PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Take Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Mcpaene (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
Mcpaene

182 cm
23
187 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

183 cm
20
184 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Take Kobayashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Mcpaene!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kobayashi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mcpaene.
Mcpaene closes the distance and clinches up with Kobayashi, looking for a takedown. Mcpaene pushes Kobayashi against the cage but Kobayashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Mcpaene shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kobayashi is trying to maintain the position but Mcpaene is very close to passing his half guard.

Kobayashi looking for submissions off his back.
Kobayashi is staying active underneath Mcpaene, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kobayashi wants to improve his position but Mcpaene is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi wants to control but Mcpaene is keeping busy.
Kobayashi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mcpaene's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mcpaene's back!
Mcpaene wants to control his opponent's hands but Kobayashi gets his hands free.
Mcpaene looks gassed!

Mcpaene defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A lull in the action here.
Mcpaene rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mcpaene is looking to improve his position.
Kobayashi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mcpaene defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi working Mcpaene over with strikes.
Mcpaene wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kobayashi seems to be looking for submissions.
Nice strikes from Kobayashi there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mcpaene trying to control but Kobayashi postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kobayashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mcpaene counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mcpaene perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kobayashi wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene working Kobayashi over with strikes.
Kobayashi trying to control but Mcpaene postures up.
Nice strikes from Mcpaene there.

Mcpaene seems to be working for a kimura but Kobayashi defends the submission attempt.
Mcpaene wants to take a breather but Kobayashi is having none of it.
Mcpaene works his way into full mount!
BOOM! Mcpaene connects with a massive shot to the dome!

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.

Mcpaene working for a submission but Kobayashi is keeping him at bay.
Kobayashi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Mcpaene is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kobayashi is aware though and is defending well.
Mcpaene is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kobayashi wants to stand and escape but instead Mcpaene has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kobayashi wants to stand and escape but Mcpaene is having none of it.
Mcpaene trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mcpaene dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mcpaene closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mcpaene wants to stand but Kobayashi has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

Kobayashi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mcpaene is aware though and is defending well.
Mcpaene pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kobayashi is keeping the position for now.
Kobayashi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mcpaene wants to control from the top but Kobayashi keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mcpaene is looking to work some ground and pound but Kobayashi has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcpaene loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mcpaene is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kobayashi trying to keep a closed guard but Mcpaene is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mcpaene gets a takedown into half guard.
Mcpaene missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mcpaene in particular looking to stall.
Kobayashi pushes Mcpaene off looking to stand but Mcpaene dives back in and keeps control.
Mcpaene controlling the action here.
Kobayashi is not content to let Mcpaene control the position.

Mcpaene wants to work for an arm triangle but Kobayashi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mcpaene working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene stalling.
Kobayashi is not content to let Mcpaene control the position.

Mcpaene is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kobayashi trying to control from the bottom.

Mcpaene is working for a submission of some sort.

Mcpaene seems to be working for a kimura but Kobayashi defends the submission attempt.

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.
Mcpaene is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mcpaene trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kobayashi is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcpaene lands a big elbow.

Mcpaene is working for a guillotine from mount but Kobayashi frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mcpaene showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcpaene looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kobayashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kobayashi wants to get back to his feet but Mcpaene is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kobayashi is trying to control the position but Mcpaene postures up.
Kobayashi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Mcpaene drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mcpaene jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Mcpaene working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kobayashi's head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mcpaene closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mcpaene lands in his opponent's guard.
Kobayashi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mcpaene scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mcpaene works over Kobayashi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.
Mcpaene looking to sit in guard and control but Kobayashi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mcpaene is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kobayashi wants to stand but Mcpaene has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mcpaene not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kobayashi stands up and waves to Mcpaene to follow him.
Kobayashi misses with a takedown attempt

and Mcpaene counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mcpaene.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene working some strikes from top position.
Mcpaene throws a big right hand that misses.

Mcpaene stands up and waves to Kobayashi to follow him.
Take Kobayashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mcpaene showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kobayashi.
Kobayashi with a poor takedown

and Mcpaene decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kobayashi's guard.
Kobayashi wants to sweep here but Mcpaene controlling him for the moment.

Mcpaene gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kobayashi defends it nicely.
Mcpaene with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mcpaene takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joe Mcpaene is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Mcpaene looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Mcpaene stands up and waves to Kobayashi to follow him.
Kobayashi with a poor takedown

and Mcpaene counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Take Kobayashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kobayashi struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobayashi is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Take Kobayashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kobayashi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Mcpaene comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mcpaene 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Mcpaene!