PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Polk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Polk
vs
Kazama

178 cm
20
184 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
177 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Polk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kazama circles away quickly and effectively.
Kazama looks to score with a jab to the body but Polk is just out of range.
Polk misses with a hook. Kazama ducked under it nicely.
Kazama takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Polk loads up on a big right hand but Kazama slips the punch.
Kazama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Polk.
Polk misses with a hook to the body

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into side control. Polk won't be happy with that.
Polk isn't going anywhere.
Polk is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kazama has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama controlling from side mount.
Polk prevents Kazama from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kazama controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Polk is not content to let Kazama control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazama slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kazama dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A big right from Polk misses.
Nice defenses there by Kazama.
Kazama wants to clinch up but Polk keeps it at a distance.
Kazama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Polk.
Polk connects with a looping right hand.
Kazama fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Polk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Polk scores with a shot to the body.
Polk throws a hook but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Polk.

Kazama rushes Polk and presses him up against the cage.
Kazama stalling in the clinch.
Polk prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Kazama.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kazama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Polk.
Polk looks to land a left hand but Kazama moved out of range nicely.
Kazama throws out a loose jab but Polk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kazama avoids the body shot from Polk.
Polk misses with a hook.
Kazama throws a right and a left that Polk avoids nicely.
Kazama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Polk.
Polk defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kazama.
James Polk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kazama.
Danga de danga de dang - Polk scores with a four punch combination!
Kazama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Polk throws out the jab.
Polk looks to land a right hand but Kazama moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Polk.
A shot to the body from Polk misses
enabling Kazama to counter with a crisp jab.
Kazama tries to clinch but Polk is having none of it.
Polk looks to throw the jab but Kazama is out of range.
Kazama takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kazama misses the jab.
Polk looks to land a left hand but Kazama moved out of range nicely.
Kazama misses with a body shot.
Polk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Polk steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kazama.
Polk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kazama was well out of range. Poor timing from Polk.
Kazama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Polk throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Polk at a distance.
Kazama misses with a jab to the body
and Polk counters with a series of strikes. Kazama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Polk throws a lazy right hand but Kazama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kazama lands a right hook to the body.
Kazama scores with a nice right hand.
Polk swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kazama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Polk.
Polk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kazama.
Nice defenses there by Kazama.
James Polk is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Polk misses the target.
Kazama moves out of range of the strikes.
Polk misses with a shot to the body
and Kazama counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Polk just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polk misses with an uppercut. Kazama saw that one coming.
Polk lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kazama fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Polk on the side of the head.
Polk throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kazama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Polk throws a lazy right hand but Kazama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Kazama has Polk up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Polk tries to stall but Kazama uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Polk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kazama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Polk's efforts to push away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Polk wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Polk dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A jab from Kazama misses.
A lazy left from Kazama finds it's target.
Kazama misses with a straight right.
Kazama throws a right and a left that Polk avoids nicely.
Polk throws a big shot that misses.
Polk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kazama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Polk looks to land a combination but Kazama avoids it well.
Polk throws a looping overhand right but Kazama ducks down to avoid it.
Kazama swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kazama was well out of range. Poor timing from Polk.
Kazama misses with a combination
and Polk cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kazama clinches.
Kazama is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kazama is looking to control Polk's arms but Polk gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kazama has his back to the cage.
Kazama is trying to drag Polk to the mat but Polk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kazama lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Polk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice cross by Polk.
Kazama slips a straight right by Polk.
Polk stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
James Polk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kazama misses the shot to the body.

Polk gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Polk keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama slips nicely into half guard.
Polk tries to roll over but Kazama keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Kazama tries to pass to full mount but Polk defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Akira Kazama.
I think Kazama has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kazama!