PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Liam Apostle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Apostle
vs
Kei

175 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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, Liam Apostle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Kei!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apostle tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kei paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Apostle drives through and clinches with Kei against the cage.
Kei tries for a takedown but Apostle manages to get underhooks.

Apostle gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Apostle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Apostle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kei is keeping the position for now.
Kei is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kei wants to sweep here but Apostle controlling him for the moment.
Apostle looking to sit in guard and control but Kei gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Apostle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kei can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apostle lands some strikes from the bottom.

Kei postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Apostle is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kei, into his guard.
Apostle is looking to work some ground and pound but Kei has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apostle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apostle is in close to Kei's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Apostle looking to pass the guard.
Apostle loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Apostle 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.
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!
Apostle distracts Kei with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Apostle landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apostle trying to control but Kei is working from the bottom.
Apostle looking to sit in guard and control but Kei gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Apostle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kei manages to get himself to full guard.
Apostle is working Kei over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Apostle passes Kei's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kei blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apostle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apostle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kei taking some punishment here, with Apostle in his half guard.
Apostle trying to control from Kei's half guard. Kei has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Apostle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Apostle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Apostle tries to free his leg and advance position but Kei is retaining full guard.

Apostle drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kei looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kei looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kei!
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kei has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Apostle is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Kei yanks on the arm and Apostle is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Kei.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Kei!