PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Vidal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kawasaki
vs
Vidal

190 cm
23
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Kawasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabriel Vidal!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kawasaki.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vidal is looking to reverse the position.

Kawasaki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Vidal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vidal prevents Kawasaki from improving position.

Kawasaki is trying to get an arm triangle but Vidal is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawasaki wants to control but Vidal is keeping him busy.
Kawasaki working the ground and pound but Vidal is defending the strikes.

Kawasaki swings around for an armbar but Vidal sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kawasaki's guard.

Vidal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kawasaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vidal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vidal lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kawasaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vidal is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kawasaki is trying to keep Vidal in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gabriel Vidal hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kawasaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kawasaki lands a glancing blow to the side of Vidal's head.

Vidal gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kawasaki is breathing heavily.

Kawasaki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vidal dives on top into guard.
Vidal wants to stand but Kawasaki has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Vidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vidal wants to pass the guard but Kawasaki is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki looking for a guillotine here but Vidal defends easily.
Vidal with a nice head shot there.

Kawasaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vidal defends it easily.

Vidal stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawasaki tries to clinch up but Vidal circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Kawasaki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vidal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Robert Kawasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kawasaki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Robert Kawasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown but Vidal shows good takedown defense.
Kawasaki misses with a jab to the body

and Vidal counters with a single leg into guard. Kawasaki didn't expect that.

Vidal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vidal wants to control from the top but Kawasaki keeps moving.
Vidal lands a couple of digs.
Vidal pushing down on Kawasaki's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawasaki is in trouble now - Vidal has advanced to mount!
Gabriel Vidal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidal tries to control but Kawasaki wriggling away.
Kawasaki working to try and regain half guard.
Vidal postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kawasaki looks a forlorn figure.
Vidal tries to control but Kawasaki wriggling away.
Vidal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Vidal has control of Kawasaki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kawasaki regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vidal with the ground and pound from mount.

Vidal goes for an armbar but Kawasaki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kawasaki.
Kawasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Vidal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vidal is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vidal throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Vidal has wrist control.
Kawasaki forces his way into half guard.

Kawasaki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kawasaki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vidal's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidal is trying to get back to full guard.
Vidal is trying to maintain the position but Kawasaki is very close to passing his half guard.
Vidal gets back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vidal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Vidal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Vidal shoots in for a double leg but Kawasaki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kawasaki has a takedown stuffed.
Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vidal but Vidal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vidal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kawasaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vidal counters with a single leg into guard. Kawasaki didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Vidal passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidal working the ground and pound.
Kawasaki tries to improve position but can't.
Vidal scoring with punches and elbows.
Vidal wants to control but Kawasaki is keeping him busy.
Kawasaki is looking to reverse the position.

Vidal is trying to get an arm triangle but Kawasaki is defending well.
Vidal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawasaki keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is looking to regain half guard here but Vidal keeps moving and retains side control.
Vidal wants to control but Kawasaki is keeping him busy.
Vidal controlling from side mount.
Kawasaki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Kawasaki is working for a kimura but Vidal is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Vidal still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Vidal has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Vidal controls the position.
Vidal is looking to take a break and control but Kawasaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki throws Vidal to one side and escapes!
Vidal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kawasaki.
Kawasaki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kawasaki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vidal can pounce on him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Vidal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kawasaki tries to bench press Vidal off him but Vidal keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Vidal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vidal 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Vidal!