PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kahwaah Jeeri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Konopacki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Jeeri
vs
Konopacki

170 cm
28
168 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

179 cm
33
171 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kahwaah Jeeri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Pawel Konopacki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jeeri lands a head kick. Konopacki smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Konopacki misses with a wild combination.
Konopacki scores with a sloppy right hand. Jeeri should have avoided that one.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Jeeri.
A lull in the action here.

Jeeri tries for a kimura but Konopacki is defending well.
Konopacki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Konopacki trying to control here.
Jeeri trying to pass the guard but Konopacki defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Konopacki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jeeri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Konopacki's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jeeri in particular looking to stall.
Jeeri trying to control from half guard but Konopacki is working away.
Jeeri prevents Konopacki from improving his position.
Jeeri wants to control but Konopacki is keeping him busy.
Konopacki has his hands clasped together around Jeeri's back. He's all about the action.

That's two 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.
Jeeri is trying to control the action in half guard but Konopacki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Konopacki lands a nice shot that snaps Jeeri's head back.
Jeeri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Konopacki.
Jeeri with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Konopacki to score with a decent uppercut.
Jeeri shoots for a double leg takedown but Konopacki sprawls well. He's pushed Jeeri's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Konopacki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jeeri tries to clinch up but Konopacki circles away and keeps his distance.

Jeeri closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Konopacki to the mat! Konopacki manages to get full guard.

Konopacki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jeeri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jeeri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Our spies down at at ~T~ Troid - Gym inform us that Konopacki has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Konopacki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Konopacki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jeeri has passed into side control.
Jeeri works to advance to full mount. Konopacki defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Konopacki is looking to get to half guard.
Jeeri tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki is trying to escape the mount.
Jeeri wants to take his opponent's back but Konopacki doesn't allow it.
Konopacki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Konopacki is squirming around, avoiding Jeeri's attempts to control the action.
Konopacki gets back to half guard.
Jeeri thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Konopacki gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Konopacki keeping full guard, as Jeeri tries to pass.
Konopacki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kahwaah Jeeri will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Konopacki bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jeeri's head.
Konopacki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jeeri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jeeri definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kahwaah Jeeri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jeeri tries to clinch up.
Jeeri fails with the takedown
and Konopacki counters with a straight right hand.
Konopacki digs a good hook to Jeeri's body.
Jeeri shoots for a takedown but Konopacki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pawel Konopacki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Konopacki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jeeri looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Konopacki tries to bum rush Jeeri with a series of wild strikes but Jeeri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jeeri needs to keep his hands up - Konopacki had a free shot at his head there.
Konopacki lands a jab to the nose.
Jeeri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Konopacki's waist but Konopacki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jeeri off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kahwaah Jeeri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Konopacki fakes the leg kick and cracks Jeeri in the body.
Konopacki connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Konopacki gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jeeri to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Jeeri wants to pass the guard but Konopacki is keeping the position.
Konopacki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kahwaah Jeeri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Konopacki controlling Jeeri's posture.
Jeeri stopping the sweep attempt from Konopacki.
Jeeri trying to control the position from guard on top but Konopacki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jeeri works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Konopacki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jeeri is aware though and is defending well.

Konopacki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jeeri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Konopacki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jeeri wants to control from the top but Konopacki keeps moving.
Konopacki punching to the body, from the bottom.

Konopacki has an active guard here but Jeeri has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jeeri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Konopacki's head.
Konopacki wants to get back to full guard.

Jeeri seems to be working for a kimura but Konopacki defends the submission attempt.
Jeeri is keen to just control but Konopacki is a slippery customer.
Konopacki is looking to improve his position.
Jeeri is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Konopacki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jeeri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Konopacki's head.
Konopacki is staying active underneath Jeeri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jeeri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jeeri shoots for a takedown but Konopacki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Jeeri moves into range and clinches up with Konopacki.
Konopacki is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Konopacki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jeeri drops his hands momentarily and Konopacki takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Konopacki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jeeri tries to counter with a takedown but Konopacki is quick to defend against it.
Konopacki closes the distance and clinches up with Jeeri, looking for a takedown. Konopacki pushes Jeeri against the cage but Jeeri circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jeeri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Konopacki scores with a kick to the midsection.
Konopacki scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jeeri in his tracks.
Jeeri blocks a low kick nicely.

Jeeri gets a double leg takedown into Konopacki's guard.

Konopacki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jeeri is aware though and is defending well.
Konopacki keeping full guard, as Jeeri tries to pass.
Jeeri content to stall in guard here.
Jeeri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Konopacki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jeeri content to stall in guard here.
Konopacki pulls Jeeri in to control the position.
Jeeri throws a big elbow that misses.
Konopacki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jeeri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jeeri has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Konopacki keeping moving, preventing Jeeri from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jeeri gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Konopacki counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jeeri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Konopacki is able to avoid easily.
Jeeri throws a left and a right that both miss

and Konopacki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jeeri is pulling down on Konopacki's head. It's preventing any offense from Konopacki, at least for the moment.
Konopacki trying to control the position from guard on top but Jeeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Konopacki stopping the sweep attempt from Jeeri.
Konopacki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jeeri has momentary wrist control but Konopacki slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konopacki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Konopacki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Konopacki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Konopacki wants to control from the top but Jeeri keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Konopacki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Konopacki scores with a nice head shot.
Jeeri misses with a takedown
and Konopacki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jeeri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Konopacki.
Jeeri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jeeri shoots in but Konopacki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kahwaah Jeeri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Konopacki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jeeri's head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Konopacki.
Jeeri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Konopacki tries to avoid it but Jeeri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Konopacki to the ground. Konopacki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Konopacki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Konopacki lands a leg kick that knocks Jeeri off balance momentarily.
Jeeri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Konopacki.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jeeri fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Konopacki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Konopacki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Konopacki!