PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xolani Ihejirika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kent Pedersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kent Pedersen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ihejirika
vs
Pedersen

200 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Xolani Ihejirika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kent Pedersen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Pedersen.
Pedersen dives in and grabs Ihejirika's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ihejirika pushes down on Pedersen's head and hops out.

Pedersen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ihejirika tries to free his leg and advance position but Pedersen is retaining full guard.
Ihejirika not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ihejirika pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pedersen is keeping the position for now.

Pedersen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ihejirika is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Pedersen working for a triangle but Ihejirika defends it easily.
Ihejirika's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ihejirika knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pedersen on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihejirika keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pedersen's head.
Ihejirika trying to control but Pedersen is working from the bottom.
Ihejirika throws a big elbow that misses.
Ihejirika throws a big right hand that misses.
Ihejirika trying to control but Pedersen is working from the bottom.
Ihejirika has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pedersen is proving hard to escape from.
Ihejirika slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Xolani Ihejirika wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pedersen shoots for a takedown but Ihejirika saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pedersen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Pedersen tries to keep at a distance but Ihejirika has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pedersen tries to pull guard but Ihejirika holds him up against the cage and eventually Pedersen drops back down to his feet.
Xolani Ihejirika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kent Pedersen.
Pedersen throws an elbow that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Ihejirika works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pedersen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ihejirika gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ihejirika bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pedersen looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedersen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Pedersen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ihejirika's best efforts.
Pedersen taking some punishment here, with Ihejirika in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ihejirika perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Ihejirika is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ihejirika is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pedersen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pedersen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ihejirika escapes and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pedersen.
Pedersen shoots in but no luck this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ihejirika closes the distance and pushes Pedersen back into the cage.
Ihejirika with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Ihejirika pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ihejirika shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ihejirika showed some decent athleticism there.
Ihejirika lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ihejirika landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xolani Ihejirika dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pedersen is looking to clinch.
Pedersen wants to clinch.
Pedersen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ihejirika paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Xolani Ihejirika is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy left from Pedersen finds it's target.
Pedersen dives in and grabs Ihejirika's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ihejirika pushes down on Pedersen's head and hops out.

Ihejirika shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pedersen's guard.
Pedersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Pedersen, not yet.
Ihejirika trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ihejirika slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ihejirika working the ground and pound from side control.
Pedersen is breathing heavily.

Ihejirika tries for a kimura but Pedersen is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihejirika throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Ihejirika decides to stand up, so the ref orders Pedersen to his feet.
Pedersen avoids the body shot from Ihejirika.
Pedersen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ihejirika lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pedersen circles away quickly and effectively.
Pedersen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ihejirika avoids it really well and circles away.

Ihejirika drives through and clinches with Pedersen against the cage.
Pedersen connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ihejirika breaks from the clinch.
Pedersen shoots for a double leg takedown but Ihejirika sprawls well. He's pushed Pedersen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Xolani Ihejirika has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kent Pedersen.
Ihejirika tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ihejirika trying to land knees to the body.

Ihejirika has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Pedersen is trying to keep an underhook but Ihejirika manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Xolani Ihejirika overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ihejirika prevents Pedersen from improving his position.
Ihejirika throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Ihejirika is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pedersen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedersen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ihejirika.
Pedersen tries to kick Ihejirika off but Ihejirika keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ihejirika stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ihejirika has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pedersen trying to control from the bottom.

Xolani Ihejirika has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Ihejirika instigates a clinch.

Ihejirika decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihejirika is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pedersen wants to stand but Ihejirika has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pedersen pushes down on Ihejirika's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pedersen is pressing down on Ihejirika's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ihejirika is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ihejirika is trying to stand up here but Pedersen is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xolani Ihejirika 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ihejirika sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ihejirika connects with a leg kick. Pedersen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pedersen tries to clinch
and Ihejirika counters with a nice uppercut.

Ihejirika gets the takedown into side control.
Ihejirika wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pedersen keeps working.
Ihejirika cracks Pedersen with a big elbow.
Ihejirika lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ihejirika wants to take a breather but Pedersen manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Ihejirika.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pedersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Pedersen, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ihejirika wants to control from the top but Pedersen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pedersen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ihejirika uses it to pass to side control.
Ihejirika tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ihejirika working the ground and pound.
Pedersen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Pedersen is looking to advance position but Ihejirika won't allow it.
Ihejirika is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ihejirika is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihejirika is trying to stand back up but Pedersen is controlling him
Ihejirika is refusing to be controlled, as Pedersen sits in half guard.

Pedersen is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Ihejirika is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kent Pedersen!
Kent Pedersen decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.