PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Kadota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessio Legionarius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kadota comes to the ring accompanied by Better With The Lights Off - New Boyz. Alessio Legionarius has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Takashi Kadota's chin.

Kadota
vs
Legionarius

185 cm
23
200 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
200 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] Knockout Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takashi Kadota!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alessio Legionarius!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Kadota.
Kadota lands with a good body shot.
Legionarius walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kadota checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Legionarius slips under a jab from Kadota.
Legionarius misses with an uppercut. Kadota saw that one coming.
Legionarius tries to clinch up.
Legionarius lands a body shot.
Legionarius throws a nice inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Kadota misses.
Legionarius misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kadota counters with a left to the body.
Legionarius tries to clinch up but Kadota circles away and keeps his distance.
Kadota dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kadota moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Legionarius throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Legionarius scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kadota doesn't seem bothered though.
Kadota lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legionarius tries to clinch but Kadota moves out of range.
Legionarius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kadota manages to avoid it.
Kadota throws a low kick but Legionarius moves out of range easily.
Legionarius throws a good cross that connects.
Kadota looks for the body kick but Legionarius saw that one coming.
Kadota circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kadota dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Legionarius. That did some damage!
Kadota throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Legionarius throws an overhand right that lands on Kadota's shoulder, as Kadota tries to avoid the shot.
Legionarius takes a swing at Kadota's ribcage but misses.
Kadota feints and then cracks Legionarius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Legionarius down.
Kadota throws a shot from downtown. Legionarius moves away and avoids it.
Legionarius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kadota.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legionarius closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kadota's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Legionarius throws a strike but Kadota rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kadota stands up over Legionarius, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Legionarius wants to sweep here but Kadota controlling him for the moment.
Kadota cracks Legionarius with a solid left hand.
Legionarius wants to stand up but Kadota is controlling him.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kadota connects with a couple of short punches.
Kadota throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Legionarius works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kadota missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius looking for a sweep. Not yet Legionarius, not yet.
Legionarius is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kadota landing some decent shots from guard.
Kadota thows a big elbow that misses.
Kadota missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kadota throws a big right hand that misses.
Legionarius looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Legionarius pulls Kadota in close to prevent any damage.
Kadota in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kadota throws and elbow that misses. Legionarius uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kadota's guard. Nice move by Legionarius!
Legionarius looking to sit in guard and control but Kadota gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Legionarius controls Kadota momentarily but Kadota frees himself.
Kadota trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kadota trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legionarius keeping moving, preventing Kadota from controlling successfully.
Legionarius trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Kadota dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kadota wants to clinch up but Legionarius keeps it at a distance.
Legionarius fails with a takedown attempt.
Legionarius lands a nice looking body shot.
Legionarius is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kadota rather than just go for the knockout.
Kadota swats away the attempt to clinch by Legionarius.
Kadota connects with a nice looking jab.
Kadota bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kadota misses with a low kick.
Legionarius lands a slapping body shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kadota - that will leave a mark!

Legionarius has Kadota up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kadota takes a shot to the head.
Kadota drops down looking for an ankle pick but Legionarius pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kadota throws a jab when Legionarius was well out of range.
Legionarius lands a lovely overhand right.
Kadota doesn't manage to clinch there - Legionarius circles away.
Legionarius fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kadota checks it well.
Kadota just misses with a punch to the body.
Kadota throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kadota scores with a hook to the body. Legionarius takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Kadota shoots in and bounces Legionarius off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Kadota is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kadota postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kadota's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Legionarius controlling the position.
Legionarius working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kadota.
Legionarius is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kadota postures up in Legionarius's guard and throws a big left but Legionarius blocks it.
Kadota trying to control but Legionarius is working from the bottom.
Legionarius is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius is trying to control the position but Kadota postures up.
Kadota wants to control from the top but Legionarius keeps moving.
Kadota has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Legionarius looking for a sweep. Not yet Legionarius, not yet.
Kadota throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alessio Legionarius was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kadota takes a swing at Legionarius's ribcage but misses.
Kadota scores with a hook.
Legionarius moves out of range of the strikes.
Kadota shoots in looking for a takedown but Legionarius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kadota's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kadota looks to score with a jab to the body but Legionarius is just out of range.
Legionarius lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Legionarius feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kadota tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kadota is trying to control the position but Legionarius postures up.
Legionarius trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kadota manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kadota working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kadota looking to sit in guard and control but Legionarius gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Legionarius throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Kadota dominated that second round.
That's time! Kadota's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kadota throws a solid leg kick but Legionarius takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kadota.
Legionarius keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Legionarius checks a leg kick.
Legionarius throws a low kick but Kadota avoids it.
Kadota misses with a straight right.
Kadota throws a body punch but Legionarius moves out of range.
Legionarius lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Legionarius tries to close the distance and clinch but Kadota swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An inside leg kick from Legionarius misses.
A big right from Kadota misses.
Legionarius takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Horrible takedown by Kadota or perhaps it was just good defense by Legionarius which made him look bad.
Kadota lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legionarius throws a shot from downtown. Kadota moves away and avoids it.
Kadota throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Legionarius counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kadota tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Legionarius swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kadota throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Legionarius's waist but Legionarius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kadota off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takashi Kadota. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kadota lets loose with a powerful body kick. Legionarius will feel that in the morning.
Legionarius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legionarius throws out a loose jab but Kadota uses good head movement to avoid it.
Legionarius throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Takashi Kadota is winning the standup battle so far.
Kadota throws a hook to the side of Legionarius's head but Legionarius sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kadota fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legionarius will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kadota misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius misses with a wild body shot.
Kadota tries to score with a low kick but Legionarius moves his leg out of the way.
Legionarius throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kadota looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Legionarius moves out of range of the body kick.
Legionarius is looking to clinch but Kadota is avoiding it.
Kadota avoids the head kick by Legionarius.
Legionarius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Legionarius has a takedown stuffed.
Legionarius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kadota manages to avoid it.
Kadota connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kadota misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kadota cracks Legionarius with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A slow jab from Kadota misses its intended target.
Legionarius thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kadota. Legionarius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kadota throws a half hearted mid kick.
Legionarius lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Legionarius misses with a body kick.
Legionarius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kadota moves away.
Kadota throws a jab but it's blocked by Legionarius.
Legionarius lands a leg kick that knocks Kadota off balance momentarily.
Legionarius jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kadota ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kadota throws a sloppy body shot
and Legionarius counters with a leg kick.
Legionarius moves out of range of the body kick from Kadota.
Legionarius throws a shot from downtown. Kadota moves away and avoids it.
Kadota tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Legionarius was well out of range. Poor timing from Kadota.
Legionarius tries a low kick but Kadota avoids it.
Kadota uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Legionarius.
A jab lands there for Legionarius.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A bone on bone clash there as Legionarius blocks the leg kick.
Kadota scores with a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legionarius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice takedown defense from Legionarius. No joy for Kadota on that attempt.
Nice cross by Legionarius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Takashi Kadota did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Kadota's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kadota tries for a takedown but Legionarius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kadota avoids the body shot from Legionarius.
Legionarius looks to land a left hand but Kadota moved out of range nicely.
Legionarius throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A telegraphed right hand from Kadota misses the target.
Legionarius misses with a body shot.
Kadota fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Legionarius has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Legionarius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kadota dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kadota fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Legionarius looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Legionarius is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Legionarius cracks the inside of Kadota's front leg.
Kadota lands a nice leg kick that just misses Legionarius's sensitive parts.
Kadota just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kadota tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Legionarius is able to avoid easily.
Legionarius thumps Kadota with a low kick.
Legionarius takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kadota with a jab.
Kadota looks to score with a jab to the body but Legionarius is just out of range.
Legionarius misses with a hook. Kadota ducked under it nicely.
Kadota fails with a takedown attempt.
Kadota fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legionarius lands a leg kick that knocks Kadota off balance momentarily.
Kadota misses with a kick to the body.
Kadota is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius wants to clinch up but Kadota keeps it at a distance.

Kadota shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Legionarius napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kadota looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Legionarius is avoiding damage well.
Legionarius is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Legionarius manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
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!
Kadota is refusing to be controlled, as Legionarius sits in half guard.
Kadota has hold of Legionarius's hands but Legionarius slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Legionarius thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kadota's head.
Takashi Kadota overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius with the ground and pound but Kadota uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Legionarius looking to sit in guard and control but Kadota gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Legionarius tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Legionarius preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kadota throws a big right hand that misses.
Kadota looking to pass the guard.
Kadota throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kadota throws a strike but Legionarius rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kadota pulls Legionarius in close to prevent any damage.
Legionarius stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kadota swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Legionarius throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kadota works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kadota keeping moving, preventing Legionarius from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Takashi Kadota will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Legionarius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legionarius throws a leg kick but Kadota checks it.
Kadota throws a chopping leg kick but Legionarius manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Legionarius misses the body punch
and Kadota cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Legionarius throws a front kick aimed at Kadota's knee but Kadota avoids it well.
Kadota misses with a body shot
and Legionarius counters with a good, hard body kick but Kadota shrugs it off.
Kadota throws the left hand but Legionarius avoids the punch easily.
Legionarius scores with a kick to the body.
Legionarius just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Kadota as Legionarius shoots in.
Kadota avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A low kick from Kadota misses
and Legionarius counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kadota.
Legionarius misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Kadota to counter with a crisp jab.
Legionarius throws a nice looking combination but Kadota bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kadota throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kadota shoots in for a double leg but Legionarius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kadota fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Legionarius is out of range.
A big right from Legionarius misses.
Kadota pushes Legionarius away with a front kick.
Legionarius wants to land a leg kick but Kadota is out of range.
Kadota misses with a hook
and Legionarius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Legionarius on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Legionarius throws a jab when Kadota was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kadota. Legionarius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legionarius scores with a jab to the body.
Legionarius just misses with a punch to the body.
Kadota lands with an uppercut that bounces Legionarius off the ropes and back into range.
Horrible takedown by Legionarius or perhaps it was just good defense by Kadota which made him look bad.
Kadota tries to clinch there but Legionarius circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kadota shoots in looking for a takedown but Legionarius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kadota's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kadota ducks under a wild hook from Legionarius.
Legionarius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Kadota misses.
Kadota misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legionarius pushes Kadota away with a front kick.
Kadota walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Legionarius checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Alessio Legionarius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Legionarius thows a body shot but no joy.
Kadota pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kadota on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Legionarius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Legionarius stuns Kadota with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kadota thows a leg kick but Legionarius checks it
and Legionarius counters with an outside leg kick.
Kadota avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kadota chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kadota takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kadota ducks under a wild hook from Legionarius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kadota avoids the body shot from Legionarius.
Legionarius throws a leg kick but Kadota sees it coming and moves out of range.

Legionarius moves into the clinch successfully.
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!
Kadota is looking to control Legionarius's arms but Legionarius gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kadota has his back to the ropes.
A right handed body shot lands from Kadota.
Legionarius's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kadota'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.
Takashi Kadota is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kadota can't find room to land a body shot as Legionarius controls the action.

Legionarius breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kadota slips under a jab.
Legionarius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Legionarius misses the body punch
enabling Kadota to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessio Legionarius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kadota 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 49:46
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takashi Kadota!
Takashi Kadota retains his middleweight title!
Takashi Kadota seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.