PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoji Kikuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez has chosen The Fire as his entrance music. Mauricio Velasquez looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Kikuchi
vs
Velasquez

170 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
148 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoji Kikuchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mauricio Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikuchi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kikuchi counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Velasquez is trying to improve his position.
Kikuchi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Kikuchi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Velasquez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kikuchi but great work by Velasquez.
Velasquez throws an elbow but Kikuchi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Velasquez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kikuchi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kikuchi is pushing Velasquez's head away, looking to escape. Velasquez manages to hold on to the position though.
Velasquez tries to stand but Kikuchi is controlling his head.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez working away.
Velasquez lands an elbow.

Velasquez swings around for an armbar but Kikuchi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kikuchi trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Kikuchi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kikuchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kikuchi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kikuchi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kikuchi throws a big elbow that misses.

Kikuchi has gone for a leg lock! Velasquez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kikuchi's guard.

Kikuchi has Velasquez pulled in close to control his posture.
Velasquez passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but Kikuchi is defending the strikes.
Kikuchi parries the strikes from Velasquez easily there. Velasquez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kikuchi to escape.
Kikuchi can't do much from the bottom here.
Velasquez trying to control the action but Kikuchi is working from the bottom.
Kikuchi is trying to control Velasquez's posture but Velasquez avoids it.

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.
Kikuchi tries to buck Velasquez off but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kikuchi keeps working.
Velasquez throwing strikes but Kikuchi manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Velasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauricio Velasquez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Velasquez shoots in looking for a takedown but Kikuchi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Velasquez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A counter left hand to the body from Kikuchi misses its target.
Velasquez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kikuchi counters with a takedown into side control.
The referee asks Kikuchi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kikuchi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kikuchi tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Velasquez gets back to half guard.
Mauricio Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez is not content to let Kikuchi control the position.
Kikuchi working the head and body with strikes.
Kikuchi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kikuchi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep. Kikuchi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kikuchi wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.

Kikuchi seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Velasquez has recovered full guard.
Kikuchi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Velasquez has his foot on Kikuchi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kikuchi works his way back into a safe position though.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Kikuchi looking to sit in guard and control but Velasquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kikuchi controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi wants to hit a switch here but Velasquez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kikuchi there!
Kikuchi wants to hold on but Velasquez pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Kikuchi is looking to get to half guard.
Kikuchi tries to hold on but Velasquez pushes him away.
Kikuchi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Kikuchi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kikuchi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kikuchi pushing down on Velasquez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Kikuchi wants to work for an arm triangle but Velasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kikuchi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Velasquez is just riding it out for now. Kikuchi eventually gives up the hold.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Velasquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kikuchi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kikuchi is looking to stall here but Velasquez recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yoji Kikuchi will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kikuchi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Velasquez is trying to defend but Kikuchi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kikuchi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Velasquez is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Yoji Kikuchi!