PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bonnie Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kobayashi
vs
Bonnie Jr

177 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Final Strike Clothing
Final Strike 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hiro Kobayashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Bonnie Jr!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Bonnie Jr.
Bonnie Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bonnie Jr wants it to stay on the feet.
Bonnie Jr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bonnie Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kobayashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kobayashi throws a jab but it's blocked by Bonnie Jr.
Bonnie Jr lands with a slapping head kick.
Bonnie Jr blocks a jab.
Kobayashi misses with a looping left.
Kobayashi takes a swing at Bonnie Jr's ribcage but misses.
Kobayashi throws a combination that misses
and Bonnie Jr counters with a thumping low kick.

Bonnie Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Kobayashi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bonnie Jr's efforts to push away.
Bonnie Jr looking to throw knees to the head but Kobayashi is blocking nicely.
The referee calls for Kobayashi to work.
Kobayashi trying to stall but Bonnie Jr improves his position.
Bonnie Jr blocks an uppercut.
Kobayashi can't find room to land a body shot as Bonnie Jr controls the action.
Kobayashi has had enough of the clinch but Bonnie Jr keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bonnie Jr's elbow.
Kobayashi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bonnie Jr lands an elbow just above Kobayashi 's eye.

It looks like Hiro Kobayashi has been cut.
Kobayashi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kobayashi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bonnie Jr prevents it.

Bonnie Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bonnie Jr has managed to clinch.
Bonnie Jr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kobayashi.
Bonnie Jr can't break the clinch.
Kobayashi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kobayashi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kobayashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kobayashi just leaning against Bonnie Jr, taking a breather.
Kobayashi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bonnie Jr is keeping busy.
Kobayashi takes an elbow to the temple.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bonnie Jr as Kobayashi tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Hiro Kobayashi.
Bonnie Jr ducks under a wild hook from Kobayashi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kobayashi keeps the fight on the outside.

Kobayashi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kobayashi showed some decent athleticism there.
Bonnie Jr looks gassed!
Kobayashi slips a nice elbow through Bonnie Jr's hands, connecting with Bonnie Jr's forehead.
Kobayashi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kobayashi trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kobayashi is taking a breather. Bonnie Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kobayashi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.
Kobayashi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kobayashi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Kobayashi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bonnie Jr has worked his arm free - good work by Bonnie Jr!
Kobayashi is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kobayashi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hiro Kobayashi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kobayashi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bonnie Jr avoids it really well and circles away.
Bonnie Jr goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kobayashi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kobayashi misses with an uppercut.
Bonnie Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bonnie Jr throws a nice head kick!
Kobayashi throws a hook to the side of Bonnie Jr's head but Bonnie Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kobayashi throws a lazy right hand but Bonnie Jr sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobayashi looks to land a left hand but Bonnie Jr moved out of range nicely.
Kobayashi throws a hook but Bonnie Jr avoids it easily.
Bonnie Jr is breathing heavily.
Kobayashi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kobayashi misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi misses with a takedown attempt - Bonnie Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiro Kobayashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A jab from Kobayashi misses.
Kobayashi jabs at Bonnie Jr's body.
No luck for Kobayashi with that takedown attempt.
Kobayashi misses with a straight right.
Kobayashi throws a big shot that misses.

Kobayashi scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kobayashi is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bonnie Jr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kobayashi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kobayashi controlling his opponent.
Kobayashi punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Kobayashi.
Kobayashi working the ground and pound effectively.
Bonnie Jr is bucking up trying to escape but Kobayashi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kobayashi dominating with strikes here.
Kobayashi landing shots from mount.
Kobayashi landing strikes from the mount.
Kobayashi controlling the position easily from mount.
Bonnie Jr taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kobayashi landing punches.
Kobayashi scoring with strikes but Bonnie Jr is staying in there.
Bonnie Jr is bucking up trying to escape but Kobayashi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kobayashi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kobayashi is landing with some decent strikes but Bonnie Jr is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobayashi with good strikes from the mount here!
Kobayashi landing shots from mount.
Kobayashi dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Kobayashi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hiro Kobayashi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A slow jab from Kobayashi misses its intended target.
Kobayashi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bonnie Jr dodges the punch combination from Kobayashi.
Bonnie Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Kobayashi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bonnie Jr's guard.
Kobayashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kobayashi advances position into side control!
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with a big elbow.
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with a big right hand but Bonnie Jr just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bonnie Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kobayashi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kobayashi looks up at the clock and then as Bonnie Jr takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kobayashi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with a big elbow.
Kobayashi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kobayashi lands a few punches from side control.
Check out the look on Kobayashi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kobayashi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kobayashi lands an elbow.
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bonnie Jr down.
Bonnie Jr taking a bit of punishment here - Kobayashi scoring with strikes.
Kobayashi taking a breather here.
Kobayashi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kobayashi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kobayashi is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnie Jr is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with a big elbow.
Kobayashi working the ground and pound.
Kobayashi cracks Bonnie Jr with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kobayashi tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kobayashi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bonnie Jr to see if he's OK.
Hiro Kobayashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kobayashi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Michael Bonnie Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobayashi working the ground and pound.
Kobayashi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Kobayashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kobayashi, 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Kobayashi!