PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mitsugi Kitahachi (ranked 5021 p4p, 4495 weight class) and Tommy Lee (ranked 420 p4p, 404 weight class). Kitahachi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fly-day Chinatown. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kitahachi
vs
Lee

179 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

220 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mitsugi Kitahachi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tommy Lee!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kitahachi gets caught flat footed, as Lee shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kitahachi wants to stand and escape but Lee is having none of it.
Lee controlling from the top position.
Lee is looking to stand up but Kitahachi won't let him.
Lee controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lee scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kitahachi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee stays in close to Kitahachi's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitahachi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lee is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Lee shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lee won't allow Kitahachi to get back to his feet.
Lee throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kitahachi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kitahachi is wriggling around but Lee manages to pass to half guard.
Lee slows the pace down in half guard.
Lee wants to pass to mount but Kitahachi is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitahachi pushes Lee off looking to stand but Lee dives back in and keeps control.
Lee passes to full mount!
Lee tries to control but Kitahachi wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee with good strikes from the mount here!
Lee takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee takes Kitahachi's back.

Kitahachi is having to fend off submission attempts from Lee, who is looking to sink in the choke. Lee doesn't have the hooks in though and Kitahachi manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Lee looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kitahachi tries to stand but Lee is controlling from the bottom.
Kitahachi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Lee is looking for a triangle but Kitahachi pushes his legs off easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lee can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitahachi tries to stand but Lee is controlling from the bottom.
Lee pulls Kitahachi in close to his closed guard and prevents Kitahachi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lee lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kitahachi has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Lee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kitahachi is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Lee dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kitahachi.
Lee has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lee bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick by Lee misses
and Kitahachi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Lee closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kitahachi's guard.
Lee wants to stand but Kitahachi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lee content to stall in guard here.
Lee wants to stand but Kitahachi is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Kitahachi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee scoring with some ground and pound.
Lee is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lee trying to control but Kitahachi is working from the bottom.
Kitahachi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lee on the ground.
Lee is in close to Kitahachi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lee throwing strikes from guard but Kitahachi blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lee is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kitahachi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kitahachi scores with a jab to the body.

Lee closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lee has Kitahachi pressed against the cage, preventing Kitahachi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kitahachi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kitahachi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lee tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Lee jumps into guard, dragging Kitahachi to the mat.
Kitahachi is looking to stand up but Lee won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitahachi won't allow Lee to get back to his feet.
Lee has his hands on Kitahachi's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lee manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kitahachi manages to get himself to full guard.

Lee trying to control but Kitahachi is working from the bottom.
Kitahachi wants to stand up but Lee is controlling him.
Lee trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kitahachi's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kitahachi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lee stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Lee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kitahachi connects with a crisp jab.

Lee drives through with a takedown into Kitahachi's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kitahachi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lee controls the pace.
Lee wants to stand but Kitahachi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kitahachi wants to stand but Lee is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kitahachi keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Lee throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Lee advances to half guard.
Lee stops Kitahachi from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tommy Lee has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mitsugi Kitahachi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Lee looking to score a takedown here. Kitahachi is defending well but Lee drives through and ends up in Kitahachi's guard.
Kitahachi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lee dives into side control.

Lee wants to control but Kitahachi is keeping him busy.
Lee wants to stand but Kitahachi has his arm trapped.
Kitahachi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitahachi taking a bit of punishment here - Lee scoring with strikes.
Kitahachi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Lee thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kitahachi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kitahachi tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Lee looking for the choke but no joy.
Kitahachi wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Lee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lee winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Lee!