PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kugimiya Masato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Conor Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Conor Russell 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!

Masato
vs
Conor Russell

168 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
16
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

SHINTO

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, Kugimiya Masato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, George Conor Russell!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Masato manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Russell on his heels. He'll look to pass Russell's guard now, I'm sure.
Masato prevents Russell from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Masato thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Masato stands and throws Russell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Masato tries to move to mount but Russell blocks the move with his legs.
Masato happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Masato is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Russell has escaped the position, nice work there.
Masato has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato is looking to take a break and control but Russell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Masato tries to move into full mount but can't pass Russell's legs.
Masato is trying to move to mount but Russell reverses beautifully and ends up in Masato's guard.
Masato is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to stand but Masato is controlling from the bottom.
Masato has control of Russell's left arm, preventing Russell from doing any damage.

Masato has his foot on Russell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russell works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masato has Russell pulled in close to control his posture.
Russell is looking to stand up but Masato won't let him.
Masato controlling Russell's posture.
Russell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Russell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

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.

Russell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Masato to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Russell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Masato is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kugimiya Masato dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russell scores with a one two! Masato had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Kugimiya Masato has been cut.
Masato throws a body punch but Russell moves out of range.
And Russell tries to counter it with a takedown but Masato pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Masato shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Russell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Masato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Russell is looking to get back to is feet but Masato passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masato controlling the position.
Masato's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell prevents Masato from improving position.
Russell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Russell is not content to let Masato control the position.
Russell gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Masato controlling his opponent.
Russell wants to try and get back to his feet.
Masato with the ground and pound from mount.
Russell really wants to buck Masato off and get back to his feet.
Masato takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Masato controlling the position easily from mount.

Russell defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Masato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Masato controlling the pace for now.
Russell is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Masato working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Russell looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Masato! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Kugimiya Masato!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Kugimiya Masato made sure he mentioned SHINTO, along with how happy he was to win his fight.