PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alan Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hikaru Kawagishi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hikaru Kawagishi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Kawagishi

209 cm
23
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
21
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alan Sanchez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hikaru Kawagishi!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kawagishi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sanchez tries to buck Kawagishi off but Kawagishi is having none of it.
Sanchez is not content to let Kawagishi control the position.
Sanchez looks to move to half guard but instead Kawagishi has passed into mount! Damn!
Kawagishi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawagishi avoids the attempt from Sanchez to control.
Sanchez is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawagishi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Kawagishi throws some wild stikes that Sanchez manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawagishi looking to control but Sanchez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kawagishi throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sanchez is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawagishi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kawagishi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Kawagishi looking to secure an arm triangle but Sanchez defends it well.
Kawagishi controlling his opponent.
Kawagishi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kawagishi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Sanchez wants to hold on but Kawagishi pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawagishi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Sanchez is looking to get to half guard.
Kawagishi tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez is looking to improve his position but Kawagishi isn't that keen on the idea.
Sanchez looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Kawagishi is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Sanchez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kawagishi's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Kawagishi is persistently looking for the submission but Sanchez is defending it well.
Kawagishi is hanging on to Sanchez's back as he tries to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sanchez is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kawagishi gets his way!
Sanchez turns into Kawagishi and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hikaru Kawagishi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kawagishi looking to score a takedown here. Sanchez is defending well but Kawagishi drives through and ends up in Sanchez's guard.
Kawagishi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawagishi wanted to stand there but Sanchez had control of the position.
Kawagishi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanchez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kawagishi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanchez trying to keep a closed guard but Kawagishi is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawagishi won't allow Sanchez to get back to his feet.
Kawagishi postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanchez seems keen to control Kawagishi's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawagishi throws a lazy head kick
letting Sanchez counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Sanchez.

Kawagishi gets a clinch.
Kawagishi wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sanchez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kawagishi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kawagishi clinches with his opponent.
Kawagishi lands an uppercut.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kawagishi has him pressed against the cage.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Sanchez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kawagishi rushes Sanchez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a knee to the head but misses.

Sanchez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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

Sanchez pushes Kawagishi off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kawagishi gets a takedown into half guard.
Kawagishi is looking to take a break and control but Sanchez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kawagishi passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Sanchez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sanchez is not content to let Kawagishi control the position.
Sanchez is trying to improve his position.
Sanchez tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kawagishi easily slips into full mount!
Sanchez wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kawagishi wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Sanchez tries to hold on but Kawagishi postures up.
Sanchez regains half guard.
Kawagishi wants to free his trapped foot but Sanchez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hikaru Kawagishi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kawagishi clinches with his opponent.

Sanchez breaks from the clinch.

Kawagishi moves into the clinch.
Kawagishi blocks the elbow strike.

Kawagishi pulls Sanchez into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawagishi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sanchez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Sanchez is trying to work for a kimura but Kawagishi is defending well.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Kawagishi is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to stand up but Kawagishi has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hikaru Kawagishi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kawagishi wants to get back to his feet.
Kawagishi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanchez is working away from the top position though.
Kawagishi tries to get to full guard but Sanchez has control of the leg.
Kawagishi manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sanchez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Kawagishi working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez controlling from the top position.
Kawagishi trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawagishi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sanchez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanchez trying to control the position here.
Kawagishi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pulls Kawagishi in close to prevent any damage.
Kawagishi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez trying to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sanchez holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kawagishi wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sanchez tries to sprawl but Kawagishi drives through with a takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hikaru Kawagishi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kawagishi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hikaru Kawagishi!