PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shinji Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantemir Gaunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kagawa
vs
Gaunov

170 cm
26
183 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Kagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kantemir Gaunov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kagawa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Gaunov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kagawa pulls his head out easily.
Gaunov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Kagawa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaunov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Kagawa is working for a kimura but Gaunov is defending it quite comfortably.

Kagawa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kagawa is trying to control the action in half guard but Gaunov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kagawa stalling.
Kagawa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Gaunov looking for submissions off his back.
Kagawa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gaunov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kagawa pulls his head out easily.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gaunov defends it well.
Kagawa is looking to advance position but Gaunov won't allow it.
Kagawa is trying to control the action in half guard but Gaunov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kagawa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gaunov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kagawa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Kagawa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gaunov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kagawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kagawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gaunov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kagawa has passed into half guard!
Gaunov looks winded!
Kagawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gaunov keeps working.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gaunov defends it well.
Kagawa working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura here.
Gaunov tries to get to full guard but Kagawa has control of the leg.
Kagawa keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kagawa is working for a submission of some sort.
Kagawa slips a nice elbow through Gaunov's hands, connecting with Gaunov's forehead.
Gaunov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kagawa is working away from the top position though.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura here.

Gaunov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gaunov actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov wants to get back to full guard.

Kagawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gaunov is just riding it out for now. Kagawa eventually gives up the hold.
Kagawa lands strikes from half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Kagawa is looking for a kimura here.
Kagawa is just content to waste time from the top position. Gaunov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kagawa wants to pass the guard but Gaunov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Kagawa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kagawa feints and as Gaunov raises his hands in defense, Kagawa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kagawa trying to control but Gaunov is working from the bottom.
Kagawa postures up.

Gaunov has his foot on Kagawa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kagawa works his way back into a safe position though.
Kagawa advances position into side control!

Kagawa is trying to get an arm triangle but Gaunov is defending well.
Gaunov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kagawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kagawa working the body and head with strikes.
Kagawa trying to control the action but Gaunov is working from the bottom.
Gaunov is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaunov is not content to let Kagawa control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kagawa in side control, throwing shots but Gaunov defends.
Gaunov tries to buck Kagawa off but Kagawa is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Gaunov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gaunov is breathing heavily.
Gaunov defending against the ground and pound.
Gaunov is looking for a sweep.

Kagawa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kagawa working the ground and pound.
Kagawa just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gaunov some visible discomfort.

Kagawa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kagawa fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gaunov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kagawa wants to control but Gaunov is keeping him busy.
Kagawa sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gaunov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Kagawa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kagawa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gaunov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa uses his free foot to push down on Gaunov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gaunov.
Gaunov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gaunov keeps trying to improve his position.
Kagawa with a couple of short strikes.
Kagawa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kagawa dominating with strikes here.

It looks like Kantemir Gaunov has been cut.
Kagawa trying to control but Gaunov is having none of it.
Kagawa landing shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kagawa looking to finish Gaunov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gaunov!
Gaunov is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kagawa working for a submission but Gaunov is keeping him at bay.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kagawa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gaunov is rocked!

Kagawa throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Gaunov has his hands clasped together but Kagawa breaks the hold and Gaunov is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Kagawa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shinji Kagawa!