PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koichi Kamei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koichi Kamei has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kamei
vs
Russo

182 cm
26
165 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

169 cm
33
165 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Hopkins Athletics ($6 shirts!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Koichi Kamei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frankie Russo!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Russo was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
Russo staying out of range there.
Kamei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kamei walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Russo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Russo misses with the combination.
Kamei misses with a straight right.
Kamei's jab looks to have found its range, popping Russo under the eye.
Kamei misses with an uppercut.
Kamei lands a lovely overhand right.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Russo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kamei looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kamei misses with a left hand
and Russo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Koichi Kamei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamei ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kamei scores with a hook to the body. Russo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice uppercut there from Russo.

Kamei is rocked!
Good exchange - Kamei coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Kamei.
Kamei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kamei avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kamei is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kamei throws a shot from downtown. Russo moves away and avoids it.
Kamei lands a lovely overhand right.
Kamei looks to land a right hand but Russo moved out of range.
Kamei lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kamei is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kamei connects with a single shot there.
Kamei connects with a good right hand that stumbles Russo. Russo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kamei misses with a head kick.
Kamei swings for the body but Russo moves out of range.
No luck for Russo with that takedown attempt.
A good leg kick by Kamei.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kamei takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Russo defending well as Kamei loads up on a big left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kamei.
Russo falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Kamei counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamei throws a body punch but Russo moves out of range.
Russo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russo throws a series of punches but Kamei moves out of range.
Russo misses with a few strikes there.
Russo throws a series of punches but Kamei moves out of range.
Kamei throws a right hand that Russo ducks under and follows up with a left that Russo also avoids with ease.
Russo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot lands for Kamei.
Russo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Russo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Russo there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kamei.
Russo misses with a two punch combination.
Kamei jabs Russo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Russo tries to bum rush Kamei with a series of wild strikes but Kamei uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kamei lands the left hand.
Russo walks into a jab.
Russo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russo wants it to stay on the feet.
Russo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamei manages to avoid it.
Kamei scores with a jab to the head.
Kamei is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
Kamei dodges the punch combination from Russo.
Russo scores with a jab to the body.
Kamei lands with a thumping leg kick.
Russo misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kamei.
Kamei is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
No joy there for Russo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Russo connects with a right hand. Kamei shakes it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamei feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Russo's calf.
Kamei with a jab.
Kamei takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Russo misses with a double jab.
Kamei is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kamei looks to land a body kick but Russo moved away.
Kamei takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kamei lunges at Russo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Russo's hand.
Kamei lands a really nice looking cross but Russo seems unphased.
Kamei misses with a leg kick.
Kamei lands a nice leg kick that just misses Russo's sensitive parts.
Russo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kamei.
Russo fails to land with a series of punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Russo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Russo.
Kamei lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jab by Kamei.
Russo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kamei.
Kamei swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Russo.
Russo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kamei swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Russo.
Kamei is looking to slow Russo down with leg kicks.
Russo throws a hook to the side of Kamei's head but Kamei sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo scores with a hook.
Russo connects with a jab.
Oh Kamei is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A punch combination from Russo misses.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Kamei bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kamei lands a leg kick that knocks Russo off balance momentarily.
Kamei seems to have got his legs back now.
Kamei getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamei feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Russos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Russo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kamei lands a jab-cross combination.
Kamei looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Russo is fending him off so far but Kamei persists. Nope, Russo circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koichi Kamei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Russo.
Kamei misses the jab.
Kamei throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kamei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kamei.
Kamei misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Russo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kamei looks to land a left hand but Russo moved out of range nicely.
Kamei throws a big shot that misses.
Kamei takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Russo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kamei lands with a cross.
Some wild striking there from Kamei.
Russo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kamei.
Russo blocks a jab.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kamei circles away quickly and effectively.
Kamei drops his hands momentarily and Russo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kamei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Russo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamei was well out of range. Poor timing from Russo.
Russo works over Kamei's head and body with a nice combination.
Russo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kamei finds it's way round the side to connect with Russo's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kamei.
Kamei keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Russo.
Russo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kamei works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Russo looks to land a combination but Kamei avoids it well.
Russo missing with a left hand there. Kamei was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kamei fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Russo.
Russo lands a slapping body shot.
Kamei throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Russo throws a lazy right hand but Kamei sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Russo wants to land a leg kick but Kamei is out of range.
Kamei lands the left hand.
Russo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kamei lands a head kick. Russo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kamei lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Russo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kamei. Kamei obviously looking to wear him down.
Kamei slips under a jab.
Kamei thuds a left hand into Russo's body.
Kamei bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kamei throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kamei keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kamei trying to control but Russo postures up.
Russo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kamei does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Russo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kamei defending well though.
Kamei regains full guard. Nicely done.
Russo won't allow Kamei to sweep him here.
Kamei trying to control the position.
Russo is looking to work some ground and pound but Kamei has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kamei is trying to keep Russo in close.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Koichi Kamei will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kamei uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Russo.
Kamei misses with a wild body shot.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.

Russo gets the takedown into side control.
Kamei tries to buck Russo off but Russo is having none of it.
Kamei takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Russo throwing strikes but Kamei manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kamei working the ground and pound but Russo is defending the strikes.
Kamei tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kamei looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russo is avoiding damage well.
Russo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kamei's best efforts.
Kamei not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kamei throws a strike but Russo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Kamei from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koichi Kamei has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russo slips under a jab from Kamei.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kamei.
Kamei misses with a takedown
and Russo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kamei misses with an uppercut. Russo saw that one coming.
Kamei stuns Russo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kamei leaves Russo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Russo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kamei throws a hook but Russo avoids it easily.
Russo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kamei fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Russo sprawls well initially but Kamei persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kamei sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Russo defending well though.
Kamei missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kamei will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Russo tries to get to full guard but Kamei has control of the leg.
Kamei throwing shots but Russo is blocking nicely.
Kamei is keen to just control but Russo is a slippery customer.
Kamei not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kamei lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamei wants to pass the guard but Russo is defending well.
Russo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Russo is looking to improve his position.
Kamei missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kamei has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Russo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kamei.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kamei looking to finish with strikes here!
Russo tries to hold on but Kamei pushes him away.
Kamei lands a big elbow.
Russo is trying to escape the mount.
Russo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kamei unloading with bombs!
Kamei lands a nice shot to the head.
Kamei with the ground and pound from mount.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo is squirming around, avoiding Kamei's attempts to control the action.
Kamei looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Russo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kamei can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Russo is looking to escape.
Kamei unloads with some shots from mount but Russo bucks and avoids them well.
Kamei looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kamei thowing shots but they're missing.
Kamei controlling from mount.
Kamei in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Russo is rocked!
Russo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Russo is still in real trouble! Can Kamei finish him?
Kamei has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kamei unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Russo wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Kamei celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Koichi Kamei!
Koichi Kamei very nearly forgot to thank Hopkins Athletics ($6 shirts!) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.