries to counter with a takedown but Kimura is quick to defend against it.
Kimura thows a leg kick but Four checks it

and Four counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kimura scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura throws a body punch but Four moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kimura misses the target.
Four tries to counter with a takedown but Kimura is quick to defend against it.
Kimura's jab looks to have found its range, popping Four under the eye.
Kimura misses with a straight left.
Four tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kimura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A left lands for Kimura.

Four moves into the clinch.
I was talking to Four's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kimura wants to break free but Four has control.
Four is trying to pull guard but Kimura turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Four jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kimura walks away with a smile on his face. Four gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Panda Four. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Four steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kimura.
Four takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kimura scores with a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Kimura dominated that round.
That's time! Four's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Four.
Four prevents Kimura from escaping the position.

Four goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kimura rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Four's guard! Nice work there by Kimura!

Kimura gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kimura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Four's hands.

It looks like Panda Four has been cut.
Kimura has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Four is landing a low percentage of strikes.
An inside leg kick lands from Kimura.

Four takes the fight into the clinch.
Four jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kimura walks away with a smile on his face. Four gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Four moves in looking to clinch but Kimura pushes him off.

Four bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kimura is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Four is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kimura has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kimura tries to escape but Four is in control.

Four goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kimura rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Four's guard! Nice work there by Kimura!

Four looking for a guillotine here but Kimura defends easily.

Four throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kimura decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Four, up you get!
Four shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kimura as he avoids it easily.
Four keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kimura.
Four tries to counter with a takedown but Kimura is quick to defend against it.
Four fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Panda Four. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Four tries to clinch but Kimura is having none of it.
Four tries to move into range but Kimura moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Four fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kimura, pushing him back against the cage.
Four tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kimura just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Four is trying to pull guard but Kimura has him pressed against the cage.

Four decides to pull guard.
Kimura wants to stand but Four is controlling his posture from full guard.

Four looking for a guillotine here but Kimura defends easily.

Four throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kimura uses it to pass to side control.

Kimura decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura tries to land a leg kick but Four saw it coming and moves away.
Four tries to counter with a takedown but Kimura is quick to defend against it.
Kimura lands a right hook to the body.
Kimura keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Four.
Kimura misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kimura. Four does a little dance to reset his feet.

Four clinches up with Kimura and pushes him back against the cage.
Four fails to pull guard.
Four tries to pull guard but Kimura won't allow it.
Four jumps guard but Kimura stands there with Four around his waist. Four gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kimura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kimura keeps the fight on the outside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Kimura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Panda Four's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kimura connects with a crisp jab.

Four closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kimura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kimura throws a shot from downtown. Four moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Kimura misses.
Four shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kimura as he avoids it easily.
Gunnar Kimura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Four darts in trying to clinch
and Kimura counters with a straight right hand.
Kimura ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Four fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kimura tries to land a front kick but Four steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kimura looks to throw the jab but Four is out of range.
Kimura feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fours jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Panda Four's cut is getting worse.
Kimura lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Four head around and knocks him out cold! Kimura hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Gunnar Kimura!
Gunnar Kimura decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.