PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Terunari Kagiyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kagiyama
vs
Thornton

177 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
153 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Amped Performance
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Terunari Kagiyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ian Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagiyama gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A punch combination from Thornton misses.
Thornton dodges the punch combination from Kagiyama.
Jab from Kagiyama.
Thornton throws a combination that misses
and Kagiyama counters with a nice uppercut.
We've been hearing reports that Kagiyama has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Kagiyama shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thornton napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kagiyama looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thornton is avoiding damage well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kagiyama trying to control the position but Thornton is working away.
Kagiyama lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thornton down.
Kagiyama slows the pace down.
Sloppy strikes there by Kagiyama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagiyama trying to control the action but Thornton is working from the bottom.

Kagiyama looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kagiyama lands some shots froms side control.
The ground and pound from Kagiyama seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kagiyama has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kagiyama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thornton keeps working.
Kagiyama throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Thornton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two 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.
Kagiyama controlling the position from side mount.
Thornton is not content to let Kagiyama control the position.
Thornton felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Kagiyama seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Thornton tries to escape but Kagiyama is in control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thornton blocks a jab.
Jab by Thornton.
Kagiyama lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Ian Thornton has been cut.
Thornton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kagiyama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thornton takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton misses with a left hand
letting Kagiyama counter with a right hand.
Thornton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kagiyama uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Thornton is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kagiyama cracks a nice hook into Thornton's ribs.
Kagiyama explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thornton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Kagiyama on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thornton misses with a double jab.
Kagiyama misses with a body shot.
Thornton moves forwards but Kagiyama connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thornton is still on wobbly legs! Can Kagiyama finish him?
Kagiyama finds Thornton's off switch, with a big overhand right that connects perfectly to the side of the head! Thornton flops back against the cage, eyes gazing into the distance. Kagiyama lands an unnecessary shot before the referee has time to step in and end the fight. Brutal stuff but I'm sure Thornton will be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Terunari Kagiyama!
The defeated Ian Thornton had this to say: 'Next time, Victory will taste sweet'.