PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buhawi Baracael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazama is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mamma said Knock you out. Jin Kazama has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Buhawi Baracael's chin.

Baracael
vs
Kazama

180 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
148 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

MADE IN GERMANY

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Buhawi Baracael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jin Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kazama lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Baracael has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Baracael and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Baracael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kazama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Baracael was well out of range. Poor timing from Kazama.
The fight stays on the outside here - Baracael looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kazama scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kazama misses with a double jab.
Baracael moves out of range of the strikes.
Kazama throws a lazy right hand but Baracael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baracael shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kazama defends it nicely.
Kazama loads up on a big right hand but Baracael slips the punch.
Jin Kazama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kazama wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buhawi Baracael. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baracael tries to clinch but Kazama is having none of it.
Baracael has a takedown stuffed.
Kazama throws an overhand right that lands on Baracael's shoulder, as Baracael tries to avoid the shot.
Kazama thows a left - swing and a miss!
Horrible takedown by Baracael or perhaps it was just good defense by Kazama which made him look bad.
Baracael slips a jab from Kazama.
Kazama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baracael shoots in for a takedown but Kazama shows good takedown defense.

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.
Baracael thuds his shin into the meat of Kazama's side.
Baracael fails to land the takedown.
Kazama tries to land a leg kick but Baracael saw it coming and moves away.

Baracael closes the distance and pushes Kazama back into the cage.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kazama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baracael tries to clinch but Kazama moves out of range.
Baracael moves out of range of the strikes.
Baracael shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kazama but Kazama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baracael shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Baracael tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice defenses there by Baracael.
Baracael slips under a jab from Kazama.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baracael.

Baracael scores a takedown into full mount!
Kazama is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama tries to hold on but Baracael postures up.
Baracael sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Baracael controlling the pace for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Baracael cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baracael landing strikes, looking to finish!
Baracael lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Baracael rushes Kazama and presses him up against the cage.
Baracael is working for takedown but Kazama is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baracael blocks it with crossed arms.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but Baracael blocks it.
Kazama stops a takedown attempt from Baracael.
Baracael tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buhawi Baracael. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Baracael checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A low kick from Baracael misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Buhawi Baracael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Kazama.
Baracael tries for a takedown but Kazama circles away easily
and Kazama counters with a right hand to the body.
Kazama misses with a body shot.
Kazama misses the shot to the body.
Kazama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kazama connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Baracael momentarily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kazama.
Baracael ducks under a wild hook from Kazama.

Baracael shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Baracael is looking to take a break and control but Kazama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kazama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Baracael works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baracael tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Baracael 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.
Baracael is looking to take a break and control but Kazama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kazama tries to improve position but can't.
Baracael wants to control but Kazama is keeping him busy.
Baracael laying and praying for a moment but Kazama takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baracael throwing shots but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Kazama wants to improve his position but Baracael is controlling well.
Kazama wants to control but Baracael is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kazama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kazama fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baracael manages to avoid it.
Baracael misses with a takedown
letting Kazama counter with a right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baracael.

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.
Baracael moves away from the strike by Kazama.
Kazama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kazama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kazama stuffs the takedown.
Baracael tries a head kick but it misses.
Baracael tries for a takedown but Kazama circles away easily
and Kazama counters with an inside leg kick.
Kazama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kazama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baracael circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama 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!

Baracael misses with a takedown
and Kazama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kazama looks to land a combination but Baracael avoids it well.
Kazama misses with a body shot.
Baracael slips a straight right by Kazama.
Baracael displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kazama throws out the jab.

Baracael looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kazama moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kazama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baracael is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baracael forces his way into half guard.
Baracael is pressing down on Kazama's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kazama is holding on for now.
Baracael missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kazama avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Baracael.
Baracael wants to pass the guard but Kazama is defending well.
Kazama is looking for a sweep. Baracael is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.

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

Baracael fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kazama sprawls well initially but Baracael persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baracael is thwarting Kazama's attempts to control the position.
Kazama has his hands clasped together around Baracael's back. He's all about the action.
Kazama gets back to full guard.
Baracael with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baracael accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama keeping moving, preventing Baracael from controlling successfully.

Kazama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Baracael doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Baracael manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kazama is trying to keep Baracael in close.
Kazama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Baracael sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Baracael stands up over Kazama, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Kazama has control of Baracael's left arm, preventing Baracael from doing any damage.
Kazama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kazama seems keen to control Baracael's posture.
Baracael lands a couple of digs.
Kazama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Baracael.
Baracael trying to control but Kazama is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kazama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Baracael can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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 Buhawi Baracael.
I think Baracael has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Buhawi Baracael!