PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kagawa
vs
Smith

173 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinji Kagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Smith!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagawa shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kagawa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kagawa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kagawa shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Kagawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kagawa gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.

Kagawa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kagawa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Kagawa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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.
Kagawa dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Kagawa's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Kagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kagawa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.

Kagawa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kagawa is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kagawa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kagawa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kagawa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kagawa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Kagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith slaps away a takedown attempt from Kagawa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kagawa shoots in but no luck this time.
Shinji Kagawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kagawa is defended easily by Smith.
Kagawa shoots in and drives through. Smith sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kagawa.
Smith misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kagawa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Kagawa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Kagawa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kagawa stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa wants to stand up but Smith is controlling the position.
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 Shinji Kagawa will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kagawa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kagawa shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinji Kagawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kagawa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kagawa.
Kagawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.

Kagawa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
Jake Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kagawa decides to stand up.
Kagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Kagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kagawa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Smith as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Kagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Kagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Smith misses with a wild combination.

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.
No luck for Kagawa with that takedown attempt.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shinji Kagawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kagawa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kagawa showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kagawa prevents Smith from standing back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinji Kagawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kagawa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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