PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tajiri Kaneshiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Dias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kaneshiro
vs
Dias

180 cm
23
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 St Petersburg, Tajiri Kaneshiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pedro Dias!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaneshiro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dias defends it nicely.

Dias has closed the distance and engaged Kaneshiro in a clinch.
Kaneshiro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dias controlling the action here for a moment.
Kaneshiro misses with a body punch.
Kaneshiro tries to circle away but Dias has him pinned against the cage.
Kaneshiro is working for takedown but Dias is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kaneshiro is trying to break free.

Dias gets control of Kaneshiro's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dias will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Dias looking for a sweep. Not yet Dias, not yet.
Kaneshiro postures up in Dias's guard and throws a big left but Dias blocks it.
Kaneshiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Dias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias keeping full guard, as Kaneshiro tries to pass.
Dias not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kaneshiro tries to stand but Dias is controlling from the bottom.
Kaneshiro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kaneshiro is trying to control. Dias wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dias tries to get to full guard but Kaneshiro has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaneshiro is pressing down on Dias's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dias is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaneshiro is working hard here to advance position.
Kaneshiro not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kaneshiro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dias does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kaneshiro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dias tries to kick Kaneshiro off but Kaneshiro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dias desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Dias wants to improve his position but Kaneshiro is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kaneshiro closes the distance and clinches up with Dias, looking for a takedown. Kaneshiro pushes Dias against the cage but Dias circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tajiri Kaneshiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dias has closed the distance and engaged Kaneshiro in a clinch.
Kaneshiro is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dias wants a takedown.
Dias stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kaneshiro is trying to drag Dias to the mat but Dias just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Dias gets control of Kaneshiro's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dias will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dias has a closed guard, preventing Kaneshiro from standing up.
Kaneshiro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dias keeping moving, preventing Kaneshiro from controlling successfully.
Kaneshiro wants to stand but Dias is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kaneshiro postures up.
Kaneshiro wants to control from the top but Dias keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tajiri Kaneshiro.
Dias circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dias throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaneshiro's waist but Kaneshiro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dias off to one side.

Dias closes the distance and clinches.
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 Tajiri Kaneshiro will probably get the nod.
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.

Dias stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dias wants it to stay on the feet.
Kaneshiro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dias is fending him off so far but Kaneshiro persists. Nope, Dias circles away and we're back to standing.
Kaneshiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tajiri Kaneshiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Dias or perhaps it was just good defense by Kaneshiro which made him look bad.
Kaneshiro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dias.
Dias lands a head kick!
Dias throws a head kick but Kaneshiro moves out of range.
Dias misses with a head kick.
Tajiri Kaneshiro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaneshiro takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Dias is breathing heavily.
Dias stuffs the takedown.
Dias keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaneshiro closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dias counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kaneshiro tries to break the clinch but Dias is controlling the position.
Dias tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kaneshiro smiles and moves away.
Kaneshiro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown by Kaneshiro or perhaps it was just good defense by Dias which made him look bad.
Kaneshiro shoots in for a takedown but Dias shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaneshiro takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kaneshiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kaneshiro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dias swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Dias fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kaneshiro, pushing him back against the cage.

Dias's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kaneshiro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dias as he avoids it easily.
Kaneshiro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dias.
Kaneshiro tries to clinch
and Dias counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kaneshiro is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Dias stuffs the takedown.
Kaneshiro lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dias tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kaneshiro sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dias somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaneshiro changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dias tries to avoid it but Kaneshiro manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dias to the ground. Dias escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kaneshiro tries to keep at a distance but Dias has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kaneshiro trying to land knees to the body.

Kaneshiro jumps guard and drags Dias to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dias must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kaneshiro keeping moving, preventing Dias from controlling successfully.
Dias works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaneshiro is not content to let Dias control the position.
Kaneshiro trying to hold on to Dias's head to control him but Dias postures up.

Kaneshiro is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dias pulls his head out easily.
Kaneshiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dias works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Dias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dias gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kaneshiro works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kaneshiro trying to stall but Dias improves his position.
Kaneshiro tries for a takedown but Dias manages to get underhooks.
Kaneshiro looking for a takedown.

Dias manages to break the clinch.
Kaneshiro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Dias rushes Kaneshiro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dias is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kaneshiro to keep the fight standing.
Kaneshiro tries to throw a body punch but Dias avoids it by throwing Kaneshiro back against the cage.
Kaneshiro managing to block the knees to the body from Dias.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaneshiro tries to pull guard but Dias holds him up against the cage and eventually Kaneshiro drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tajiri Kaneshiro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dias jumps guard and drags Kaneshiro to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dias wants to stand but Kaneshiro is controlling the position.
Kaneshiro throwing strikes but missing.
Dias trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Dias working for a triangle but Kaneshiro defends it easily.
Dias takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dias wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dias seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dias can't keep his opponent in guard - Kaneshiro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dias is looking to get back to full guard here but Kaneshiro has managed to pass to side control instead.
Dias tries to improve position but can't.
The ground and pound from Kaneshiro seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaneshiro wants to stand but Dias is controlling his arm.

Kaneshiro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dias is not content to let Kaneshiro control the position.
Kaneshiro in side control, throwing shots but Dias defends.
Kaneshiro trying to control the position but Dias is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tajiri Kaneshiro just wasn't active enough.
Kaneshiro tries to clinch but Dias moves out of range.
Kaneshiro slaps away a takedown attempt from Dias, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kaneshiro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dias with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kaneshiro to score with a decent uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tajiri Kaneshiro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaneshiro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Pedro Dias!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Pedro Dias!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Pedro Dias!

Pedro Dias wins by unanimous decision!