PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tetsuya Takimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kekoa Kawai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawai is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ace of Spades. Tetsuya Takimoto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Takimoto
vs
Kawai

176 cm
27
157 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

170 cm
21
146 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tetsuya Takimoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kekoa Kawai!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawai lands with a right hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kawai, right into the meat.
Kawai misses with the combination.
Takimoto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kawai tries to move into range but Takimoto moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takimoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kawai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takimoto moves away.
Kawai scores with a punch to the head.
Kawai wants to slow Takimoto down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice uppercut there from Takimoto.
Kawai misses with a looping right.
Kawai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kawai jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Takimoto throws a big shot that misses.
Takimoto walks into a straight right hand from Kawai.
Kawai fails in his attempt to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Takimoto checks a leg kick.
Kawai throws a nice looking combination but Takimoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takimoto with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kawai manages to avoid it.
Kawai misses with a left hand
and Takimoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kawai.
Kawai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kawai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Takimoto moves out of range of the strikes.
Kawai swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Takimoto.
Takimoto lands a nice looking body shot.
Takimoto misses with the combination.
Takimoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A good leg kick by Kawai.
Takimoto scores with a nice strike.
Kawai throws a lazy uppercut
and Takimoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kawai shoots in looking for a takedown but Takimoto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kawai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Takimoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kawai.
Kawai keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Takimoto crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kawai - the referee stops the clock and Takimoto gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kawai. Takimoto manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Good leg kick by Kawai there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawai shoots for a takedown but Takimoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tetsuya Takimoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kekoa Kawai.
Takimoto misses the shot to the body.
Takimoto falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kawai counters with a one-two to the body.
Kawai misses with a straight left.
Kawai is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Takimoto had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Good shot there by Kawai.
Kawai throws a hook but Takimoto blocks it.
Takimoto misses the shot to the body.
Takimoto lands with an uppercut that bounces Kawai off the cage and back into rage.
Kawai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Takimoto misses the jab.
Kawai shoots in but no luck this time.
Kawai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawai walks into a jab.
Kawai missing with a left hand there. Takimoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kawai misses with a takedown
and Takimoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice defenses there by Takimoto.
Nice body punch from Takimoto.
Kawai throws a hook but Takimoto avoids it easily.
Takimoto throws a right and a left that Kawai avoids nicely.
Takimoto with a nice cross.
Tetsuya Takimoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takimoto feints a jab promting Kawai to slip. Takimoto then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kawai slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Jab from Takimoto.
Kawai misses the shot to the body.
Takimoto misses with a lunging right hand
and Kawai counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kawai lunges at Takimoto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Takimoto's hand.
Takimoto takes a swing at Kawai's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawai feints and then cracks Takimoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takimoto down.
A telegraphed right hand from Takimoto misses the target.
Kawai moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Takimoto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Takimoto lands a lovely overhand right.
Kawai throws a poor cross that misses
and Takimoto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Kawai scores a takedown into full mount!
Takimoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kawai pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawai landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kawai misses with a jab to the body
enabling Takimoto to counter with a crisp jab.
Kawai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Takimoto stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Takimoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kawai looks to throw the jab but Takimoto is out of range.
Kawai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Takimoto throws a lazy uppercut
and Kawai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kawai throws a leg kick but Takimoto moved away.
Takimoto looks to land a right hand but Kawai moved out of range.
Kawai jabs at Takimoto's body.
Decent striking displayed by Takimoto there.
Kawai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kawai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kawai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takimoto swivels and escapes.
Takimoto slips a straight right by Kawai.
Takimoto rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kawai counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kawai.
Kawai prevents a body shot from Takimoto.
Takimoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Kawai controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai jumps guard but Takimoto stands there with Kawai around his waist. Kawai gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tetsuya Takimoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kekoa Kawai.
Kawai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takimoto misses with a body punch.
Takimoto is leaning against Kawai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Takimoto presses Kawai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Takimoto can't find room to land a body shot as Kawai controls the action.
Takimoto misses with a body punch.
Kawai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kawai lands with a left to the head.
Takimoto prevents the takedown attempt.
Kawai blocks a body shot from Takimoto.
Takimoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Takimoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Takimoto fails to land.
Kawai lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Takimoto.

That's two 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.
Kawai drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takimoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kawai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Takimoto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kawai lands a body punch.
Kawai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Takimoto walks away with a smile on his face. Kawai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kawai lands with a good body shot.
Kawai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takimoto.
Kawai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kawai looks for the body kick but Takimoto saw that one coming.
Takimoto slips under a jab.
Takimoto misses with a lunging right hand
and Kawai counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kawai throws the kick towards the body but Takimoto avoids it.
Takimoto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Takimoto swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kawai counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawai swings widly with a right hand
and Takimoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Takimoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Takimoto throws a right hand that misses
and Takimoto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kawai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kawai misses with a left hand
and Takimoto counters with a three punch combo that has Kawai backing up. Kawai nods at Takimoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Kawai scores with a body shot.
Takimoto is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kawai.
Takimoto throws an off balance right hand
and Kawai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kawai tries for a takedown but Takimoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kawai lands the left hand.
Takimoto thuds a left hand into Kawai's body.
Nice defenses there by Kawai.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kawai.
Kawai just misses with a punch to the body.
Kawai misses with an uppercut
and Takimoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto stuns Kawai with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Takimoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kawai.
Takimoto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kawai can pounce on him.
Kawai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kawai defending well as Takimoto loads up on a big left hand.
Kawai connects with a leg kick. Takimoto looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kawai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kawai pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kawai tries to close the distance and clinch but Takimoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kawai throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kawai throws a right hand that misses
and Takimoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kawai throws a lazy right hand but Takimoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takimoto takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takimoto.
Takimoto misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kekoa Kawai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Takimoto swings widly with a right hand
and Kawai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kawai scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Takimoto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kawai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kawai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Takimoto misses with a hook to the body
and Kawai counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Takimoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kawai.
Kawai avoids the body shot from Takimoto.
Kawai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Takimoto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kawai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Takimoto slips under a jab.
Kawai slips a jab and a cross from Takimoto.
Takimoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kawai manages to avoid it.
Takimoto stuffs the takedown.
Kekoa Kawai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kawai lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takimoto.
Takimoto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kawai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takimoto.
Takimoto throws an off balance right hand
and Kawai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Takimoto swings for the body but Kawai moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kawai.
Kawai lands a jab to Takimoto's midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kawai slips a jab and a cross from Takimoto.
Takimoto misses with an uppercut
and Kawai counters with a good low kick that Takimoto was not able to check.
Kawai misses with a hook.
Kawai throws a poor cross that misses
and Takimoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takimoto throws a hook to the side of Kawai's head but Kawai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kawai has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Takimoto lands a jab.
Takimoto swings for the body but Kawai moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawai throws a right hand that misses
and Takimoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kawai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kawai throws a body punch but Takimoto moves out of range.
Kawai connects with a leg kick. Takimoto looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kawai throws the kick towards the body but Takimoto avoids it.
Donk. Kawai catches Takimoto right on the button with a cross.
Kawai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takimoto.
Nice sprawl there from Takimoto as Kawai shoots in.
Tetsuya Takimoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kekoa Kawai.
Takimoto misses the body punch
and Kawai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kawai throws a right hand that Takimoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Takimoto also avoids with ease.
Takimoto throws an off balance right hand

and Kawai counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kawai distracts Takimoto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Takimoto keeping moving, preventing Kawai from controlling successfully.
Kawai tries to free his leg and advance position but Takimoto is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawai is stalling in the full guard.
Kawai trying to control the position from guard on top but Takimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Takimoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kawai defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kawai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kawai trying to control the position from guard on top but Takimoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawai looking to sit in guard and control but Takimoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kawai is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Takimoto defends well.

Kawai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Takimoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kekoa Kawai really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kawai misses with a straight right.
Kawai throws a series of punches but Takimoto avoids them all with ease.
Takimoto walks into a jab.
Kawai scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kawai tries to move into range but Takimoto moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Takimoto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Takimoto loads up on a big right hand but Kawai slips the punch.
Takimoto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takimoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kawai.
Kawai throws a leg kick which misses Takimoto's front leg but catches the back leg as Takimoto tries to avoid it.
Takimoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Kawai is looking to land body kicks.
Kawai misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai takes a swing at Takimoto's ribcage but misses.

Kawai rushes Takimoto and presses him up against the cage.

Kawai has clasped his hands together around Takimoto's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Takimoto is not content to let Kawai control the position.
Kawai is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kawai scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawai looks up at the clock and then as Takimoto takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kawai smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kawai is working Takimoto over with some ground and pound from side control.

Kawai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kawai is looking to take a break and control but Takimoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kawai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawai is putting a hurting on Takimoto here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kawai sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Takimoto is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kawai advances to full mount.
Kawai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kawai goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Takimoto turns into him and now he's in Kawai's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto wanted to stand there but Kawai had control of the position.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Kawai working for a triangle but Takimoto defends it easily.
Takimoto wanted to stand there but Kawai had control of the position.
Kawai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kekoa Kawai dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Kawai.
Takimoto connects with a right hand. Kawai shakes it off.
Takimoto cracks Kawai with a good jab.
Takimoto takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Takimoto misses with a combination

and Kawai counters by clinching up.
Kawai works on Takimoto's body with a couple of short punches.
Kawai throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kawai goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takimoto prevents it.
Kawai tries to throw a body punch but Takimoto avoids it by throwing Kawai back against the cage.
Kawai lands a shot to the body.
Takimoto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kawai tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Takimoto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Takimoto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kawai lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takimoto backwards.

Kawai gets control of Takimoto's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kawai will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Takimoto wants to get up but he can't break Kawai's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Kawai manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kawai prevents Takimoto from getting the reversal.
Kawai with the ground and pound from mount.
Kawai has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Takimoto's face.
Kawai is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto tries to lock up and control but Kawai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kawai tries to control but Takimoto wriggling away.
Kawai punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kawai lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Takimoto is squirming around, avoiding Kawai's attempts to control the action.
Takimoto is looking to improve his position but Kawai isn't that keen on the idea.
Kawai is landing with some decent strikes but Takimoto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takimoto tries to hold on but Kawai postures up.
Kawai landing punches.
Kawai wants to control the pace but Takimoto is squirming around nicely.
Kawai putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Takimoto is squirming around, avoiding Kawai's attempts to control the action.
Kawai wants to control but instead Takimoto manages to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawai is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kawai lands a nice short elbow.
Kawai winds up and cracks Takimoto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Takimoto is refusing to be controlled, as Kawai sits in half guard.
Tetsuya Takimoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kekoa Kawai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kawai trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kekoa Kawai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kawai has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kekoa Kawai!
Kekoa Kawai is the new featherweight champion!