PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koichi Kamei (ranked 1559 p4p, 2256 weight class) and Aramis Knox (ranked 196 p4p, 282 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kamei
vs
Knox

182 cm
42
159
34 - 25 - 0

181 cm
37
168
30 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

020 Clothing

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 34 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koichi Kamei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aramis Knox!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamei circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kamei closes the distance and clinches.
Kamei is trying to force a seperation but Knox has the dominant position.
Kamei on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knox tries to pull guard but Kamei forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knox tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kamei just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kamei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kamei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.
Knox tries to clinch up but Kamei circles away and keeps his distance.
Knox misses with a wild combination.
Knox moves in looking to clinch but Kamei pushes him off.
Kamei thuds a left hand into Knox's body.
Knox tries to clinch but Kamei is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kamei back to the cage. Knox follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kamei throws a right and a left that Knox avoids nicely.

Knox clinches with his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox jumps guard but Kamei turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Koichi Kamei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aramis Knox.

Kamei breaks the clinch.
Kamei lands with a nice combination. Knox backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamei dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Knox catches Kamei with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Knox takes one on the button.

It looks like Aramis Knox has been cut.
Kamei looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kamei misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Knox counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A combination from Kamei does no damage.
Knox tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Kamei was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Knox lands with a good body shot.
Knox tries to clinch but Kamei is having none of it.
Kamei swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kamei connects with a jab.
Knox doesn't manage to clinch there - Kamei circles away.
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!

Knox clinches up against the cage.

Kamei manages to break the clinch.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knox was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
Knox unleashes a big counter combination but Kamei bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kamei pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Knox scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kamei throws a predictable looking body shot
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Knox gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kamei manages to break the clinch.
Kamei lands with a nice combination. Knox backs away looking to recover.
The fighters circling - Kamei throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knox tries to clinch up.
Kamei misses with a few strikes there.
Kamei throws a left and a right that both miss
and Knox counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kamei looks to land a combination. Knox sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kamei fails to land with a series of punches.
Kamei sets himself, and Knox steps forward looking for the clinch! Kamei avoids it this time.
Knox throws the kick towards the body but Kamei avoids it.
Kamei looks to score with a jab to the body but Knox is just out of range.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamei was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
Knox showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kamei.
As Kamei backs off Knox throws a huge counter combo but Kamei manages to avoid it all.
Kamei misses with a straight right.
Knox showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kamei.
Knox slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koichi Kamei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knox with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kamei to score with a decent uppercut.
Kamei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knox.
Knox cracks Kamei with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Knox takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knox shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Knox goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kamei takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Knox throws a right and a left that Kamei avoids nicely.
Kamei tries to bum rush Knox with a series of wild strikes but Knox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Despite the aggression on Knox's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kamei looks to score with a jab to the body but Knox is just out of range.

Knox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kamei, pushing him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kamei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamei throws a shot to the body.
Knox misses with a body shot.
A cross from Knox lands.
Knox lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kamei throws a right hand that Knox ducks under and follows up with a left that Knox also avoids with ease.
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knox keeps Kamei at a distance using the push kick.
Kamei throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Kamei has Knox up against the cage in a clinch.
Knox digs a right hand into Kamei's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kamei's gas tank.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kamei wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knox misses with a punch on the inside.

Kamei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knox was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Koichi Kamei dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Knox dips to his left and cracks Kamei with an uppercut!
Kamei throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Knox stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kamei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kamei fails to land with a series of punches.
Kamei takes a swing at Knox's ribcage but misses.
Knox misses with a two punch combination.
Kamei seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kamei lands with a straight right. Knox didn't see that one coming.
Kamei displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Knox throws a combination that misses
and Kamei counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Knox thinking.
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!
Knox is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knox throws a series of punches but Kamei avoids them all with ease.
Knox dodges the punch combination from Kamei.
Knox appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kamei slips a jab from Knox.
Kamei is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kamei throws a left and a right that both miss

and Knox counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kamei wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kamei breaks from the clinch.

Kamei rushes Knox and presses him up against the cage.
Kamei wants to break free but Knox has control.
Knox tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kamei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox slips a jab and a cross from Kamei.
Knox looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Knox takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kamei ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kamei appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kamei misses with a body shot.
Kamei misses with a hook. Knox ducked under it nicely.
Kamei is looking to wear down Knox with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Knox clinches up against the cage.
Knox throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knox is trying to pull guard but Kamei turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Knox tries to pull guard but Kamei holds him up against the cage and eventually Knox drops back down to his feet.
Koichi Kamei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aramis Knox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamei tries to circle away but Knox has him pinned against the cage.

Kamei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Kamei misses.
Kamei will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Knox lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
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!

Knox gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kamei wants to get back to striking at distance but Knox won't allow it.
Kamei is looking to break free of the clinch but Knox has double underhooks.

Knox pulls Kamei into guard.
Knox is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kamei is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knox can do to turn this around?
Kamei slips nicely into half guard.
Knox is looking to control Kamei's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knox avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamei stalling.
Knox trying to hold on to Kamei's head to control him but Kamei postures up.
Knox is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Knox controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Knox tries to roll over but Kamei keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kamei sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Knox desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kamei is thwarting Knox's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Knox fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kamei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Koichi Kamei dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Knox tries to clinch but Kamei is having none of it.
Kamei throws a series of punches but Knox moves out of range.
Knox throws a big shot that misses.
Knox drops his hands momentarily and Kamei takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Kamei clinches with his opponent.
Knox is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kamei to keep the fight standing.

Kamei breaks the clinch.

Kamei clinches up against the cage.

Kamei breaks from the clinch.
Koichi Kamei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox misses with a kick to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kamei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox lands a jab to Kamei's midsection.
Kamei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.

Kamei darts in and clinches Knox up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knox tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kamei wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kamei breaks the clinch.
Kamei circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kamei tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kamei looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kamei will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kamei scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Knox gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knox taking a breather.
Kamei looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knox keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kamei's efforts to push away.

Kamei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch lands to the side of Kamei 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good shot there by Kamei.
Kamei throws a body punch but Knox moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Knox connects with a body shot that sends Kamei's belly button to the back.
Sloppy strikes from Knox. Those never looked like landing.
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!

Knox forces Kamei back against the cage and clinches.

Kamei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kamei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.
Koichi Kamei is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox slips a jab from Kamei.
Knox tries to clinch but Kamei is having none of it.
Knox displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kamei throws out the jab.

Knox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kamei, pushing him back against the cage.

Kamei breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot by Knox.
A combination from Kamei does no damage.
Kamei misses with a wild body shot.
A head kick misses from Knox.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamei takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kamei with a nice cross.
A punch lands to the side of Kamei 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kamei throws a series of punches but Knox avoids them all with ease.
Knox avoids the head kick by Kamei.
Knox unleashes a big counter combination but Kamei bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kamei thuds his right hand into Knox's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Kamei looks to land a combination but Knox avoids it well.
Knox tries to clinch but Kamei moves out of range.
Kamei throws a left and a right that both miss
and Knox counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kamei ducks right into an uppercut from Knox.
Knox moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kamei needs to keep his hands up - Knox had a free shot at his head there.

Kamei is rocked!
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Knox throws a right and a left that Kamei avoids nicely.

Knox gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamei has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Knox ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Knox no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Knox looking for a guillotine here but Kamei defends easily.
Knox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aramis Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kamei trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Knox is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kamei defends well.
Kamei's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Koichi Kamei.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kamei, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koichi Kamei!
Koichi Kamei managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Shadow Realm Apparel, into his post fight interview.