PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Riku Ogawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Backslide (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Backslide has chosen The Dover Boys as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Riku Ogawa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ogawa
vs
Backslide

173 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Riku Ogawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Backslide!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ogawa fails with a takedown attempt.

Ogawa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ogawa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Backslide really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ogawa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ogawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ogawa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ogawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ogawa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Ogawa seems to be working for a kimura but Backslide defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ogawa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Riku Ogawa just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Nice takedown defense from Backslide. No joy for Ogawa on that attempt.
Backslide misses with a double jab.
Ogawa shoots in for a takedown but Backslide shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Ogawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Backslide misses with a two punch combination.
Backslide misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Backslide throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backslide misses with a wild combination.
Backslide fails to land with a series of punches.
Backslide throws a hook to the side of Ogawa's head but Ogawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ogawa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Backslide can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ogawa controls the pace.
Backslide wants to stand and escape but Ogawa is having none of it.
Ogawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ogawa's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ogawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Backslide is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ogawa controlling from the top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ogawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Backslide swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ogawa looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Ogawa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ogawa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Horrible takedown by Ogawa or perhaps it was just good defense by Backslide which made him look bad.
Backslide throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ogawa.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ogawa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ogawa stays in close to Backslide's body and controls the position.
Backslide wants to get back to his feet but Ogawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ogawa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ogawa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ogawa wants to control but Backslide is keeping him busy.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Riku Ogawa just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Horrible takedown by Ogawa or perhaps it was just good defense by Backslide which made him look bad.

Ogawa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ogawa won't allow Backslide to get back to his feet.
Ogawa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Backslide wants to stand and escape but Ogawa is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ogawa controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ogawa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Backslide for as long as he can get away with.
Ogawa trying to control but Backslide is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backslide wants to stand but Ogawa is controlling the position.
Ogawa seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Riku Ogawa just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Backslide throws a leg kick that misses.
Dan Backslide is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ogawa tries for a takedown but Backslide sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Ogawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ogawa keeps the fight on the outside.
Dan Backslide seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ogawa fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Backslide sprawls well initially but Ogawa persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ogawa works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ogawa looking to control but Backslide is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ogawa wants to take Backslide's back but he can't do it this time.
Backslide is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ogawa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ogawa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ogawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ogawa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backslide looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ogawa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Ogawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Backslide is just riding it out for now. Ogawa eventually gives up the hold.
Ogawa works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Backslide being controlled for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Riku Ogawa just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ogawa has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backslide is looking to clinch but Ogawa is avoiding it.
Backslide keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ogawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Backslide throws the left hand but Ogawa avoids the punch easily.
Backslide misses with a two punch combination.
Ogawa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Backslide is fending him off so far but Ogawa persists. Nope, Backslide circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Ogawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ogawa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Backslide pinned against the cage. Backslide gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Backslide looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dan Backslide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Some wild striking there from Backslide.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ogawa.

Ogawa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Backslide, who protects the arm well.
Ogawa just content to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Ogawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ogawa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Ogawa!