PBP Commentary

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

Scholes
vs
Kobajashi

178 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jackson Scholes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenta Kobajashi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kobajashi throws a right hand that Scholes ducks under and follows up with a left that Scholes also avoids with ease.
Kobajashi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Scholes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kobajashi with a hook.
Scholes fails with a takedown attempt.
Scholes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kobajashi as he avoids it easily.
Kobajashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kobajashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Scholes has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Scholes there as he acknowledges the shot.
Scholes shoots in for a takedown but Kobajashi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Scholes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobajashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kobajashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kobajashi misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobajashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kobajashi misses with a series of wild punches.
Kobajashi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kobajashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kobajashi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Scholes shoots for a takedown but Kobajashi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kobajashi misses with a double jab.
Scholes shoots in for a double leg but Kobajashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kobajashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kobajashi lands with an uppercut that bounces Scholes off the cage and back into rage.
No luck for Scholes with that takedown attempt.
Scholes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kobajashi.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kobajashi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kobajashi throws a series of punches but Scholes moves out of range.
Kobajashi takes a swing at Scholes's ribcage but misses.
Kenta Kobajashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Kobajashi misses.
Kobajashi looks to land a combination but Scholes avoids it well.
Kobajashi looks to land a combination but Scholes avoids it well.
Kobajashi misses with a two punch combination.
Kobajashi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Scholes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kobajashi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.
Nice jab there from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi cracks Scholes with a good jab.
Kobajashi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobajashi throws a one two combo.

Scholes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Scholes passes the guard and advances to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kobajashi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Scholes wants to control the pace but Kobajashi is squirming around nicely.
Kobajashi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Scholes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Scholes thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kobajashi tries to reverse the position but Scholes maintains control.
Kobajashi prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Scholes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kobajashi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scholes controlling from mount.
Scholes trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Scholes has hold of Kobajashi's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kobajashi manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kobajashi can't escape the position.
Kobajashi wants to control but Scholes is having none of it.

Scholes is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kobajashi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kobajashi tries to lock up and control but Scholes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jackson Scholes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Scholes looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kobajashi misses with an uppercut.
Kobajashi looks to land a combination but Scholes avoids it well.
Kobajashi tries to bum rush Scholes with a series of wild strikes but Scholes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Scholes dodges the punch combination from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi scores with a three punch combo!
Kobajashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kobajashi tries to bum rush Scholes with a series of wild strikes but Scholes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobajashi lands a two punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Kobajashi.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobajashi throws a right and a left that Scholes avoids nicely.
Kobajashi connects with a jab.
Kenta Kobajashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kobajashi thuds his right hand into Scholes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kobajashi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kobajashi misses with a double jab.
Kobajashi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Scholes doesn't seem bothered though.
Scholes shoots in but no luck this time.
Kobajashi tries to bum rush Scholes with a series of wild strikes but Scholes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kobajashi misses with a few strikes there.
Kobajashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kobajashi misses with a wild combination.
Kobajashi scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Scholes fails with the takedown.
Scholes slips a jab and a cross from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi misses with a two punch combination.
Kobajashi throws a series of punches but Scholes avoids them all with ease.
Scholes slips a jab and a cross from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi misses with a wild combination.
Kobajashi swinging wilding here.
Some wild striking there from Kobajashi.
Scholes shoots in for a takedown but Kobajashi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Scholes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kobajashi swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobajashi stuffs the takedown.
Scholes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi misses with a few strikes there.
Kenta Kobajashi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kobajashi misses with a few strikes there.
Kobajashi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Scholes.
Kobajashi misses with a two punch combination.
Kobajashi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Scholes has a takedown stuffed.
Kobajashi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Scholes has time to react.
Kobajashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kobajashi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Scholes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kobajashi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Scholes shoots in for a double leg but Kobajashi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Scholes shoots in looking for a takedown. Kobajashi tries to sprawl out of it but Scholes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kobajashi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kobajashi throws a right and a left that Scholes avoids nicely.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.
Kobajashi lands a body shot.
Kobajashi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kobajashi misses with a series of wild punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kobajashi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Scholes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Scholes closes the distance and clinches up with Kobajashi, looking for a takedown. Scholes pushes Kobajashi against the cage but Kobajashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kobajashi throws a right and a left that Scholes avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenta Kobajashi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A punch combination from Kobajashi misses.
Kobajashi cracks Scholes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kobajashi fails to land with a series of punches.
Kobajashi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kobajashi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A combination from Kobajashi does no damage.
Kobajashi misses with a wild combination.
Kobajashi misses with a series of wild punches.
Scholes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scholes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kobajashi circles away.
Scholes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kobajashi is fending him off so far but Scholes persists. Nope, Kobajashi circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Scholes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kobajashi looks to land a combination but Scholes avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobajashi swinging wilding here.
Scholes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Some wild striking there from Kobajashi.
Kobajashi throws a series of punches but Scholes moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Scholes.
Scholes is looking to take a break and control but Kobajashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Scholes tries to move to mount but Kobajashi blocks the move with his legs.
Kobajashi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Scholes's best efforts.
Scholes is looking to take a break and control but Kobajashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobajashi tries to get to full guard but Scholes has control of the leg.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kobajashi can do anything to dispel that myth.

Scholes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Scholes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kobajashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Scholes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kobajashi wants to control the position but Scholes says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kobajashi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Scholes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobajashi wants to improve his position but Scholes is controlling well.
Scholes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Scholes is controlling the pace.
Scholes passes to side control.
Kobajashi can't do much from the bottom here.

Scholes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kobajashi gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Kobajashi can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scholes landing strikes, looking to finish!

It looks like Kenta Kobajashi has been cut.

Scholes working for a guillotine from mount but Kobajashi is in no mood to give up.
Scholes looking to finish with strikes here!
Scholes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kobajashi is looking to escape.
Scholes controlling from mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Scholes trying to control but Kobajashi is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Scholes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Scholes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jackson Scholes!