PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Kusanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hitoshi Igarashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kusanagi comes into the arena with Got The Life blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Kusanagi
vs
Igarashi

178 cm
21
150 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

174 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Jushin Kusanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hitoshi Igarashi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Igarashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Igarashi looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Igarashi misses with a wild body shot.
Igarashi throws a sloppy head kick and Kusanagi moves out of range easily.
Igarashi misses with the combination.

Kusanagi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Igarashi stops Kusanagi from passing to mount.
Kusanagi is looking to take a break and control but Igarashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Igarashi is trying to get back to his feet.
Kusanagi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kusanagi advances to full mount.
Kusanagi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kusanagi stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Kusanagi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kusanagi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Igarashi misses with a two punch combination.
Hitoshi Igarashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Igarashi tries to bum rush Kusanagi with a series of wild strikes but Kusanagi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Igarashi tries to clinch but Kusanagi is having none of it.
Igarashi throws a solid leg kick but Kusanagi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Igarashi.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kusanagi checks a leg kick.
Igarashi throws a right hand that Kusanagi ducks under and follows up with a left that Kusanagi also avoids with ease.

Kusanagi shoots in and bounces Igarashi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kusanagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Igarashi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusanagi is working hard here to advance position.

Igarashi is working an open guard so Kusanagi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Igarashi misses with a body kick.
Kusanagi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kusanagi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Igarashi!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kusanagi stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kusanagi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Igarashi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Igarashi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kusanagi asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Kusanagi working away.
Igarashi is pushing Kusanagi's head away, looking to escape. Kusanagi manages to hold on to the position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kusanagi trying to control the action but Igarashi is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Igarashi prevents Kusanagi from improving position.
Kusanagi controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kusanagi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jushin Kusanagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Igarashi throws a half hearted mid kick.

Kusanagi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kusanagi lands in his opponent's guard.

Kusanagi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kusanagi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kusanagi is in close to Igarashi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jushin Kusanagi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kusanagi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Igarashi throws a lazy head kick

and Kusanagi counters with a shoot takedown. Igarashi fights it but they end up in guard.

Kusanagi stands up from Igarashi's guard - Kusanagi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jushin Kusanagi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kusanagi shoots for a double leg takedown but Igarashi sprawls well. He's pushed Kusanagi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Igarashi cracks Kusanagi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Igarashi throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kusanagi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kusanagi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kusanagi looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Igarashi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jushin Kusanagi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kusanagi stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Kusanagi with that takedown attempt.
Igarashi misses with a body punch

and Kusanagi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kusanagi.
Kusanagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Igarashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Igarashi keeping full guard, as Kusanagi tries to pass.
Kusanagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Igarashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Igarashi wriggles free and stands up.
Igarashi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kusanagi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Igarashi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusanagi avoids the attempt from Igarashi to control.
Kusanagi mounts Igarashi! Really nice guard pass there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kusanagi looking to secure an arm triangle but Igarashi defends it well.

Kusanagi is working for a guillotine from mount but Igarashi frees his head quite easily.
Kusanagi wants to take his opponent's back but Igarashi doesn't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kusanagi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Kusanagi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Igarashi has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Kusanagi stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Igarashi thows a body shot but no joy.

Kusanagi scores a takedown into full mount!
Igarashi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Igarashi is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kusanagi stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Igarashi misses with a takedown attempt

so Kusanagi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Igarashi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kusanagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Kusanagi stops Igarashi from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kusanagi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kusanagi slips nicely into half guard.
Kusanagi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Igarashi can do to turn this around?
Kusanagi controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jushin Kusanagi dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kusanagi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kusanagi decides to stand back up.

Kusanagi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Igarashi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kusanagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Igarashi keeps working.
Kusanagi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Igarashi!
Kusanagi moves to the back position.
Igarashi is trying to stand back up.
A lull in the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Igarashi is trying to get back to his feet but Kusanagi has full control of the position and if anything, Igarashi has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Kusanagi is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Igarashi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Igarashi for a finish.
Igarashi tries to escape the position.
Kusanagi wants to control but Igarashi manages to buck him off and is now in Kusanagi's guard! Nice work there by Igarashi!
Igarashi is stalling in the full guard.

Kusanagi is looking for a triangle but Igarashi pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Igarashi won't allow Kusanagi to sweep him here.

Kusanagi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Igarashi is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kusanagi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Igarashi's back instead.
Good control from Kusanagi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kusanagi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Igarashi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kusanagi softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kusanagi looking for the RNC.
Kusanagi scores with punches and elbows.

Kusanagi is persistently looking for the submission but Igarashi is defending it well.
Igarashi is trying to stand back up.

Kusanagi looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Igarashi taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jushin Kusanagi!