PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Ramirez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maki Kamiya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramirez's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Doo Bidoo - Kamikaze. Maki Kamiya will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ramirez
vs
Kamiya

168 cm
21
134 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

179 cm
18
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paolo Ramirez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maki Kamiya!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamiya with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ramirez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Ramirez gets a clinch.

Ramirez jumps guard.
Kamiya trying to control but Ramirez is working from the bottom.

Ramirez pushes Kamiya off and gets back to his feet.
Kamiya tries to land a front kick but Ramirez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Ramirez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kamiya, pushing him back against the cage.
Kamiya throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Kamiya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kamiya is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ramirez slows down the pace here.
Ramirez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ramirez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kamiya plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez moves out of range as Kamiya strikes.

Ramirez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ramirez stands up from half guard.
Maki Kamiya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kamiya blocks the body kick.
Kamiya misses with a right hand
and Ramirez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kamiya lands a leg kick that knocks Ramirez off balance momentarily.
Kamiya throws a push kick but Ramirez slaps the foot to one side.
Ramirez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kamiya.
Kamiya keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Ramirez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kamiya goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kamiya looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kamiya with a hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Ramirez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ramirez appears to be looking for a big counter.

Ramirez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kamiya!
Ramirez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kamiya on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ramirez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Ramirez swings around for an armbar but Kamiya sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ramirez's guard.
Ramirez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ramirez keeping moving, preventing Kamiya from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kamiya wants to pass the guard but Ramirez is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamiya in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ramirez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ramirez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kamiya throwing strikes but missing.
Kamiya has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kamiya gets to his feet. Ramirez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ramirez misses with a combination
enabling Kamiya to counter with a crisp jab.

Ramirez gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramirez tries for a kimura but Kamiya is defending well.
Kamiya is trying to get back to half guard.
Kamiya keeps trying to improve his position.
Ramirez trying to control the position but Kamiya is working away.
Ramirez working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Ramirez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kamiya lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ramirez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kamiya is fending him off so far but Ramirez persists. Nope, Kamiya circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Ramirez.
Kamiya is looking to slow Ramirez down with leg kicks.
Ramirez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kamiya was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kamiya feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ramirezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kamiya goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kamiya is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A low kick from Kamiya misses
and Ramirez counters with a two punch combo.
Nice uppercut there from Kamiya.
Ramirez slips a straight right by Kamiya.
Ramirez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kamiya as he jumps to the side.
Kamiya throws a counter combo.
Kamiya scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ramirez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kamiya. Kamiya obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamiya misses with a body kick.
Kamiya takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ramirez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kamiya lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kamiya misses with a body kick.
Ramirez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Ramirez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kamiya thumps Ramirez with a low kick.
Paolo Ramirez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ramirez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ramirez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kamiya.
Kamiya connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ramirez momentarily.
Maki Kamiya seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kamiya throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kamiya misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kamiya feints and then cracks Ramirez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ramirez down.
Ramirez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kamiya's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamiya throws a hook but Ramirez avoids it easily.
Kamiya tries to score with a low kick but Ramirez moves his leg out of the way.
Kamiya fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kamiya throws the kick towards the body but Ramirez avoids it.
Ramirez throws a head kick that misses.
And Kamiya responds with a good body kick, but Ramirez manages to step out the way in time.
Kamiya has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kamiya scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ramirez in his tracks.
Kamiya throws a chopping leg kick but Ramirez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kamiya throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kamiya throws a right and a left that Ramirez avoids nicely.
Kamiya throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ramirez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ramirez shoots for a double leg takedown but Kamiya sprawls well. He's pushed Ramirez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kamiya lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Ramirez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kamiya throws an elbow but misses.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Kamiya has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamiya lands an elbow inside.
Ramirez is trying to pull guard but Kamiya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kamiya working Ramirez over with knees to the body.

Ramirez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kamiya throws the kick towards the body but Ramirez avoids it.
Ramirez is looking to counter the offense by Kamiya and move into the clinch.
Kamiya connects with a crisp jab.
Kamiya fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ramirez.
Kamiya looking to land some kicks to the body here.
As Kamiya looks to move away, Ramirez throws a big counter combo but Kamiya just gets out of the way.
Kamiya fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kamiya does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kamiya waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ramirez.
Ramirez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ramirez walks into a jab.
Kamiya throws a jab when Ramirez was well out of range.
Ramirez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kamiya lands a leg kick that knocks Ramirez off balance momentarily.
Ramirez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kamiya.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ramirez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ramirez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd cheers as Ramirez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kamiya doesn't seem phased though.
Kamiya swinging wildly here.
Kamiya misses with a few strikes there.
As Kamiya tries to get set, Ramirez tries to push him back and clinch up but Kamiya manages to avoid the attempt.
Kamiya cracks Ramirez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Ramirez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ramirez jumps guard but Kamiya turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ramirez lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kamiya has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kamiya throws an elbow but misses.
Ramirez blocks an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kamiya just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ramirez's brow.
Ramirez managing to block the knees to the body from Kamiya.
Ramirez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ramirez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kamiya.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Kamiya 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. This is the final round!

Ramirez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kamiya tries to avoid it but Ramirez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kamiya to the ground. Kamiya escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A little jabbing left from Kamiya on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ramirez takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kamiya plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kamiya connects with an inside leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kamiya.

Ramirez closes the distance and clinches.
Ramirez leaning against his opponent.
Ramirez cracks Kamiya with a nice body shot.
Ramirez avoids the elbow strike from Kamiya, against the cage.
Ramirez tries to land knees in the clinch but Kamiya avoids the damage to the body.
Kamiya is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ramirez is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamiya trying to land knees to the body.
Kamiya creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ramirez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ramirez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kamiya smiles and moves away.
Ramirez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kamiya sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ramirez somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Ramirez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ramirez moves into the clinch.
Ramirez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kamiya walks away with a smile on his face. Ramirez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ramirez moves out of range as Kamiya throws a body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kamiya.
Kamiya scores with a head kick. Ramirez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ramirez misses with a few strikes there.
Kamiya goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ramirez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kamiya.
Ramirez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kamiya throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kamiya, right into the meat.

Kamiya gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kamiya is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ramirez is aware though and is defending well.
Ramirez wants to pass the guard but Kamiya is keeping the position.

Kamiya looking for a guillotine here but Ramirez defends easily.
Ramirez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kamiya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ramirez controlling from the top position.
Ramirez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ramirez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kamiya counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kamiya throws a head kick that half lands.
Kamiya misses with a body kick.
Kamiya misses with a wild combination.
Ramirez is looking to counter the offense by Kamiya and move into the clinch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kamiya.
Kamiya scores with a kick to the body.
Kamiya fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ramirez darts in looking for a takedown but Kamiya gets double underhooks and turns Ramirez into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ramirez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kamiya.
Ramirez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kamiya. Kamiya obviously looking to wear him down.
Kamiya looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maki Kamiya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kamiya walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ramirez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Ramirez looking to score a takedown here. Kamiya is defending well but Ramirez drives through and ends up in Kamiya's guard.

Kamiya uses the cage to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maki Kamiya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kamiya 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maki Kamiya!
Maki Kamiya was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.