PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rust Cohle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoji Kikuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoji Kikuchi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Cohle
vs
Kikuchi

168 cm
25
150 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rust Cohle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoji Kikuchi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cohle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kikuchi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cohle throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Cohle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kikuchi defends well.
Cohle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cohle is trying to control the position but Kikuchi postures up.
Kikuchi won't allow Cohle to sweep him here.
Cohle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kikuchi preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.

Cohle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cohle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kikuchi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kikuchi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuchi wants to control from the top but Cohle keeps moving.
Cohle wants to sweep but no luck.
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.
Cohle working a defensive guard here.
Cohle wants to sweep here but Kikuchi controlling him for the moment.
Kikuchi pushes down on Cohle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kikuchi trying to control the action but Cohle is working from the bottom.
Kikuchi thows a huge punch but Cohle dodges it nicely.
Cohle wants to control but Kikuchi is keeping busy.

Kikuchi is working for a kimura but Cohle is defending it quite comfortably.

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.
Cohle wants to get back to full guard.
Cohle looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Cohle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cohle is not content to let Kikuchi control the position.
Cohle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cohle.
Cohle is trying to control the position but Kikuchi postures up.
Kikuchi is looking to work some ground and pound but Cohle has wrist control.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cohle keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.
Kikuchi throwing strikes but missing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cohle keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cohle has closed the distance and engaged Kikuchi in a clinch.

Kikuchi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kikuchi wants to stand but Cohle is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kikuchi postures up.
Kikuchi wants to control from the top but Cohle keeps moving.
Cohle controls Kikuchi momentarily but Kikuchi frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cohle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kikuchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kikuchi pushes down on Cohle's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Cohle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kikuchi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cohle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cohle wants to get back to full guard but Kikuchi has mounted him!
Kikuchi prevents Cohle from getting the reversal.
Kikuchi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cohle because Kikuchi loaded up on that one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kikuchi is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Rust Cohle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cohle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kikuchi manages to avoid it.
Kikuchi feints the counter takedown.
A nice combination there by Kikuchi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoji Kikuchi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cohle misses with a series of wild punches.
Kikuchi feints the counter takedown.

Kikuchi drives through with a takedown into Cohle's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kikuchi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.
Cohle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kikuchi trying to control but Cohle is working from the bottom.
Yoji Kikuchi 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cohle trying to strike off his back.
Cohle keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.
Kikuchi throwing strikes but missing.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.
Cohle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A low kick from Cohle is predictable there

and Kikuchi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kikuchi.
Kikuchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cohle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cohle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi trying to control but Cohle is working from the bottom.
Kikuchi stopping the sweep attempt from Cohle.
Cohle is working hard here to advance position.
Kikuchi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cohle's head.
Cohle controlling the position.
Cohle looking to control.
Kikuchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cohle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Cohle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kikuchi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cohle's head.
Kikuchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cohle keeping moving, preventing Kikuchi from controlling successfully.
Cohle throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

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

Kikuchi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cohle's half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cohle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cohle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kikuchi is one step ahead there.

Cohle had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kikuchi defends it easily.
Kikuchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kikuchi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohle looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohle, not yet.
Kikuchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cohle is keeping the position for now.
Kikuchi wants to control from the top but Cohle keeps moving.
Kikuchi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cohle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kikuchi trying to control but Cohle is working from the bottom.
Cohle wants to stand and escape but Kikuchi is having none of it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoji Kikuchi 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! This is the final round!

Cohle throws a body kick that misses

and Kikuchi counters with a single leg into guard. Cohle didn't expect that.
Kikuchi wants to control from the top but Cohle keeps moving.
Cohle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kikuchi manages to get himself to full guard.

Cohle slips nicely into half guard.
Kikuchi wants to improve his position but Cohle is controlling well.
Cohle lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cohle thows a huge punch but Kikuchi dodges it nicely.
Cohle scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kikuchi wants to control but Cohle is keeping busy.
Kikuchi wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuchi is staying active underneath Cohle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kikuchi trying to control here.
Cohle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Cohle is trying to work for a kimura but Kikuchi is defending well.
Cohle is just content to waste time from the top position. Kikuchi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cohle wants to control from the top but Kikuchi keeps moving.
Cohle looking to pass the guard.

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.
Cohle wants to control from the top but Kikuchi keeps moving.
Cohle is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cohle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cohle trying to control the position from guard on top but Kikuchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kikuchi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cohle works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi scoring with some ground and pound.
Kikuchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cohle is keeping the position for now.
Cohle controls Kikuchi momentarily but Kikuchi frees himself.
Cohle wants to sweep but no luck.
Kikuchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kikuchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cohle looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cohle looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cohle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cohle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kikuchi as he avoids it easily.
Kikuchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Kikuchi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cohle to the ground. Kikuchi is now in Cohle's guard.

Cohle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kikuchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kikuchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cohle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kikuchi is one step ahead there.
Kikuchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yoji Kikuchi.
I've got Kikuchi 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Yoji Kikuchi!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Yoji Kikuchi!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Yoji Kikuchi!

Yoji Kikuchi wins by unanimous decision!