PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Takuji Kawashima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul OConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawashima comes to the cage accompanied by Colossal - Wolfmother. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kawashima
vs
OConnell

190 cm
23
280 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

209 cm
22
291 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Takuji Kawashima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul OConnell!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OConnell moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Kawashima throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. OConnell was covering up waiting for the punch and Kawashima finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kawashima trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kawashima trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawashima is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Great Bash Heel that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
OConnell has control of Kawashima's left arm, preventing Kawashima from doing any damage.
Kawashima throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kawashima slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kawashima wants to control from the top but OConnell keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell is trying to keep Kawashima in close.
Kawashima throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
OConnell keeping moving, preventing Kawashima from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kawashima bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
OConnell struggling a bit here.

Kawashima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
OConnell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kawashima.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima working the head and body with strikes.
Kawashima controls the position.
OConnell is trying to control Kawashima's posture but Kawashima avoids it.
Kawashima tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Kawashima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. OConnell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kawashima sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but OConnell is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
OConnell struggling a bit here.
OConnell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kawashima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawashima thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kawashima trying to control the action but OConnell is working from the bottom.
OConnell is trying to control Kawashima's posture but Kawashima avoids it.
OConnell is looking for a sweep.
Kawashima 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.
Kawashima is putting a hurting on OConnell here, landing some big shots from side control.

Kawashima thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kawashima scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawashima working away.

Kawashima looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
I wouldn't like to be where OConnell is right now.
OConnell is not content to let Kawashima control the position.
You can see the frustration on OConnell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
OConnell tries to buck Kawashima off but Kawashima is having none of it.
Kawashima cracks OConnell with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takuji Kawashima 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.

OConnell checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
OConnell lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Takuji Kawashima has been cut.
OConnell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kawashima circles away quickly and effectively.
Kawashima attempts a counter takedown but OConnell avoids it well and moves away.
OConnell fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kawashima is out of range.
OConnell feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kawashima's calf.
OConnell looks to land a combination but Kawashima avoids it well.
OConnell blocks a jab.
OConnell throws the kick towards the body but Kawashima avoids it.
OConnell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takuji Kawashima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OConnell looks to land a combination but Kawashima avoids it well.
OConnell throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kawashima avoids the body shot from OConnell.
Kawashima throws a head kick that misses.
A cross from OConnell lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawashima fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
OConnell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawashima misses with a body shot.
OConnell swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A big right from Kawashima misses.
OConnell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kawashima.
Kawashima throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kawashima throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kawashima misses with a low kick.
OConnell throws a front kick aimed at Kawashima's knee but Kawashima avoids it well.
Paul OConnell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kawashima throws a low kick but OConnell moves out of range easily.
Kawashima dodges the punch combination from OConnell.
Good standup being displayed there by OConnell as he connects with a hook.

Kawashima drives through with a takedown into guard.
OConnell is controlling Kawashima's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnell trying to control the position.
Kawashima sitting in guard, not really doing much.
OConnell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
OConnell being controlled here, momentarily.
Takuji Kawashima overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kawashima trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
OConnell controlling Kawashima's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
OConnell is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kawashima. OConnell does a little dance to reset his feet.
OConnell throws a big counter head kick but Kawashima avoids it with no problem.
OConnell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Paul OConnell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
OConnell cracks Kawashima with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A nice combination there by OConnell.
Kawashima closes the distance and clinches up with OConnell, looking for a takedown. Kawashima pushes OConnell against the cage but OConnell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takuji Kawashima. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OConnell throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
OConnell throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kawashima gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Kawashima tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but OConnell is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Kawashima buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Kawashima!! Kawashima is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. OConnell throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Paul OConnell!
Paul OConnell decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Takuji Kawashima spoke after the fight, saying 'Team Goroshi - Kore Fight Nutrition - Sydney Elite Systems - Extreme MMA'.