PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenta Sazuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinya Kawasaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kawasaki
vs
Sazuki

172 cm
21
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Arashi Fighting Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Kawasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenta Sazuki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sazuki tries a head kick but it misses.
Sazuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sazuki wants to clinch up but Kawasaki keeps it at a distance.
Sazuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sazuki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sazuki tries to clinch but Kawasaki moves out of range.

Kawasaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kawasaki prevents Sazuki from standing back up.

Kawasaki seems to be looking for submissions.
Kawasaki prevents Sazuki from improving his position.
Sazuki regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sazuki wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawasaki slips nicely into half guard.
Sazuki is trying to stand.
Sazuki looks gassed!

Kawasaki wants to work for an arm triangle but Sazuki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawasaki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sazuki is trying to stand.
Nice strikes from Kawasaki there.
Sazuki is looking to improve his position.
Sazuki taking some punishment here, with Kawasaki in his half guard.
Sazuki is looking to escape.
Kawasaki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kawasaki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kawasaki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sazuki!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kawasaki working for a submission but Sazuki is keeping him at bay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki lands a big shot there that rocks Sazuki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kawasaki 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.
Kawasaki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Kawasaki is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kawasaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sazuki circles away.
Kawasaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kawasaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kawasaki shoots in and drives through. Sazuki sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sazuki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shinya Kawasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sazuki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sazuki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sazuki wants to pass to mount but Kawasaki is defending the position.
Kawasaki gets full guard.
Sazuki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sazuki tries to free his leg and advance position but Kawasaki is retaining full guard.

Sazuki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kawasaki dives on top into guard.
Kawasaki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sazuki is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki decides to stand back up. Kawasaki steps back and let's Sazuki get back to his feet.
Sazuki tries to clinch but Kawasaki moves out of range.

Kawasaki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sazuki looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sazuki tries to bench press Kawasaki off him but Kawasaki keeps the position.
Kawasaki taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sazuki is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kawasaki controlling from side mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sazuki is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sazuki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Kawasaki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sazuki throws a body punch but Kawasaki moves out of range.
Sazuki tries to clinch up but Kawasaki circles away and keeps his distance.

Kawasaki gets a takedown into half guard.
Sazuki tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Sazuki is trying to get back to full guard.

Kawasaki postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sazuki to stand up.
Nice sprawl there from Sazuki as Kawasaki shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sazuki is looking to clinch.
Sazuki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sazuki moves in looking to clinch but Kawasaki pushes him off.
Kawasaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sazuki circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sazuki has managed to clinch.

Kawasaki decides to pull guard.
Kawasaki keeping full guard, as Sazuki tries to pass.
Sazuki advances position into side control!
Sazuki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kawasaki managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sazuki.
Kawasaki regains half guard.
Kawasaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kawasaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kawasaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sazuki.
Sazuki is pressing down on Kawasaki's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kawasaki is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawasaki with a lazy takedown attempt

so Sazuki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sazuki tries to stand but Kawasaki is controlling from the bottom.

Sazuki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kawasaki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sazuki's guard.
Sazuki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sazuki is looking to stand up but Kawasaki isn't so interested in that idea.
Sazuki wants to sweep here but Kawasaki controlling him for the moment.
Kawasaki trying to control but Sazuki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki keeping full guard, as Kawasaki tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawasaki fails with the takedown

and Sazuki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kawasaki trying to keep a closed guard but Sazuki is proving a slippery customer.
Sazuki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sazuki preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sazuki working to try and regain half guard.
Sazuki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kawasaki trying to control but Sazuki is having none of it.
Sazuki regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenta Sazuki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kawasaki tries for a takedown but Sazuki circles away easily

and Sazuki counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kawasaki!
Kawasaki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kawasaki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kawasaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sazuki is trying to work for a kimura but Kawasaki is defending well.
Sazuki working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kawasaki's thigh. Kawasaki counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Sazuki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kawasaki is looking for a sweep. Sazuki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sazuki stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sazuki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kawasaki tries for a takedown but Sazuki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sazuki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kawasaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kawasaki misses with a takedown

and Sazuki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shinya Kawasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sazuki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kawasaki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sazuki can't get the takedown.
Sazuki connects with a knee to the head.
Sazuki is pressed up against the cage. Kawasaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sazuki down to the mat. Sazuki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kawasaki has his takedown stuffed

and Sazuki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sazuki scores with a knee to the head.
Sazuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sazuki looking to throw knees to the head but Kawasaki is blocking nicely.
Kawasaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sazuki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sazuki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sazuki lands a nice knee to the body.
Sazuki with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kawasaki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sazuki smiles and moves away.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki stops a takedown attempt from Kawasaki.
Kawasaki takes an elbow to the forehead.

Sazuki breaks the clinch.
Sazuki tries to clinch up.
Kawasaki misses with a takedown
and Sazuki counters with a nice body kick.
Kawasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kawasaki fails with the takedown

and Sazuki counters by clinching up.
Sazuki tries to pull guard but Kawasaki holds him up against the cage and eventually Sazuki drops back down to his feet.
Kawasaki tries for a takedown but Sazuki manages to get underhooks.
Sazuki landing knees to the head.

Sazuki breaks the clinch.
Kawasaki has his takedown stuffed

and Sazuki moves into the clinch.
Sazuki landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kawasaki tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki tries a knee to the head but Kawasaki blocks it.
Kawasaki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sazuki is pressed up against the cage. Kawasaki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sazuki down to the mat. Sazuki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sazuki plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Sazuki forces Kawasaki back against the cage and clinches.

Sazuki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sazuki tries for a takedown but Kawasaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sazuki is looking to clinch but Kawasaki is avoiding it.
Kawasaki shoots in but Sazuki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sazuki as he avoids it easily.
No luck for Kawasaki with that takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sazuki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sazuki throws a good cross that connects.
Kawasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sazuki fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sazuki misses with a double jab.
Kawasaki has a takedown stuffed.
Kawasaki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sazuki is fending him off so far but Kawasaki persists. Nope, Sazuki circles away and we're back to standing.
Kawasaki avoids the head kick by Sazuki.

Kawasaki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Kawasaki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sazuki is just riding it out for now. Kawasaki eventually gives up the hold.
Kawasaki working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Sazuki's thigh. Sazuki counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sazuki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kawasaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kawasaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenta Sazuki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sazuki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenta Sazuki!