PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazushi Yokihiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Kikuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Yokihiro
vs
Kikuchi

183 cm
19
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 Tokyo, Kazushi Yokihiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ronaldo Kikuchi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikuchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yokihiro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Yokihiro shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Yokihiro wants to work for an arm triangle but Kikuchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yokihiro trying to control from half guard but Kikuchi is working away.
Yokihiro moves into full mount! Kikuchi won't be happy about that!
Kikuchi is trying desperately to improve position.

Yokihiro working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yokihiro trying to control but Kikuchi is having none of it.
Kikuchi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kikuchi wants to control but Yokihiro is having none of it.
Kikuchi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Yokihiro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kikuchi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kikuchi can't escape the position.

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.
Kikuchi tries to hold on but Yokihiro postures up.
Kikuchi is trying to escape the mount.

Yokihiro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kikuchi is on top in guard.
Yokihiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yokihiro is breathing heavily.
Kikuchi wants to control from the top but Yokihiro keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yokihiro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kikuchi.
Yokihiro is pulling down on Kikuchi's head. It's preventing any offense from Kikuchi, at least for the moment.
Kikuchi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kikuchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kikuchi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yokihiro trying to control the position.

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.
Kikuchi wants to pass the guard but Yokihiro is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Yokihiro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Yokihiro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kikuchi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yokihiro has Kikuchi in his guard.
Yokihiro keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Yokihiro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kikuchi lands a head kick!
A punch combination from Kikuchi misses.
Kikuchi misses with a takedown

and Yokihiro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yokihiro.

Yokihiro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yokihiro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yokihiro wants to control from the top but Kikuchi keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yokihiro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kikuchi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yokihiro has Kikuchi in his guard.

Kikuchi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yokihiro dives on top into guard.

Yokihiro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yokihiro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yokihiro won't allow Kikuchi to get back to his feet.

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.

Yokihiro is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kikuchi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kikuchi has escaped and now he's on top!
Yokihiro keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.
Kikuchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Yokihiro is retaining full guard.
Kikuchi trying to control but Yokihiro is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi stands and throws Yokihiro's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kikuchi advances to mount.
Kikuchi wants to get back to his feet but Yokihiro is holding on tight.

Kikuchi jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yokihiro manages to avoid the submission attempt.

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.
Kikuchi is looking to take a break and control but Yokihiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yokihiro tries to buck Kikuchi off but Kikuchi is having none of it.
Kikuchi wants to control but Yokihiro is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Kikuchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kikuchi wants to clinch.
Kikuchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kikuchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikuchi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kikuchi is looking to clinch but Yokihiro is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuchi scores with a nice head shot.
Yokihiro shoots in and drives through. Kikuchi sprawls well.
Kikuchi tries to clinch but Yokihiro is having none of it.
Yokihiro swats away the attempt to clinch by Kikuchi.

Yokihiro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kikuchi is not content to let Yokihiro control the position.
Kikuchi tries to escape but Yokihiro is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yokihiro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kikuchi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Yokihiro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yokihiro has knee on belly momentarily but Kikuchi bucks him off and regains half guard.

Yokihiro is working for a kimura but Kikuchi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi trying to control here.
Kikuchi preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Yokihiro trying to control from half guard but Kikuchi is working away.
Kikuchi is trying to stand up here but Yokihiro is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kikuchi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yokihiro is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kikuchi.
Yokihiro takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kikuchi throws a right and a left that Yokihiro avoids nicely.
Kikuchi lands with a kick to the temple. Yokihiro shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Yokihiro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kikuchi but Kikuchi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Kikuchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kikuchi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Kikuchi!