PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Masters has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Masters
vs
Kagawa

176 cm
25
170 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
26
182 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ken Masters !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Kagawa!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masters changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Kagawa takes the fight into the clinch.
Kagawa tries to pull guard but Masters won't allow it.

Kagawa gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kagawa looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Kagawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Masters is just riding it out for now. Kagawa eventually gives up the hold.
Kagawa is looking to advance position but Masters won't allow it.
Kagawa is thwarting Masters 's attempts to control the position.
Kagawa trying to control the action but Masters is working from the bottom.
Kagawa controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters controlling the position well.
Masters has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Kagawa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Masters defending well though.
Masters is in trouble now - Kagawa has advanced to mount!
Kagawa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Masters defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kagawa.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kagawa looking to control but Masters is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kagawa misses with a head shot.
Masters in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Masters tries to lock up and control but Kagawa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Kagawa swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Masters is now in Kagawa's guard. A big mistake from Kagawa there, giving up the dominant position!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Masters won't allow Kagawa to sweep him here.
Masters in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Kagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kagawa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kagawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masters .

Kagawa looking for a guillotine here but Masters defends easily.
Kagawa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kagawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Masters trying to control but Kagawa is working from the bottom.
Kagawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masters .
Masters postures up.

Kagawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kagawa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Masters defends it easily.
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Kagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Masters accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Masters got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kagawa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Masters has managed to get both his arms back between Kagawa's legs - danger averted.
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Kagawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kagawa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masters .
Masters knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kagawa on the ground.
Masters wants to stand and escape but instead Kagawa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kagawa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Masters is proving hard to escape from.
Masters controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kagawa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kagawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Masters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kagawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kagawa tries to clinch up
and Masters cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Shinji Kagawa has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kagawa is defended easily by Masters .
Masters connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kagawa's hands.
Good standup being displayed there by Masters as he connects with a hook.
Kagawa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Masters getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
No luck for Kagawa with that takedown attempt.
Ken Masters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinji Kagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters scores with a head kick. Kagawa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kagawa tries to clinch there but Masters circles away.
Kagawa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Masters manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Masters is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Masters connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kagawa tries for a takedown but Masters circles away easily
and Masters connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kagawa shoots in looking for a takedown but Masters manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kagawa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kagawa is breathing heavily.
Kagawa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shinji Kagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kagawa goes for a double leg but Masters avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Masters continues to drive forward.

Masters breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kagawa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kagawa.
Nice uppercut there from Masters .
A cross from Masters lands.
Masters lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Masters clobbers Kagawa with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kagawa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masters sprawls well. Masters wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kagawa gets slowly back to his feet.
Ken Masters is winning the standup battle so far.
Masters lands with a shot to the body.
Masters connects with a leg kick. Kagawa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kagawa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ken Masters is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That has opened up Shinji Kagawa's cut even more.
Masters uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kagawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Masters circles away.
Kagawa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Masters throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kagawa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kagawa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Masters lands a big head kick that sends Kagawa tumbling to the mat! Masters takes a step backwards and waves Kagawa back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kagawa is rocked!
Masters scores with a jab to the head.
Kagawa is still on wobbly legs! Can Masters finish him?

The cut above Shinji Kagawa's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
A head kick by Kagawa misses
and Masters counters with a huge left! Kagawa is in big trouble! He's backing up but Masters isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Kagawa from any more damage. A dominating finish by Masters !

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ken Masters !
Ken Masters gave a mention to Bushido Fuku in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).