PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daryl Roach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kojima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akira Kojima will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Roach
vs
Kojima

196 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daryl Roach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Kojima!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kojima fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Roach sprawls well initially but Kojima persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kojima controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roach is trying to stand back up but Kojima is controlling him

Kojima is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roach sees it coming and defends easily.
Kojima is keen to just control but Roach is a slippery customer.

Kojima seems to be working for a kimura but Roach defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach tries to kick Kojima off but Kojima keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Roach is controlling Kojima's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kojima is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roach defends it well.
Kojima winds up and cracks Roach with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Roach is looking to improve his position.
Kojima passes into side control, despite Roach's attempt to control the position.

Kojima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kojima staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kojima wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Roach, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Roach's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roach tries to escape but Kojima is in control.

Kojima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Roach keeps Kojima under control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kojima trying to control the position but Roach is working away.
Roach is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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

Kojima is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Roach has escaped the position, nice work there.

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

Kojima swings around for an armbar but Roach sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kojima's guard.
Kojima trying to control the position.
Roach wants to stand but Kojima has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Roach trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Roach decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kojima, up you get!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kojima closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Roach's guard.
Kojima sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kojima dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roach gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kojima to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kojima throwing strikes but missing.
Roach will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Roach wants to get back to his feet but Kojima is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kojima is stalling in the full guard.
Roach is looking to stand up but Kojima isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kojima stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roach swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kojima wants to get up but he can't break Roach's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kojima trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kojima shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kojima was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kojima is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roach knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roach manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roach is staying active underneath Kojima, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Roach is looking for a sweep. Kojima is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kojima perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Kojima is working for a submission of some sort.

Kojima is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Roach is not content to let Kojima control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kojima is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kojima is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roach sees it coming and defends easily.
Roach wants to improve his position but Kojima is controlling well.

Roach is defending against the submission attempts here by Kojima.
Kojima prevents Roach from standing back up.
Roach won't allow Kojima to pass to mount.

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.
Kojima passes to full mount!
Kojima fails to advance to Roach's back.
Kojima controlling the position easily from mount.
Kojima avoids the attempt from Roach to control.
Roach is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kojima is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roach tries to reverse the position but Kojima maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kojima showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kojima closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ground and pound from Kojima.
Roach tries to get to full guard but Kojima has control of the leg.
Roach wants to get back to his feet.
Kojima works his way into side control.
Roach wants to control but Kojima postures up.
Kojima should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kojima is looking to take a break and control but Roach is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Roach tries to escape but Kojima is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Roach's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Roach is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kojima asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Kojima tries for a kimura but Roach is defending well.
Kojima wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roach keeps working.
Roach tries to bench press Kojima off him but Kojima keeps the position.
Roach is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kojima has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kojima tries for a kimura but Roach is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kojima takes a little break here. Roach wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
You can see the frustration on Roach's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kojima is working to tighten his grip on Roach's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Roach has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Kojima is really squeezing tight and eventually Roach passes out! Kojima breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Akira Kojima!
Our winner, Akira Kojima, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.