PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideya Kaayi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hideya Kaayi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Black's chin.

Black
vs
Kaayi

170 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hideya Kaayi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaayi has closed the distance and engaged Black in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Black has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kaayi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Black pulls guard effortlessly.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kaayi stops Black from standing up.
Black trying to control the position here.
Kaayi wanted to stand there but Black had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaayi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaayi sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michael Black just wasn't active enough.
Black fails with the takedown
and Kaayi counters with a nice body kick.

Black gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kaayi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kaayi trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
Kaayi trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hideya Kaayi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Black shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaayi but Kaayi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kaayi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Black, pushing him back against the cage.
Black tries to pull guard but Kaayi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaayi wants to take the fight to the mat but Black manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

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

Kaayi moves into the clinch.
Black jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kaayi walks away with a smile on his face. Black gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kaayi shoots in for a double leg but Black sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Black gets tackled into the cage by Kaayi. Kaayi maintains the clinch.
Kaayi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Black lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi is trying to get back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black passes to side control.
Black in side control, throwing shots but Kaayi defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaayi tries to buck Black off but Black is having none of it.
Kaayi is trying to control Black's posture but Black avoids it.
Kaayi tries to improve position but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes there by Black.

Black stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Kaayi moves into range and clinches up with Black.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideya Kaayi dominated that round.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kaayi closes the distance and clinches.
Black could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Black is trying to break the clinch but Kaayi has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kaayi tries to land a knee to the head but Black blocks with his arms.
Kaayi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Black blocks it with crossed arms.
Black wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaayi won't allow it.

Black works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Black tries to free his leg and advance position but Kaayi is retaining full guard.

Kaayi is looking for a triangle but Black pushes his legs off easily.

Kaayi pushes a forearm under Black's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Black is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hideya Kaayi!
Hideya Kaayi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.