PBP Commentary

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

Kajita
vs
Wright

173 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahiro Kajita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Wright!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kajita fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wright sprawls well initially but Kajita persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wright trying to control but Kajita postures up.
Kajita is controlling the pace.
Wright tries to kick Kajita off but Kajita keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wright trying to control but Kajita postures up.
Kajita is keen to just control but Wright is a slippery customer.

Kajita is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kajita is looking to advance position but Wright won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kajita takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Wright gets the takedown into side control.
Wright trying to control the position but Kajita is working away.
Wright tries to stand but Kajita is controlling his head.
Kajita manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kajita is staying active underneath Wright, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kajita is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Wright is going to stand back up.
Wright wants to take a breather but Kajita is having none of it.
Wright looks gassed!
Kajita wants to control but Wright is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kajita shoots and misses
and Wright counters with a big head kick but Kajita shrugs it off.

Wright has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wright lands with a light punch inside.
Kajita tries to pull guard but Wright holds him up against the cage and eventually Kajita drops back down to his feet.
Kajita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahiro Kajita. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with an elbow over the top.
Kajita tries to pull guard but Wright holds him up against the cage and eventually Kajita drops back down to his feet.
Kajita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kajita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kajita tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wright lands a nice knee to the body.

Wright jumps guard.
Kajita slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kajita wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wright keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kajita slows the pace down.
Kajita looks up at the clock and then as Wright takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kajita smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kajita trying to control the position but Wright is working away.
Kajita controlling the position.

Kajita goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Wright has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kajita but great work by Wright.
Kajita is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Wright dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wright fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kajita tries for a takedown but Wright circles away easily

and Wright counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kajita!
Wright is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Kajita tries to reverse the position but Wright maintains control.
Wright avoids the attempt from Kajita to control.
Kajita is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kajita is working to get back to half guard.

Wright stands up from mount. Strange move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kajita lands a jab to the head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kajita fails to pull guard.
Kajita looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahiro Kajita. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wright gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kajita.
Wright tries to land knees in the clinch but Kajita avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Wright wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kajita changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wright fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wright throws a body kick that misses.

Kajita instigates a clinch.
Wright gets underhooks to prevent Kajita's takedown attempt.
Kajita tries to pull guard but Wright holds him up against the cage and eventually Kajita drops back down to his feet.

Wright breaks the clinch.
Kajita closes the distance looking to clinch
and Wright counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kajita misses with a takedown attempt

and Wright counters by clinching up.
Kajita tries to pull guard but Wright holds him up against the cage and eventually Kajita drops back down to his feet.
Kajita is working for takedown but Wright is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kajita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kajita blocks the elbow strike.
Kajita tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wright just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wright is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kajita tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wright smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kajita decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kajita is looking for a kimura but Wright is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kajita to get the leverage.
Kajita wants to free his trapped foot but Wright is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kajita perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wright pushes Kajita off looking to stand but Kajita dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Kajita there.
Kajita has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Wright showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kajita closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wright wants to break free but Kajita has control.
Wright throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wright stops a takedown attempt from Kajita.

Wright pulls guard successfully.
Kajita connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kajita tries to free his leg and advance position but Wright is retaining full guard.
Kajita with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kajita stands and throws Wright's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kajita has hold of Wright's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Wright tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Kajita cranks the arm and Wright screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Wright, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Takahiro Kajita!