PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jake Sawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aoki Kakashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kakashi has chosen ASAP Rocky-Palace as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sawa
vs
Kakashi

172 cm
24
153 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

173 cm
29
151 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

ADCC Champion
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake Sawa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aoki Kakashi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakashi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kakashi with a poor takedown
and Sawa counters with a left to the body.

Kakashi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kakashi looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kakashi won't allow Sawa to sweep him here.

Kakashi 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.

Kakashi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sawa is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kakashi, into his guard.
Sawa wants to control from the top but Kakashi keeps moving.
Sawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Kakashi is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakashi looking for a guillotine here but Sawa defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kakashi keeping full guard, as Sawa tries to pass.
Sawa is pushing down on Kakashi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kakashi is fighting to maintain full guard but Sawa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sawa is trying to control the action in half guard but Kakashi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kakashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kakashi actively working from the bottom here.

Kakashi looking for submissions off his back.
Kakashi won't allow Sawa to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakashi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kakashi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sawa pulls his head out easily.

Kakashi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sawa wants to pass the guard but Kakashi is defending well.

Kakashi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sawa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sawa trying to control the action but Kakashi is working from the bottom.

Sawa seems to be working for a kimura but Kakashi defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kakashi won't allow Sawa to pass to mount.
Sawa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sawa works his way to his opponent's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kakashi breaks Sawa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kakashi wants to pass the guard but Sawa is keeping the position.
Sawa has Kakashi pulled in close to control his posture.
Kakashi passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Kakashi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sawa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kakashi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sawa has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawa struggling a bit here.
Sawa tries to buck Kakashi off but Kakashi is having none of it.

Kakashi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sawa, who protects the arm well.
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!
Sawa wants to control but Kakashi postures up.

Kakashi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sawa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sawa is looking for a sweep.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Kakashi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sawa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kakashi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kakashi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Sawa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kakashi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kakashi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sawa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Sawa is defending against the submission attempts here by Kakashi.

Kakashi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sawa sees it coming and defends easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sawa works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kakashi wants to pass the guard but Sawa is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sawa is on top in guard.

Kakashi working for a triangle but Sawa defends it easily.

Sawa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kakashi looks gassed!
Sawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kakashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Kakashi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sawa pushing down on Kakashi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Kakashi looking for submissions off his back.
Kakashi is in trouble now - Sawa has advanced to mount!
Sawa manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kakashi to take his back!

Sawa is looking for the choke from the back position but Kakashi is controlling his hands well.
Kakashi wants to escape the position.

Kakashi defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Sawa's arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kakashi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kakashi is desperately trying to improve his position but Sawa has a good base and remains in mount.
Sawa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kakashi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sawa looking to control and managing it successfully.

Sawa jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kakashi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kakashi tries to bench press Sawa off him but Sawa keeps the position.
Kakashi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kakashi tries to buck Sawa off but Sawa is having none of it.
Sawa advances to full mount.
Kakashi has given up his back here. Will Sawa look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Sawa is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Sawa is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sawa doesn't have the hooks in and Kakashi manages to turn into his guard.
Kakashi looking to pass the guard.

Kakashi drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sawa dives on top into guard.
Kakashi can't keep his opponent in guard - Sawa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kakashi actively working from the bottom here.
Sawa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kakashi!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kakashi is working to get back to half guard.
Sawa takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Kakashi wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kakashi is looking to clinch but Sawa is avoiding it.
Kakashi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sawa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kakashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kakashi.
Sawa takes a swing at Kakashi's ribcage but misses.

Sawa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kakashi did well to prevent Sawa getting side control.

Kakashi looking for submissions off his back.

Kakashi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kakashi is breathing heavily.
Sawa uses his free foot to push down on Kakashi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kakashi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawa moves to back control.

Kakashi fending off the submission attempt from Sawa.
Sawa has the hooks in. Kakashi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Kakashi defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Sawa looking for the choke but no joy.
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!
Kakashi can't escape the position.

Sawa looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Kakashi taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jake Sawa!
Jake Sawa is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious Jake Sawa thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.