PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joey The Lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jigaro Kano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kano's choice of entrance music: the zepher song. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

The Lion
vs
Kano

170 cm
22
152 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

175 cm
19
148 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joey The Lion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jigaro Kano!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kano tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and The Lion is able to avoid easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kano. The Lion does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kano throws a wild body kick that The Lion sees coming a mile off.
A head kick misses from Kano.
Kano swings for the body but The Lion moves out of range.
Kano tries to clinch there but The Lion circles away.
The Lion has a takedown stuffed.

Kano gets the takedown into side control.
Kano slows the pace down.
Kano trying to control the action but The Lion is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Kano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but The Lion is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The Lion gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kano prevents The Lion from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Lion is trying to control but can't.
Kano trying to control the action but The Lion is working from the bottom.
Kano slows the pace down in half guard.
Kano wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Lion keeps working.
Well, if Kano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The Lion is staying active underneath Kano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kano keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The Lion won't allow Kano to pass to mount.
The Lion is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. The Lion manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two 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.
Kano controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jigaro Kano just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The Lion slips under a jab from Kano.
Kano shoots and misses

and The Lion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kano won't be happy with that.
Kano looks gassed!
The Lion in side control, throwing shots but Kano defends.
Kano is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but The Lion has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The ground and pound from The Lion seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano is looking to work his way out of this bad position but The Lion is controlling him well.
You can see the frustration on Kano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kano is trying to buck The Lion off.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The Lion moves away from the strike by Kano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kano fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kano lands a nice hook to The Lion's body. The Lion takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kano throws a head kick but The Lion moves out of range.
A head kick by Kano misses

and The Lion counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kano!
The Lion postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kano looks a forlorn figure.

Kano defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from The Lion.

The Lion is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kano is surviving well by controlling The Lion's body position as best he can.
Kano holds on for dear life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey The Lion dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kano tries to clinch but The Lion is having none of it.

Kano bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The Lion is being controlled here.
The Lion tries to improve position but can't.
The Lion is trying to escape the position but Kano is controlling the position.
Let's hope that Kano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kano wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Lion keeps working.

Kano has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Jigaro Kano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kano throws a sloppy head kick

and The Lion counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kano won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kano pushes The Lion away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, The Lion gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
An elbow from The Lion crashes against the mat.
Kano gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kano won't allow The Lion to pass to mount.
Kano is trying is best to control the position here.
The Lion thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kano is trying to stand up here but The Lion is controlling him well.
Kano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from The Lion.
Joey The Lion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kano pushes The Lion off and gets back to his feet.

Kano scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The Lion is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The Lion is trying to stand up here but Kano is controlling him well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kano's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kano trying to control the action but The Lion is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Lion is trying to stand up here but Kano is controlling him well.
Kano winds up and cracks The Lion with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kano is pressing down on The Lion's thigh, looking to free his foot. The Lion is holding on for now.
The Lion is looking to control Kano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can The Lion avoid being mounted?
Kano works his way into side control.
Kano moves into full mount!
Kano controlling the position easily from mount.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jigaro Kano just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The Lion tries to move into range but Kano moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The Lion tries to move into range but Kano moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kano connects with a body shot.
The Lion circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kano scores with a sloppy right hand. The Lion should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jigaro Kano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The Lion swats away the attempt to clinch by Kano.
The Lion keeps the fight on the outside.
Good exchange - Kano coming out on top.
Kano tries to clinch up but The Lion circles away and keeps his distance.
The Lion looks for a takedown but Kano sprawls well.
Kano is looking to slow The Lion down with leg kicks.
Kano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kano misses the target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kano throws a hook but The Lion blocks it.

Kano shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The Lion wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kano trying to mount his opponent but The Lion defends it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kano not doing much here.
Kano seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two 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.
Kano is looking to advance position but The Lion won't allow it.

The Lion actively working from the bottom here.

Kano gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
The Lion avoids the head kick by Kano.
The Lion takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kano is looking to clinch but The Lion is avoiding it.
The Lion blocks a head kick by Kano.
Kano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The Lion looks for a takedown but Kano sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kano wants to clinch.
Kano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but The Lion paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Lion keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Kano gets the takedown into side control.
The Lion is trying to get back to his feet.
Kano scoring with punches and elbows.
The Lion is not content to let Kano control the position.
The Lion gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kano controlling from mount.
Kano looking to control but The Lion is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jigaro Kano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Jigaro Kano!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Jigaro Kano!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Jigaro Kano!

Jigaro Kano wins by unanimous decision!