PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linus Rydanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rydanovic has chosen acdc - war machine as his entrance music. Linus Rydanovic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kawajiri
vs
Rydanovic

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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 Kawajiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Linus Rydanovic!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kawajiri trying to control but Rydanovic is having none of it.
Rydanovic wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rydanovic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rydanovic is trying to stand up.
Kawajiri prevents Rydanovic from getting the reversal.
Rydanovic looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rydanovic tries to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydanovic has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Kawajiri is breathing heavily.
Rydanovic trying to control the hands but Kawajiri breaks the grip.
Rydanovic rolls, trying to escape but Kawajiri keeps control of the position.

Kawajiri is persistently looking for the submission but Rydanovic is defending it well.
Rydanovic tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rydanovic trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawajiri is controlling the position but Rydanovic somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rydanovic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kawajiri throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rydanovic wants to improve his position but Kawajiri is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rydanovic keeps working.
Rydanovic is trying to stand back up but Kawajiri is controlling him

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

Kawajiri looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rydanovic!
Kawajiri looking to control but Rydanovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kawajiri looking to take Rydanovic's back but Rydanovic rolls and after a scramble, Rydanovic ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Rydanovic to escape a tricky position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri is trying to control the position but Rydanovic postures up.
Kawajiri controlling the position.
Rydanovic postures up.
Rydanovic wants to get up but he can't break Kawajiri's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kawajiri keeping moving, preventing Rydanovic from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rydanovic looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Kawajiri dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rydanovic misses with a takedown

so Kawajiri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kawajiri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rydanovic will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rydanovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kawajiri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rydanovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kawajiri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kawajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Rydanovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rydanovic has his foot on Kawajiri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kawajiri works his way back into a safe position though.

Rydanovic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kawajiri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rydanovic controls Kawajiri momentarily but Kawajiri frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kawajiri was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rydanovic is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rydanovic is controlling an arm, preventing Kawajiri from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Rydanovic tries to improve his position but instead Kawajiri has taken his back!

Kawajiri is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rydanovic defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Kawajiri is trying to stick to Rydanovic's back but Rydanovic is turning into Kawajiri. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kawajiri's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rydanovic.

Kawajiri had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rydanovic is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kawajiri Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rydanovic's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydanovic can't escape the position.
Kawajiri controls the position.
Rydanovic is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rydanovic is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Kawajiri looking to break Rydanovic's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rydanovic remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kawajiri will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rydanovic tries to escape but Kawajiri has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Rydanovic rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kawajiri looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rydanovic with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kawajiri works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rydanovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kawajiri shoots in and bounces Rydanovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kawajiri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rydanovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rydanovic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kawajiri!

Rydanovic looking for a guillotine from mount but Kawajiri is having none of it.
Rydanovic prevents Kawajiri from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rydanovic goes for an armbar but Kawajiri turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kawajiri.

Kawajiri drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kawajiri jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rydanovic wants to stand and escape but Kawajiri is having none of it.

Rydanovic is looking for a triangle but Kawajiri pushes his legs off easily.
Rydanovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kawajiri is one step ahead there.

Rydanovic is looking for a triangle here but Kawajiri uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kawajiri works to advance to full mount. Rydanovic defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydanovic has given up his back.
Rydanovic wants to control his opponent's hands but Kawajiri gets his hands free.

Kawajiri looking for the choke from the back.

Kawajiri is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rydanovic has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Rydanovic won't enjoy being in this position. Kawajiri looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Rydanovic is tapping - it's over boys! Kawajiri picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shinya Kawajiri!