PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kilgore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenzo Wakabayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kilgore comes to the cage accompanied by "Don't Come Around Here No More". Ivan Kilgore could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kenzo Wakabayashi's chin.

Kilgore
vs
Wakabayashi

175 cm
25
146 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

182 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Kilgore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenzo Wakabayashi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wakabayashi throws a series of punches but Kilgore moves out of range.

Kilgore closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kilgore is looking to take a break and control but Wakabayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wakabayashi dodges the ground and pound from Kilgore.
Kilgore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wakabayashi keeps working.
Kilgore controls the position.
Wakabayashi is trying to buck Kilgore off.

Kilgore tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kilgore has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilgore in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Wakabayashi is trying to get back to his feet.

Kilgore looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kilgore is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wakabayashi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wakabayashi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two 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.
The ground and pound from Kilgore seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kilgore working the head with strikes.
Kilgore working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kilgore trying to control the action but Wakabayashi is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wakabayashi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wakabayashi keeping his opponent close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilgore scoring with punches and elbows.
Kilgore has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kilgore trying to control the action but Wakabayashi is working from the bottom.
Kilgore sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Wakabayashi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Wakabayashi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kilgore. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.

Kilgore working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kilgore throws an elbow but Wakabayashi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kilgore is looking to take a break and control but Wakabayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Kilgore.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wakabayashi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kilgore.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kilgore dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kilgore fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kilgore tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wakabayashi moves out of range of the body kick.
Wakabayashi throws a right hand that Kilgore ducks under and follows up with a left that Kilgore also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Wakabayashi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wakabayashi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ivan Kilgore seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kilgore shoots in but no luck this time.

Wakabayashi tries to keep at a distance but Kilgore has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kilgore pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kilgore tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilgore tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kilgore. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wakabayashi tries to circle away but Kilgore has him pinned against the cage.
Wakabayashi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kilgore lands a knee to the body.
Kilgore tries a knee to the head but Wakabayashi blocks it.
Kilgore connects with a knee to the head.
Kilgore tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two 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.
Wakabayashi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kilgore will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Wakabayashi up against the cage.
Wakabayashi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kilgore pulls guard.
Kilgore pulls Wakabayashi in close to his closed guard and prevents Wakabayashi from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wakabayashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kilgore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kilgore tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wakabayashi is fighting to break Kilgore's control of his arms but Kilgore is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kilgore looking to control.

That's four 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.
Kilgore is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kilgore thows a huge punch but Wakabayashi dodges it nicely.
Wakabayashi is trying to stand back up but Kilgore is controlling him
Wakabayashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kilgore.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kilgore thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wakabayashi is trying to stand up here but Kilgore is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kilgore dominated that second round.
That's time! Kilgore's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kilgore shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wakabayashi sprawls well. Wakabayashi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kilgore gets slowly back to his feet.
Kilgore tries to close the distance and clinch but Wakabayashi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wakabayashi misses with a double jab.
Wakabayashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kilgore paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kilgore looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wakabayashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kilgore has Wakabayashi up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kilgore creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Wakabayashi manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilgore is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kilgore shoots in but no luck this time.
Kilgore tries to clinch up.
Wakabayashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wakabayashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kilgore scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kilgore thows a huge punch but Wakabayashi dodges it nicely.
Kilgore missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kilgore thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kilgore is looking to take a break and control but Wakabayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wakabayashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kilgore.
Kilgore throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kilgore is looking to take a break and control but Wakabayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kilgore looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kilgore shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kilgore. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakabayashi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kilgore.
Wakabayashi throws a nice looking combination but Kilgore bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kilgore lands a head kick. Wakabayashi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kilgore fails to land the takedown.
Wakabayashi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kilgore.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kilgore looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kilgore tries to clinch up but Wakabayashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kilgore tries to clinch there but Wakabayashi circles away.
Wakabayashi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wakabayashi throws a series of punches but Kilgore moves out of range.
Ivan Kilgore is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Wakabayashi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ivan Kilgore is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kilgore fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wakabayashi, pushing him back against the cage.
Kilgore throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wakabayashi blocks it with crossed arms.
Wakabayashi is trying to force a seperation but Kilgore has the dominant position.
Kenzo Wakabayashi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A frustrated look appears on Wakabayashi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kilgore keeps control of Wakabayashi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kilgore fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kilgore with a knee to the head.
Wakabayashi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

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 Ivan Kilgore.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kilgore, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kilgore!