PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kasemchai Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Tainaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tainaka has chosen BATTLE FUNKASTIC as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fairtex
vs
Tainaka

175 cm
27
157 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
157 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]
•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kasemchai Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shinji Tainaka!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Alyssa Summers and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex drops his hands momentarily and Tainaka takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fairtex throws the left hand but Tainaka avoids the punch easily.
Tainaka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fairtex pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kasemchai Fairtex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairtex moves out of range as Tainaka strikes.
Tainaka connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Fairtex's hands.
Fairtex looks to score with a jab to the body but Tainaka is just out of range.
Tainaka scores with a shot to the body.
Tainaka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tainaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fairtex cracks Tainaka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fairtex swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Fairtex rushes Tainaka and presses him up against the cage.
Fairtex crunches a lovely knee into Tainaka's ribcage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Fairtex.
Fairtex landing knees to the body.
Fairtex displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tainaka up against the cage.

Fairtex breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tainaka ducks under a wild hook from Fairtex.
Fairtex drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fairtex ducks under a wild hook from Tainaka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Tainaka darts in and clinches Fairtex up against the cage.
Fairtex misses with some punches.
Tainaka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fairtex lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Fairtex.
Tainaka takes an elbow to the temple.
Tainaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Fairtex backwards.

Fairtex's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tainaka clinches.
Tainaka is looking to break free of the clinch but Fairtex has double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Fairtex.
Fairtex tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice left hand lands by Tainaka.

Tainaka gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fairtex wants to improve his position but Tainaka is controlling well.
Fairtex knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tainaka on the ground.

Tainaka is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fairtex is just riding it out for now. Tainaka eventually gives up the hold.
Fairtex tries to kick Tainaka off but Tainaka keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tainaka is working for a kimura but Fairtex is defending it quite comfortably.
Fairtex is looking for a sweep. Tainaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tainaka trying to control from half guard but Fairtex is working away.
Fairtex trying to hold on to Tainaka's head to control him but Tainaka postures up.

Tainaka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tainaka is looking for a kimura but Fairtex is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tainaka to get the leverage.
Fairtex wants to control but Tainaka is keeping busy.
Tainaka looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fairtex with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex is looking to control Tainaka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fairtex avoid being mounted?
Fairtex is looking for a sweep. Tainaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fairtex trying to control but Tainaka postures up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tainaka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fairtex trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Tainaka is working for a kimura but Fairtex is defending it quite comfortably.
Fairtex on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

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.
Tainaka prevents Fairtex from improving his position.
Tainaka lands strikes from half guard.

Tainaka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tainaka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tainaka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fairtex is looking to control Tainaka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fairtex avoid being mounted?
Fairtex is trying to get back to full guard.

Tainaka wants to work for an arm triangle but Fairtex is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tainaka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tainaka blocks the body kick.
Tainaka lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A good leg kick by Fairtex.
Fairtex buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tainaka swats away the attempt to clinch by Fairtex.
Fairtex connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tainaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Fairtex is just out of range.
Fairtex misses with a body kick.
Tainaka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fairtex paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tainaka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Fairtex at a distance.
A head kick misses from Fairtex.
Fairtex misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fairtex bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fairtex is looking to clinch.
Tainaka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tainaka looks to score with a jab to the body but Fairtex is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tainaka throws out a loose jab but Fairtex uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tainaka tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tainaka blocks a head kick by Fairtex.
Tainaka on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fairtex pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tainaka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fairtex throws a hook to the side of Tainaka's head but Tainaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tainaka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fairtex.
Tainaka misses with a looping left.
Tainaka slips under a jab from Fairtex.
Tainaka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fairtex throws a nice head kick!

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Tainaka.
Tainaka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tainaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Fairtex.
Fairtex blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex looking to slow down the pace here.
Fairtex with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Fairtex.
Fairtex's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fairtex misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tainaka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tainaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fairtex is looking to break free of the clinch but Tainaka has double underhooks.
Fairtex throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fairtex lands a knee to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fairtex.
Tainaka lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tainaka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Fairtex throws an elbow that misses.
Tainaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Tainaka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fairtex fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fairtex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tainaka is out of range.
Tainaka throws the left hand but Fairtex avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fairtex. Tainaka does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Tainaka checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Fairtex tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Fairtex gets caught flat footed, as Tainaka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tainaka looking to pass the guard.
Fairtex looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fairtex trying to control the position.

Tainaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tainaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tainaka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fairtex works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tainaka looking to pass the guard.
Tainaka stands up over Fairtex, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tainaka drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tainaka jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tainaka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tainaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Fairtex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fairtex manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tainaka tries to hold on but Fairtex postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kasemchai Fairtex will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Fairtex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fairtex will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tainaka misses with a wild body shot.
Tainaka is looking to clinch.
Tainaka dips to his left and cracks Fairtex with an uppercut!
Tainaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tainaka lands a jab to the nose.
That kick from Fairtex tenderised Tainaka's leg. Tainaka is trying to keep his angry face on.

Tainaka darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tainaka prevents Fairtex from improving his position.
Tainaka is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fairtex tries to get to full guard but Tainaka has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tainaka looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tainaka is looking to take a break and control but Fairtex is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fairtex regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fairtex has his hands on Tainaka's head, controlling the position.

Tainaka 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.
Fairtex wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fairtex manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tainaka manages to get himself to full guard.
Tainaka working a defensive guard here.

Tainaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fairtex has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tainaka is proving hard to escape from.
Fairtex stopping the sweep attempt from Tainaka.
Fairtex wanted to stand there but Tainaka had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fairtex decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tainaka, up you get!
Tainaka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tainaka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fairtex cracks Tainaka with a good jab.
Fairtex misses the jab.
Tainaka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fairtex avoids it really well and circles away.
Tainaka looks to land a right hand but Fairtex moved out of range.
Tainaka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fairtex on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fairtex throws a head kick that misses.
Fairtex throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tainaka tries to score with a low kick but Fairtex moves his leg out of the way.
Fairtex throws a low kick but Tainaka avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tainaka thuds a left hand into Fairtex's body.
Fairtex lands a head kick!
Tainaka blocks a head kick by Fairtex.
Tainaka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fairtex pinned against the cage. Fairtex gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fairtex throws a head kick but Tainaka moves out of range.
Fairtex swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tainaka counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fairtex thinking.
Fairtex misses with a straight right.
Fairtex feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tainaka's calf.
Fairtex throws a hook to the side of Tainaka's head but Tainaka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fairtex works over Tainaka's head and body with a nice combination.
Tainaka closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tainaka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fairtex.
Tainaka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kasemchai Fairtex showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fairtex 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinji Tainaka!