PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Kishigawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kishigawa
vs
Gracie

178 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Tokyo, Andrew Kishigawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thomas Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kishigawa circles away.

Kishigawa moves into the clinch successfully.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kishigawa smiles and moves away.
Gracie closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kishigawa circles away.
Andrew Kishigawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Gracie.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kishigawa gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kishigawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kishigawa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kishigawa wants it to stay on the feet.
Kishigawa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kishigawa blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Thomas Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kishigawa throwing strikes but missing.
Kishigawa with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kishigawa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kishigawa wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Kishigawa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kishigawa passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kishigawa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kishigawa is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kishigawa trying to mount his opponent but Gracie defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kishigawa connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Kishigawa is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Kishigawa is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie is staying active underneath Kishigawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie won't allow Kishigawa to pass to mount.
Kishigawa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kishigawa is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie wants to control but Kishigawa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kishigawa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gracie is staying active underneath Kishigawa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kishigawa is breathing heavily.
Gracie pushes Kishigawa off looking to stand but Kishigawa dives back in and keeps control.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kishigawa trying to advance position but Gracie counters by regaining guard.

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.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Kishigawa is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gracie with a nice cross.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kishigawa tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kishigawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie looks to clinch
and Kishigawa counters with an inside leg kick.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kishigawa counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.

Kishigawa closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kishigawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kishigawa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kishigawa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Kishigawa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie tries to clinch but Kishigawa moves away

and Kishigawa counters by clinching up.
Kishigawa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kishigawa walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie misses with a double jab
and Kishigawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kishigawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.

Kishigawa has managed to clinch.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kishigawa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Andrew Kishigawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Gracie.
Kishigawa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gracie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kishigawa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kishigawa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kishigawa gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kishigawa is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kishigawa is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gracie reverses the position - he's now on top in Kishigawa's guard.
Kishigawa wants to get back to his feet but Gracie is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Kishigawa won't let him.
Gracie trying to control but Kishigawa is working from the bottom.
Kishigawa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

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.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kishigawa counters by clinching up.
Kishigawa wants a takedown.
Kishigawa is pressed up against the cage. Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kishigawa down to the mat. Kishigawa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kishigawa leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kishigawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.

Kishigawa clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie letting Kishigawa take a breather here.
Gracie throws a head punch that misses.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Kishigawa holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.

Kishigawa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kishigawa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kishigawa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kishigawa pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Kishigawa has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kishigawa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Kishigawa in his half guard.
Kishigawa works his way into side control.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Kishigawa dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.

Kishigawa gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kishigawa is working for takedown but Gracie is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie stops a takedown attempt from Kishigawa.
Gracie jumps guard but Kishigawa stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kishigawa can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Kishigawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to work over Kishigawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gracie has Kishigawa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kishigawa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kishigawa turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kishigawa manages to end up in side control.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie tries to roll over but Kishigawa keeps him under control.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kishigawa manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie won't allow Kishigawa to get back to his feet.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Kishigawa had control of the position.
Andrew Kishigawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kishigawa wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Kishigawa keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a combination
and Kishigawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Kishigawa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kishigawa moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gracie stops a takedown attempt from Kishigawa.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but Kishigawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gracie swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kishigawa counters by clinching up.
Thomas Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kishigawa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Kishigawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kishigawa content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kishigawa trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Kishigawa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kishigawa manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Kishigawa's guard.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Kishigawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kishigawa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Kishigawa!