PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lu Kaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lu Kaku will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Monroe
vs
Kaku

156 cm
24
279 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lu Kaku!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Monroe decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kaku wants to control but Monroe is keeping busy.
Kaku is trying to stand.
Kaku controlling the position for now.
Kaku is trying to maintain the position but Monroe is very close to passing his half guard.
Monroe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kaku defending well though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe winds up and cracks Kaku with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kaku wants to control but Monroe is keeping busy.
Monroe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Monroe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaku's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Monroe connects with a nice short shot to Kaku's temple.
Kaku is holding on to half guard well.
Monroe throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kaku to regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Monroe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Monroe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaku is trying to hold Monroe in close to prevent damage but Monroe has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe drops an elbow to the side of Kaku's head.
Monroe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kaku defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Monroe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kaku to stand up.
Kaku throws a sloppy head kick and Monroe moves out of range easily.
Monroe really is a fat lump.
Monroe tries to clinch up.
Kaku looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Monroe tries to clinch up.
Kaku 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.
Lu Kaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaku throws a leg kick that is checked
and Monroe finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaku tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Monroe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kaku tries to clinch there but Monroe circles away.
Kaku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Monroe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kaku looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kaku is looking for a sweep.
Monroe tries to score with some ground and pound. Kaku controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kaku is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Monroe off and has taken his back!
Monroe tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Monroe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kaku sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Monroe sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Monroe 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaku trying to control the action but Monroe is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Monroe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kaku wants to control from the top but Monroe keeps moving.

Monroe has his foot on Kaku's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kaku works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaku looking to sit in guard and control but Monroe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kaku has his foot on Monroe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Monroe works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Monroe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kaku fails with the takedown.
Monroe tries for a takedown but Kaku sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kaku shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Monroe defends it nicely.
Kaku cracks a nice hook into Monroe's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kaku shoots in but Monroe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Justin Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lu Kaku.
Kaku misses with a head kick.
Monroe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kaku can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaku takes the fight into the clinch.
Monroe wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaku won't allow it.
Kaku letting Monroe take a breather here.

Monroe manages to break the clinch.
Kaku ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kaku with a lazy takedown attempt

and Monroe counters with a single leg into guard. Kaku didn't expect that.
Kaku wants to sweep here but Monroe controlling him for the moment.
Kaku is breathing heavily.
Monroe makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Monroe throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaku looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaku, not yet.
Monroe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kaku's head.
Kaku looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaku, not yet.

Kaku throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Monroe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Monroe is in close to Kaku's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaku is on top in guard.

Kaku trying to control but Monroe is working from the bottom.

Monroe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kaku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Monroe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kaku is aware though and is defending well.
Kaku looking to pass the guard.
Kaku looking to sit in guard and control but Monroe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaku wants to sweep but no luck.
Monroe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kaku works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Monroe throws a strike but Kaku rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Monroe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kaku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaku postures up in Monroe's guard and throws a big left but Monroe blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Justin Monroe will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kaku shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Monroe as he avoids it easily.
Kaku tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Monroe defends well and Kaku ends up having to push Monroe into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kaku keeps control of Monroe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kaku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kaku is trying to pull guard but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Justin Monroe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lu Kaku.

Monroe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Monroe drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monroe looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kaku is avoiding damage well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Monroe has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Monroe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kaku checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kaku tries to close the distance and clinch but Monroe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Monroe shoots in and gets a takedown into Kaku's guard.
Kaku pulls Monroe in close to prevent any damage.
Kaku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kaku wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Monroe is now in half guard.
Kaku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Monroe.
Kaku is trying to maintain the position but Monroe is very close to passing his half guard.
Monroe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaku's head.
Monroe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kaku is trying to control but Monroe passes into side control!
Kaku is looking to regain half guard here but Monroe keeps moving and retains side control.
Kaku struggling a bit here.
Monroe scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe working the head with strikes.
Monroe fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Kaku explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kaku jabs Monroe to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kaku darts in looking for a takedown but Monroe gets double underhooks and turns Kaku into the cage.

Monroe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Kaku as Monroe shoots in.
Kaku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Monroe has Kaku up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe just leaning against Kaku, taking a breather.

Monroe breaks the clinch.
Kaku changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Monroe tries to avoid it but Kaku manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Monroe to the ground. Monroe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Monroe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kaku doesn't manage to clinch there - Monroe circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kaku checks a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kaku.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monroe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Monroe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Monroe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Monroe!