PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jun Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kawasaki
vs
Kazama

177 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
173 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jun Kawasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawasaki wants to clinch but Kazama slips to the side
and Kazama counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kazama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kazama drives through and clinches with Kawasaki against the cage.
Kawasaki crunches a lovely knee into Kazama's ribcage.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but Kazama blocks with his arms.
Kazama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kawasaki landing knees to the head.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the body.
Kazama tries to pull guard but Kawasaki won't allow it.
Kazama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kawasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kazama takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kazama looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kazama goes for a takedown attempt but Kawasaki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jun Kawasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Kazama.
Kawasaki tries to clinch

and Kazama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kawasaki's guard.
Kazama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kawasaki scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kawasaki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kazama counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kazama.
Kawasaki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kawasaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kawasaki landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Kawasaki.
Kawasaki connects with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kawasaki landing knees to the head.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki landing knees to the head.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kazama missing with knees to the body.
Kazama tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kawasaki landing knees to the head.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kazama's face.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kawasaki missing with knees to the body.
Kawasaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Kazama avoids the damage to the body.
Kazama tries to pull guard but Kawasaki won't allow it.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kazama tries to score a body lock takedown but Kawasaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kawasaki scores with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki scores a nice knee to the body.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kawasaki looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kawasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama looking for a takedown.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kazama has Kawasaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kawasaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kawasaki working Kazama over with knees to the body.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but Kazama blocks with his arms.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kawasaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kazama manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kazama keeping full guard, as Kawasaki tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kawasaki decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kazama, up you get!

Kazama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kazama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kazama lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kazama tries for a takedown but Kawasaki manages to get underhooks.
Kawasaki scores with a knee to the head.
Kazama drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kawasaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jun Kawasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kazama shoots in for a takedown but Kawasaki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kawasaki darts in trying to clinch

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kawasaki won't be happy with that.
Kawasaki is trying to get back to half guard.
Kawasaki trying to remain calm as Kazama controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is looking to reverse the position.
Kawasaki manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kawasaki wants to get back to his feet.
Kawasaki trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Kawasaki manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Kawasaki moves into the clinch successfully.
Kazama tries to pull guard but Kawasaki holds him up against the cage and eventually Kazama drops back down to his feet.
Kazama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kawasaki looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kazama changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kawasaki fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kawasaki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kazama counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kawasaki thinking.
Kawasaki throws a sloppy body shot

and Kazama counters by moving into the clinch.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kawasaki darts in trying to clinch
and Kazama counters with a series of strikes. Kawasaki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kazama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kawasaki as he avoids it easily.
Kawasaki looks to clinch

and Kazama moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Kawasaki.
Jun Kawasaki has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kawasaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Kawasaki.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.
Kazama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kawasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kazama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kawasaki smiles and moves away.
Jun Kawasaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Kazama.
Kawasaki is looking to clinch but Kazama is avoiding it.

Kazama closes the distance and pushes Kawasaki back into the cage.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kawasaki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kazama wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kawasaki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kawasaki looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kazama has Kawasaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kawasaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kawasaki landing knees to the head.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but Kazama blocks it.
Kawasaki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama managing to block the knees to the body from Kawasaki.
Kazama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kazama has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.
Kawasaki scores a nice knee to the body.
Kazama tries to pull guard but Kawasaki won't allow it.
Kawasaki is pressed up against the cage. Kazama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kawasaki down to the mat. Kawasaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kazama circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kazama counters with a takedown into side control.
Kawasaki regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kawasaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kazama.
Kazama circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kazama decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kawasaki's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kazama postures up and lands a big shot to Kawasaki's brow.
Kawasaki wants to get back to his feet but Kazama is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kawasaki has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kazama stopping the sweep attempt from Kawasaki.
Kazama with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama prevents Kawasaki from getting back to his feet.

Kawasaki pushes Kazama off and gets back to his feet.
Kawasaki tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kazama holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kazama has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kawasaki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A knee to the head by Kawasaki.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kawasaki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kawasaki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kawasaki looking to throw knees to the head but Kazama is blocking nicely.
Kazama drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kawasaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kazama blocks it with crossed arms.
Kazama has had enough of the clinch but Kawasaki keeps him there for the moment.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama tries to score a body lock takedown but Kawasaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kazama tries to score a body lock takedown but Kawasaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kawasaki obliges.
Kawasaki putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kazama in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kawasaki.
Kawasaki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama wants a takedown but no success here.
A knee to the head by Kawasaki.
Kawasaki scores a nice knee to the body.
Kawasaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kazama's face.
Kawasaki crunches a lovely knee into Kazama's ribcage.
Kawasaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kazama blocks it with crossed arms.
Kawasaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kawasaki misses with a knee to the head.
Kawasaki misses with a knee strike.
Kazama on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kawasaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kazama.
Kazama looking for a takedown.
Kawasaki tries to land a knee to the head but Kazama blocks with his arms.
Kawasaki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kazama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kawasaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kawasaki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lee Kazama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Kawasaki wants to clinch but Kazama slips to the side
and Kazama counters with a right hand to the body.
Kawasaki wants to clinch but Kazama slips to the side

and Kazama counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kazama won't allow Kawasaki to get back to his feet.
Kawasaki is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kazama dives into side control.
Lee Kazama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kawasaki wants to get back to his feet but Kazama is dominant here and he's now got Kawasaki's back!
Kawasaki avoids the strikes from Kazama.
Kazama is riding his opponent, not letting Kawasaki buck him off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawasaki wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kazama's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Kazama avoiding Kawasaki 's attempts to control his hands.
Kazama struggling to land strikes to the head as Kawasaki covers up.
Kazama really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kawasaki.
Kawasaki wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kawasaki trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Kawasaki is in bad spot here.
Kawasaki is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Kazama missing with strikes.
Kawasaki is trying to stand back up.
I really don't envy Kawasaki right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is trying to get back to his feet but Kazama has full control of the position and if anything, Kawasaki has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Kawasaki covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Kazama wants to control but Kawasaki is keeping busy.
Kawasaki looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Kawasaki defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kazama's arms.
Kazama has the hooks in. Kawasaki is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kawasaki looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Kazama is not going to allow Kawasaki to sit and survive in this position.
Kawasaki trying to get back to his feet but Kazama is in full control for now.

That's four 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.
Kawasaki controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Kawasaki holding both Kazama 's hands and preventing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Kazama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazama 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Kazama!