PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Soriano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shinya Kawajiri has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kawajiri
vs
Soriano

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

190 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Kawajiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Soriano!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawajiri misses with a takedown attempt - Soriano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kawajiri looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kawajiri closes the distance and clinches up with Soriano, looking for a takedown. Kawajiri pushes Soriano against the cage but Soriano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kawajiri throws a nice looking combination but Soriano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kawajiri blocks a head kick by Soriano.

Soriano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kawajiri sprawls well initially but Soriano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soriano trying to control the action but Kawajiri is working from the bottom.

Soriano is looking for a kimura but Kawajiri is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Soriano to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soriano tries to stand and escape but Kawajiri is controlling the position.
Soriano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Soriano decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kawajiri on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri stuffs the takedown.

Soriano shoots in and bounces Kawajiri off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Soriano controls from within his opponent's guard.
Soriano is looking to stand up but Kawajiri won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Soriano is working Kawajiri over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kawajiri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soriano is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Soriano is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Soriano trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawajiri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soriano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Soriano misses with a takedown attempt

and Kawajiri counters with a nice double leg into side control. Soriano won't be happy with that.
Soriano wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Soriano manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Soriano thows a huge punch but Kawajiri dodges it nicely.
Soriano thows a huge punch but Kawajiri dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soriano trying to control from half guard but Kawajiri is working away.
Soriano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soriano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Soriano is trying to control the action in half guard but Kawajiri is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Soriano moves into the clinch successfully.

Soriano has picked Kawajiri up - he's going for a ride! Soriano dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Kawajiri is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Soriano pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kawajiri misses with a body shot.
Kawajiri tries for a takedown but Soriano circles away easily
and Soriano counters with a low kick, right behind Kawajiri 's knee.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Soriano!
Kawajiri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soriano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawajiri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soriano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kawajiri circles away.
Kawajiri fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Kawajiri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Soriano misses with a takedown attempt - Kawajiri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soriano shoots for a takedown but Kawajiri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shinya Kawajiri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Soriano.
Soriano tries to land a front kick but Kawajiri steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Soriano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawajiri is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Soriano has his hands clasped together but Kawajiri extends an breaks Soriano's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kawajiri.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shinya Kawajiri!