PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michi Kitty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaarle Ukonaho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ukonaho has chosen Tokyo by Danny as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kitty
vs
Ukonaho

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

215 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Michi Kitty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaarle Ukonaho!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ukonaho slips a jab from Kitty.
Nice takedown defense from Ukonaho. No joy for Kitty on that attempt.

Ukonaho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ukonaho lands in his opponent's guard.
Kitty striking off his back but it's not causing Ukonaho any problems.
Kitty wants to sweep here but Ukonaho controlling him for the moment.
Ukonaho must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ukonaho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ukonaho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ukonaho postures up in Kitty's guard and throws a big left but Kitty blocks it.
Kitty throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kitty darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ukonaho is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ukonaho regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ukonaho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kitty 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukonaho is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kitty blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ukonaho.
Ukonaho works his way into full mount!
Ukonaho fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kitty bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ukonaho is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kitty might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kitty won't allow Ukonaho to sweep him here.
Ukonaho striking off his back.
Ukonaho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kitty. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ukonaho 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.
Kitty trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ukonaho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kitty in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ukonaho avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kitty misses with a takedown

and Ukonaho counters with a single leg into guard. Kitty didn't expect that.
Kitty is breathing heavily.
Ukonaho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kitty is keeping the position for now.
Ukonaho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kitty could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kitty throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kitty tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ukonaho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kitty is keeping the position for now.
Kitty throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kitty thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ukonaho drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kitty is on top in guard.
Ukonaho throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ukonaho is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kitty is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitty loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ukonaho looking for a sweep. Not yet Ukonaho, not yet.
Ukonaho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kitty postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kitty working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kitty stops Ukonaho from standing up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kitty with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ukonaho counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kitty's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michi Kitty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kitty 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.
Kitty is working hard here to advance position.
Kitty doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kitty throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ukonaho landing some decent shots from guard.
Ukonaho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kitty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ukonaho wants to control from the top but Kitty keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ukonaho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kitty swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kitty shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ukonaho but Ukonaho pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ukonaho closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ukonaho lands in his opponent's guard.
Ukonaho connects with a couple of short punches.
Ukonaho chips away with some ground and pound.
Kitty is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kitty is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ukonaho is looking to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kitty postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ukonaho looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarle Ukonaho dominated that round.
That's time! Kitty's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kitty misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ukonaho.
Kitty throws a shot from downtown. Ukonaho moves away and avoids it.

Ukonaho gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ukonaho lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kitty is trying to get back to full guard.
Ukonaho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ukonaho working over Kitty with some ground and pound. Kitty looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kitty moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ukonaho tries to free his leg and advance position but Kitty is retaining full guard.
Ukonaho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ukonaho trying to control the position from guard on top but Kitty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kitty bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ukonaho's guard.
Ukonaho is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ukonaho throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ukonaho trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kitty thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitty throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ukonaho trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kitty throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kitty accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kitty postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kitty shoots and misses

and Ukonaho counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kitty's guard now.
Ukonaho trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ukonaho preventing the sweep.
Ukonaho with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ukonaho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kitty looking for a sweep. Not yet Kitty, not yet.
Ukonaho distracts Kitty with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ukonaho tries to free his leg and advance position but Kitty is retaining full guard.
Kitty wants to sweep here but Ukonaho controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slow jab from Kitty misses its intended target.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ukonaho has picked Kitty up - he's going for a ride! Ukonaho dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ukonaho wants to free his trapped foot but Kitty is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kitty works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ukonaho throws a big right hand that misses.
Kitty thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ukonaho wants to pass the guard but Kitty is keeping the position.
Kitty manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ukonaho manages to get himself to full guard.

Ukonaho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ukonaho can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ukonaho trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ukonaho throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ukonaho manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kitty gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukonaho blocks the strikes from Kitty.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kitty manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ukonaho lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ukonaho tries to free his leg and advance position but Kitty is retaining full guard.
Ukonaho is looking to work some ground and pound but Kitty has wrist control.
Kitty throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ukonaho postures up and lands a big shot to Kitty's brow.
Kitty keeping full guard, as Ukonaho tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Horrible takedown by Ukonaho or perhaps it was just good defense by Kitty which made him look bad.
Kitty with a poor takedown

and Ukonaho counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ukonaho.
Ukonaho scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Ukonaho escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kitty pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kitty shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ukonaho pinned against the cage. Ukonaho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michi Kitty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ukonaho moves out of range as Kitty strikes.

That's four 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.

Ukonaho drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ukonaho tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kitty's legs.
Kitty is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ukonaho thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ukonaho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kitty blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ukonaho.
Kitty blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ukonaho.
Ukonaho wants to free his trapped foot but Kitty is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ukonaho landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kitty gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ukonaho counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kitty's guard now.
Ukonaho tries to free his leg and advance position but Kitty is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarle Ukonaho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Kitty cracks Ukonaho with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kitty shoots in for a takedown but Ukonaho shows good takedown defense.

Ukonaho drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ukonaho working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kitty's head.
Ukonaho working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kitty's head.
Ukonaho stopping the sweep attempt from Kitty.

Ukonaho drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ukonaho jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ukonaho throwing strikes from guard but Kitty blocks nicely.
Ukonaho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kitty swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kitty throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kitty looking for a sweep. Not yet Kitty, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ukonaho digs a good hook to Kitty's body.
Kitty with a poor takedown

and Ukonaho counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitty is looking for a sweep. Ukonaho is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kitty moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kitty looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ukonaho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ukonaho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kitty throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ukonaho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kitty lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ukonaho!
Ukonaho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kitty misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kitty thowing shots but they're missing.
Kitty throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Ukonaho is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kitty pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kitty thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ukonaho is looking to get to half guard.
Ukonaho is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kitty punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kitty looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kitty cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ukonaho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaarle Ukonaho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ukonaho is bucking up trying to escape but Kitty cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kitty blocks Ukonaho's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Ukonaho can't escape the position.
Kitty throws some wild stikes that Ukonaho manages to avoid easily.
Kitty prevents Ukonaho from getting the reversal.
Kitty pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ukonaho really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ukonaho blocking the ground and pound.
Ukonaho is trying desperately to improve position.
Poor strikes thrown by Kitty there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kitty sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ukonaho can't escape the position.
Kitty landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ukonaho is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kitty lands a big elbow.
Ukonaho is trying to escape the mount.
Kitty sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ukonaho working to try and regain half guard.
Kitty misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kitty looking to ground and pound but Ukonaho is blocking nicely.
Ukonaho is looking to get to half guard.
Kitty looking to finish with strikes here!
Michi Kitty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ukonaho working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaarle Ukonaho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ukonaho has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaarle Ukonaho!