PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Faber
vs
Kagawa

168 cm
24
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

173 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shinji Kagawa!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Faber or perhaps it was just good defense by Kagawa which made him look bad.
Kagawa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kagawa duly obliges.
Faber with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kagawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Faber shoots for a double leg takedown but Kagawa sprawls well. He's pushed Faber's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kagawa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
No luck for Faber with that takedown attempt.
Faber is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kagawa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Faber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kagawa circles away.
Faber misses with a takedown
and Kagawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Faber is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber fails with the takedown
and Kagawa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kagawa lands a body shot.
Kagawa lands a body shot.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt
and Kagawa counters with a one-two to the body.
Kagawa lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A shot to the liver by Kagawa. Beautiful body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kagawa.

Kagawa gets a double leg takedown into Faber's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kagawa slips nicely into half guard.
Kagawa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Faber knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kagawa on the ground.
Kagawa content just to control the position here.

Kagawa working for a submission but Faber is keeping him at bay.

Faber defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kagawa.

Kagawa is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber shoots and misses
and Kagawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kagawa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kagawa lands a nice looking body shot.
Kagawa moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kagawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kagawa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kagawa looks to land a combination. Faber sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kagawa stuffs the takedown.
Kagawa lands a jab to Faber's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa looks to land a combination. Faber sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Faber is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kagawa scores with a decent looking hook.
Kagawa is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Faber had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Kagawa scores with a nice head shot.
Urijah Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kagawa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kagawa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fabers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Faber takes one to the chin there.
Faber stuffs the takedown attempt from Kagawa. Kagawa gets slowly back to his feet.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Faber. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Faber is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kagawa dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Faber fails with the takedown
and Kagawa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Faber thinking.
Kagawa misses with a few strikes there.
Faber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Faber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kagawa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faber somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kagawa scores with a jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faber shoots for a takedown but Kagawa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shinji Kagawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kagawa tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kagawa to the ground. Kagawa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa lands a nice looking body shot.
Faber has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kagawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A left and a right from Kagawa both land. Nice combination.

Faber is rocked!
Kagawa connects with a looping right hand.
Oh Faber is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kagawa works the jab nicely.
Faber seems to have got his legs back now.
Faber keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Faber looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kagawa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faber has his takedown stuffed
and Faber takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kagawa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Faber's head.
Faber will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Faber takes a jab right on the kisser.
Urijah Faber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kagawa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Faber on the side of the head.
Kagawa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Faber looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Faber doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kagawa counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kagawa lands with a right hand.
Kagawa works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kagawa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Faber takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kagawa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Faber at a distance.
Kagawa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Faber's hands.
Kagawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kagawa scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A head kick lands from Kagawa that sends Faber to the canvas. Faber tries to scramble back to his feet but Kagawa brings him back down into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kagawa has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Faber!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kagawa controlling from the full mount.
Kagawa landing punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kagawa has isolated one of Faber's arms. Faber looking to fight him off but Kagawa twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shinji Kagawa!