PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raijin Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Spezza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kage comes to the cage accompanied by Gojira - Oroborus. Raijin Kage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kage
vs
Spezza

165 cm
28
162 lbs
14 - 5 - 1

178 cm
29
162 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Fury Nutrition Inc.

KnockOut

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 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raijin Kage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Spezza!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spezza misses with a few strikes there.
Kage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spezza.
Kage tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spezza throws out the jab.
Spezza throws a front kick that sends Kage stumbling back into the cage.
Kage throws a head kick but Spezza moves out of range.
Spezza misses with a double jab.
Kage scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Spezza lands the left hand.
Spezza misses with a straight right.
Kage lands a nice shot to the body.
Spezza dodges the punch combination from Kage.
Spezza fails with the takedown.
Kage feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A big left from Spezza misses.
Kage lands a high kick!
Kage blocks a jab.
Spezza tries to work over Kage's front leg with a kick but Kage checks it.
Spezza blocks a head kick by Kage.
A head kick misses from Kage.
Spezza connects with a crisp jab.
Spezza has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kage moves out of range as Spezza strikes.
Kage tries to counter with a takedown but Spezza is quick to defend against it.
Kage takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Spezza looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kage is fending him off so far but Spezza persists. Nope, Kage circles away and we're back to standing.
Kage lands a nice shot to the body.

Kage shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spezza's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spezza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kage defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spezza looking for a sweep. Not yet Spezza, not yet.
Spezza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spezza is keeping the position for now.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Spezza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spezza keeping moving, preventing Kage from controlling successfully.
Kage tries to free his leg and advance position but Spezza is retaining full guard.
Kage slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spezza wants to control but Kage is keeping busy.
Kage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spezza keeps working.
Kage throwing shots but Spezza is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kage throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've been hearing good reports from Kage's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kage not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kage passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kage connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Spezza blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kage trying to control but Spezza is having none of it.
Spezza is trying to escape the mount.
Kage connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kage unloading with bombs!

Spezza is rocked!
Spezza regains half guard.

Kage is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Spezza sees it coming and defends easily.
Kage uses his free foot to push down on Spezza's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Spezza.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spezza tries to reverse the position but Kage maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage 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.

Spezza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kage.

Kage scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kage tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kage fails to land a wild elbow strike.
An elbow from Kage crashes against the mat.
Spezza wants to control but Kage postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage working the ground and pound but Spezza is defending the strikes.
Spezza is trying to control Kage's posture but Kage avoids it.
Kage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spezza keeps working.
Sloppy strikes there by Kage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spezza tries to buck Kage off but Kage is having none of it.
Kage looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spezza is avoiding damage well.
Kage tries to move into full mount but can't pass Spezza's legs.
Spezza tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kage is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Spezza has escaped the position, nice work there.
Spezza tries to buck Kage off but Kage is having none of it.
Spezza is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kage off and has taken his back!
Kage trying to control the hands but Spezza won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spezza is hanging on to Kage's back as he tries to escape.
Spezza doesn't have the hooks in and Kage manages to turn into his guard.

Spezza has his foot on Kage's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kage works his way back into a safe position though.
Kage passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Spezza on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kage cracks Spezza with a big right hand but Spezza just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kage lands some shots froms side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kage working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Spezza is looking to regain half guard here but Kage keeps moving and retains side control.
Spezza on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kage trying to control the action but Spezza is working from the bottom.
Spezza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kage is pressing down on Spezza's thigh, looking to free his foot. Spezza is holding on for now.

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.
Kage passes to side control.
Kage wants to control but Spezza is keeping him busy.
Spezza tries to buck Kage off but Kage is having none of it.

Kage thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Spezza tries to bench press Kage off him but Kage keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kage working away.

Kage tries for a kimura but Spezza is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Spezza throws a big shot that misses.
Kage looks to score with a jab to the body but Spezza is just out of range.
Spezza throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kage scores with a body shot.
Spezza missing with a left hand there. Kage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kage feinted with a counter takedown.
Kage is looking to wear down Spezza with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kage pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Spezza swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Kage shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kage 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.
Kage seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spezza does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Spezza is pressing down on Kage's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kage landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kage drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Spezza dives on top into guard.

Kage keeping moving, preventing Spezza from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kage is on top in guard.

Kage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spezza is keeping the position for now.
Kage is in close to Spezza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Spezza working a defensive guard here.

Spezza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kage defends well.
Raijin Kage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spezza is keeping the position for now.
Kage stopping the sweep attempt from Spezza.
Kage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Spezza for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spezza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kage is aware though and is defending well.
Spezza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spezza shoots in for a takedown but Kage shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Spezza jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Kage closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Spezza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kage tries to advance to mount but can't.
Spezza is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spezza stops Kage from passing to mount.
Kage slows the pace down.
Kage continues to stall.
More hug and hope from Kage.
Jason Spezza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kage trying to control the position but Spezza is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raijin Kage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kage 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

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