PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lee Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edson Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kagawa's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Radio Ga Ga. Santos has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kagawa
vs
Santos

168 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

168 cm
25
138 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lee Kagawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Edson Santos!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagawa throws a head kick that misses.
Kagawa seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kagawa lands with a kick to the temple. Santos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kagawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kagawa scores with a kick to the body.
Santos has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kagawa.
A good leg kick by Kagawa.
Kagawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kagawa scores with a leg kick.
Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Santos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kagawa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kagawa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kagawa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kagawa scores with a spinning back kick!
Santos looks winded!
Kagawa throws a body punch but Santos moves out of range.
Kagawa scores with a head kick. Santos tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kagawa fakes the leg kick and cracks Santos in the body.
Kagawa lands with a nice body kick.
Kagawa thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Santos if he has to take too many more of those.
Kagawa lands with a kick to the temple. Santos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kagawa throws a quick inside leg kick.
That kick from Kagawa tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kagawa, right into the meat.
Kagawa lands a head kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Kagawa.
Santos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kagawa misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa scores with a head kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kagawa!

Santos drives through with a takedown into Kagawa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kagawa trying to keep a closed guard but Santos is proving a slippery customer.

Kagawa looking for a guillotine here but Santos defends easily.
Santos is looking to pass into half guard but Kagawa pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kagawa is in guard.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kagawa trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santos is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kagawa is aware though and is defending well.
Kagawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kagawa looking to pass the guard.

Kagawa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Santos keeping moving, preventing Kagawa from controlling successfully.

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.

Santos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kagawa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Santos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kagawa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Santos is pulling down on Kagawa's head. It's preventing any offense from Kagawa, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Santos just misses with a punch to the body.
And Kagawa counters with a quick kick to the body but Santos blocks it.
Kagawa moves out of range as Santos strikes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kagawa.
Santos has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kagawa.
Kagawa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Crunch! Kagawa slams his shin into Santos's torso.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Kagawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edson Santos's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kagawa lands a front kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kagawa. That's going to slow Santos down.
Lee Kagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kagawa connects with a high kick.
Lee Kagawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kagawa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kagawa explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kagawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kagawa lands a high kick!
Nice body kick there by Kagawa.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santos. Kagawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kagawa went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Kagawa connects with a high kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kagawa.
Kagawa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kagawa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kagawa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kagawa swinging wildly here.
Kagawa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Santos's head.
Santos on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kagawa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kagawa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kagawa scores with a head kick. Santos tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kagawa connects with a solid leg kick.
Kagawa throws a sloppy head kick and Santos moves out of range easily.
Lee Kagawa is winning the standup battle so far.
That kick from Kagawa tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kagawa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kagawa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lee Kagawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kagawa.
Kagawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kagawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Santos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Santos looks to move away, Kagawa throws a big counter combo bu Santos just gets out of the way.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kagawa misses with a double jab.
Kagawa throws a nice head kick!
Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kagawa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Santos 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.
Kagawa throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kagawa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Santos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kagawa. That one must have hurt.
Kagawa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kagawa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kagawa, right into the meat.
That kick from Kagawa tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kagawa fakes the leg kick and cracks Santos in the body.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Santos takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kagawa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kagawa tries to bum rush Santos with a series of wild strikes but Santos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa thuds his shin into the meat of Santos's side.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kagawa.
Kagawa lands a head kick!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Santos crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kagawa - the referee stops the clock and Santos gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kagawa. Santos manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kagawa fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Santos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santos steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kagawa. That one must have hurt.
Kagawa connects with a leg kick. Santos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kagawa lands with a kick to the temple. Santos shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Santos takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Santos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kagawa.
Santos takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Kagawa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Edson Santos's cut.
That's time! Kagawa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kagawa scoring well with a low kick there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kagawa.
Kagawa connects with a high kick.
Kagawa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kagawa misses with a head kick.
Santos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Santos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kagawa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kagawa.
Santos throws a low kick but Kagawa avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Santos or perhaps it was just good defense by Kagawa, which made it look bad.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kagawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa throws a leg kick which misses Santos's front leg but catches the back leg as Santos tries to avoid it.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kagawa lands a nice looking body kick.
Kagawa lands a leg kick that knocks Santos off balance momentarily.
Kagawa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santos 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.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kagawa - that will leave a mark!
Kagawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kagawa feints and then cracks Santos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Santos down.
Kagawa connects with a high kick.
Kagawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kagawa.
Kagawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Santos.
Santos avoids the head kick by Kagawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos looks to land a right hand but Kagawa moved out of range.
Kagawa lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kagawa throws a nice head kick!
Kagawa throws a front kick that sends Santos stumbling back into the cage.
Kagawa scores with a leg kick.
A head kick from Kagawa lands but Santos takes it in his stride.
Kagawa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Kagawa.
Kagawa throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kagawa.
Santos 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.
Kagawa throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Kagawa lands but Santos takes it in his stride.
A head kick from Kagawa lands but Santos takes it in his stride.
That kick from Kagawa tenderised Santos's leg. Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.

Santos gets the takedown into side control.
Kagawa can't do much from the bottom here.

Santos working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Santos swings around for an armbar but Kagawa sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Santos's guard.
Edson Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kagawa can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kagawa 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.
Kagawa trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Kagawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kagawa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lee Kagawa!
A relieved looking Lee Kagawa thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.