PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reza Katebi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Kosugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kosugi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Killers among us. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Katebi
vs
Kosugi

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reza Katebi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sho Kosugi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kosugi gets the takedown into side control.
Katebi sneaks back into half guard.
Katebi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Katebi is refusing to be controlled, as Kosugi sits in half guard.
Katebi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kosugi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kosugi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Katebi is looking to get back to full guard here but Kosugi has managed to pass to side control instead.
Kosugi lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Katebi is looking to reverse the position.
Kosugi wants to control but Katebi is keeping him busy.

Kosugi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katebi is trying to buck Kosugi off.
Kosugi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kosugi scores with a couple of short elbows.
Katebi wants to get back to his feet but Kosugi drags him back down.
Kosugi is looking to take a break and control but Katebi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kosugi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Katebi, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Katebi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katebi tries to buck Kosugi off but Kosugi is having none of it.
Kosugi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Katebi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kosugi working away.
Katebi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kosugi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kosugi misses with the ground and pound.
Kosugi in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kosugi wants to control but Katebi is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kosugi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Katebi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kosugi's guard! Nice work there by Katebi!
Katebi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Katebi tries to free his leg and advance position but Kosugi is retaining full guard.
Kosugi wants to stand and escape but Katebi is having none of it.
Katebi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Katebi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
You can see the frustration on Kosugi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Katebi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kosugi is trying to control Katebi's posture but Katebi avoids it.
Kosugi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Katebi decides to stand back up. Katebi steps back and let's Kosugi get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Katebi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kosugi sprawls well initially but Katebi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katebi is looking to stall here but Kosugi recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Kosugi dominated that round.
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.

Kosugi looks to land a right hand but Katebi moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Kosugi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kosugi throws a hook but Katebi avoids it easily.
Katebi slips under a jab.
Katebi closes the distance and clinches up with Kosugi, looking for a takedown. Katebi pushes Kosugi against the cage but Kosugi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kosugi shoots in for a takedown but Katebi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kosugi tries to clinch but Katebi is having none of it.
Katebi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Katebi throws the kick towards the body but Kosugi avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosugi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Katebi tries to clinch up but Kosugi circles away and keeps his distance.
Katebi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Katebi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Katebi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kosugi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kosugi forces his way into half guard.
Kosugi prevents Katebi from improving his position.
Kosugi is pressing down on Katebi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Katebi is holding on for now.
Katebi wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katebi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Katebi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kosugi.

Katebi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katebi scores with a nice head shot.
Kosugi throws a chopping leg kick but Katebi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Katebi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Katebi shoots in but Kosugi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reza Katebi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katebi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kosugi sprawls well. Kosugi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Katebi gets slowly back to his feet.
Katebi looks to land a body kick but Kosugi moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katebi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kosugi throws out the jab.

Kosugi feints and as Katebi raises his hands in defense, Kosugi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kosugi wants to pass the guard but Katebi is keeping the position.
Katebi wants to stand up but Kosugi is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katebi trying to control the position.
Kosugi trying to control but Katebi is working from the bottom.
Katebi is trying to hold Kosugi in close to prevent damage but Kosugi has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi throwing shots but Katebi is blocking nicely.
Kosugi is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kosugi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kosugi throws some wild stikes that Katebi manages to avoid easily.
Kosugi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Katebi is looking to escape.
Katebi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kosugi.
Katebi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Katebi stands up from Kosugi's guard - Katebi perhaps looking for a knockout.

Katebi gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sho Kosugi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Katebi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Katebi with a poor takedown

and Kosugi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Katebi keeping full guard, as Kosugi tries to pass.
Kosugi trying to control but Katebi is working from the bottom.
Katebi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kosugi is working Katebi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Katebi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kosugi.
Kosugi trying to control but Katebi is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosugi throwing strikes from guard but Katebi blocks nicely.
Kosugi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Katebi's guard.
Ground and pound from Kosugi.
Katebi is refusing to be controlled, as Kosugi sits in half guard.
Katebi wants to control but Kosugi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kosugi is looking to take a break and control but Katebi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Katebi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kosugi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kosugi lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kosugi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kosugi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
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!
Katebi desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Kosugi seems to be working for a kimura but Katebi defends the submission attempt.
Kosugi works his way into side control.
The ground and pound from Kosugi seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katebi wants to control but Kosugi postures up.
Kosugi in side control, throwing shots but Katebi defends.
Katebi wants to control but Kosugi postures up.
Katebi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kosugi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kosugi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kosugi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kosugi looking to control but Katebi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Katebi tries to hold on but Kosugi pushes him away.
Sho Kosugi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosugi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kosugi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kosugi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Reza Katebi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sho Kosugi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Katebi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kosugi is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sho Kosugi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kosugi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sho Kosugi!
An out of breath and clearly excited Sho Kosugi thanked BioPharm Nutrition for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).