PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimundo Kawaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ROCKY TRIBUTE -- EYE OF THE TIGER. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taylor
vs
Kawaguchi

190 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Raimundo Kawaguchi!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kawaguchi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kawaguchi lands in his opponent's guard.
Kawaguchi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kawaguchi preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Taylor holds on and takes a little breather.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Kawaguchi defends easily.
Kawaguchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kawaguchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kawaguchi landing with the ground and pound.
Kawaguchi throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawaguchi works over Taylor with some ground and pound from guard.
Taylor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kawaguchi stands up from Taylor's guard - Kawaguchi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kawaguchi fails to land the takedown.

Taylor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kawaguchi was covering up waiting for the punch and Taylor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawaguchi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Taylor wanted to stand there but Kawaguchi had control of the position.
Kawaguchi is looking to stand up but Taylor isn't so interested in that idea.
Taylor wants to get up but he can't break Kawaguchi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kawaguchi is keeping the position for now.

Kawaguchi wriggles free and stands up.
Taylor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taylor with a poor takedown

and Kawaguchi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Taylor won't be happy with that.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Kawaguchi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Taylor some visible discomfort.
Kawaguchi landing strikes.
Kawaguchi landing strikes.
Kawaguchi scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi trying to control the position but Taylor is working away.
Kawaguchi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Taylor down.
Taylor is trying to improve his position.
Taylor takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kawaguchi cracks Taylor with a big elbow.
Kawaguchi is putting a hurting on Taylor here, landing some big shots from side control.
Taylor knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kawaguchi on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kawaguchi landing a few strikes.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.

Kawaguchi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawaguchi scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimundo Kawaguchi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taylor tries for a takedown but Kawaguchi circles away easily

and Kawaguchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Kawaguchi scoring with some ground and pound.
Kawaguchi stands up over Taylor, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kawaguchi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kawaguchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kawaguchi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kawaguchi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kawaguchi from controlling successfully.
Kawaguchi is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kawaguchi from controlling successfully.
Taylor is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kawaguchi wants to control from the top but Taylor keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kawaguchi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kawaguchi is looking to work some ground and pound but Taylor has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kawaguchi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kawaguchi throws a knee to the head but misses.

Taylor has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kawaguchi uses from the top position.
Kawaguchi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kawaguchi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Taylor is working an open guard so Kawaguchi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kawaguchi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kawaguchi lands in his opponent's guard.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Kawaguchi from controlling successfully.
Kawaguchi is working Taylor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taylor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kawaguchi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Taylor wants to control the pace but Kawaguchi is squirming around nicely.
Taylor throws a wild left hand from mount and Kawaguchi manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Kawaguchi keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Taylor stops Kawaguchi from getting back to his feet.
Taylor trying to control the action but Kawaguchi is working from the bottom.
Kawaguchi is looking to control Taylor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kawaguchi avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimundo Kawaguchi 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. And we move into the final round!

Kawaguchi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Taylor tries to get to full guard but Kawaguchi has control of the leg.
Kawaguchi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kawaguchi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Taylor is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kawaguchi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Taylor flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kawaguchi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kawaguchi.

Kawaguchi is looking for a kimura but Taylor is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kawaguchi to get the leverage.
Taylor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kawaguchi is working away from the top position though.
Kawaguchi wants to free his trapped foot but Taylor is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kawaguchi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Taylor has managed to free his arm - good work.
Taylor is trying to control but can't.
Kawaguchi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Taylor is staying active underneath Kawaguchi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Kawaguchi is just content to waste time from the top position. Taylor takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kawaguchi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Taylor fails with the takedown

and Kawaguchi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Taylor's guard now.
Kawaguchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kawaguchi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Taylor is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kawaguchi, into his guard.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Kawaguchi is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kawaguchi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kawaguchi controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kawaguchi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kawaguchi wants a takedown but no success here.

Taylor manages to pull guard.
Taylor looking for a sweep. Not yet Taylor, not yet.
Raimundo Kawaguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raimundo Kawaguchi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor is working hard here to advance position.
Kawaguchi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Taylor looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raimundo Kawaguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kawaguchi 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimundo Kawaguchi!