PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Slim Jim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Osamu Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jim
vs
Kawajiri

178 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

171 cm
20
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Slim Jim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Osamu Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jim.
Jim ducks under a wild hook from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jim looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Jim drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kawajiri manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jim has Kawajiri in his guard.
Jim has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kawajiri wants to stand but Jim is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jim is looking to sweep but instead, Kawajiri has passed into half guard.
Kawajiri thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kawajiri is working away from the top position though.
Jim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kawajiri looks gassed!
Jim is working hard here to advance position.

Kawajiri stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Jim to get to his feet.

That's two 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.
Jim closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Jim clinches up against the cage.

Kawajiri has clasped his hands together around Jim's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kawajiri misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Jim manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Jim works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kawajiri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kawajiri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jim looking for a guillotine here but Kawajiri defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawajiri trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jim's guard.
Kawajiri scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jim looking for a guillotine here but Kawajiri defends easily.

Kawajiri gets to his feet. Jim looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri stalks Jim and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Jim's face. Jim staggers backwards, shaken.
Kawajiri is looking to clinch but Jim is avoiding it.
No luck for Jim with that takedown attempt.
Kawajiri scores with a jab.
Kawajiri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawajiri pinned against the cage. Kawajiri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slim Jim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawajiri throws a right hand that Jim ducks under and follows up with a left that Jim also avoids with ease.
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 Slim Jim will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kawajiri changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jim looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kawajiri trying to control the action but Jim is working from the bottom.
Jim manages to get back to half guard.

Jim looking for submissions off his back.
Jim is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jim is staying active underneath Kawajiri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jim is refusing to be controlled, as Kawajiri sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jim feints and as Kawajiri raises his hands in defense, Jim changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kawajiri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kawajiri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kawajiri swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jim drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kawajiri manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jim has Kawajiri in his guard.

Kawajiri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jim trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kawajiri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Jim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Jim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kawajiri can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kawajiri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Slim Jim overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Jim throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kawajiri escapes and throws Jim's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kawajiri working the head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jim is trying to control Kawajiri's posture but Kawajiri avoids it.

Kawajiri stands up and beckons Jim to his feet.
Jim has his takedown stuffed

and Kawajiri counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kawajiri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jim does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kawajiri prevents Jim from improving his position.
Kawajiri wants to free his trapped foot but Jim is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osamu Kawajiri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kawajiri throws a right and a left that Jim avoids nicely.
Kawajiri throws a head kick but Jim moves out of range.
Kawajiri fails with the takedown.
Kawajiri looks to land a combination but Jim avoids it well.

Jim clinches up against the cage.
Jim is trying to drag Kawajiri to the mat but Kawajiri just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kawajiri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Jim tightens his grip and picks Kawajiri up, before dumping him to the ground. Kawajiri manages to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Kawajiri is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kawajiri tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri trying to control the position.
Jim slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kawajiri wants to stand and escape but Jim is having none of it.
Kawajiri trying to control the position.
Jim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawajiri pinned against the cage. Kawajiri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jim shoots and misses
and Kawajiri counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slim Jim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawajiri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jim avoids a punch combination nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri throws a right hand that Jim ducks under and follows up with a left that Jim also avoids with ease.
Kawajiri throws the kick towards the body but Jim avoids it.
Jim misses with a takedown attempt
and Kawajiri counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Kawajiri closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jim to the mat! Jim manages to get full guard.
Jim trying to strike off his back.
Kawajiri wants to get up but he can't break Jim's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kawajiri drops back looking for a leg! Jim is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jim manages to kick Kawajiri off! Kawajiri jumps back into Jim's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jim keeping moving, preventing Kawajiri from controlling successfully.

Jim looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kawajiri passes into half guard.
Jim works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Jim is looking for a triangle here but Kawajiri uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Jim sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jim is looking to control Kawajiri's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jim avoid being mounted?
Kawajiri thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jim is trying to get back to full guard.
Jim avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kawajiri.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Slim Jim.
I think Jim 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Slim Jim!