PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luca Conti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaaki Kanagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Masaaki Kanagawa enters the cage!

Conti
vs
Kanagawa

198 cm
22
216 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
28
211 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luca Conti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaaki Kanagawa!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conti lands with a shot to the body.
Kanagawa scores with the left hand. Conti knows he should have avoided that one.
Kanagawa has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Conti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Conti tries to clinch there but Kanagawa circles away.
Kanagawa let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kanagawa cracks Conti with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Conti blocks a jab.
Conti lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Kanagawa throws a sloppy body shot
and Conti counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kanagawa misses the shot to the body.
Nice body kick from Conti.
Conti lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Conti.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Conti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Conti tries to clinch up.
Decent striking displayed by Conti there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanagawa misses with a hook. Conti ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Conti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Luca Conti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kanagawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Conti moves into the clinch successfully.
Kanagawa lands a nice uppercut.
Kanagawa lands a hook that snaps the head of Conti backwards.
Kanagawa digs a right hand into Conti's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Conti's gas tank.
Kanagawa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kanagawa blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kanagawa.
Kanagawa has a couple of punches blocked by Conti.
Kanagawa cracks Conti with a nice body shot.
Conti working aggressively here.
Kanagawa lands an uppercut.
We've been hearing reports that Conti has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kanagawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Conti.
Kanagawa is leaning against Conti and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
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!
Kanagawa is trying to force a seperation but Conti has the dominant position.
A left hand lands to the body for Kanagawa.
Kanagawa digs a right hand into Conti's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Conti's gas tank.
Conti is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conti blocks a body shot from Kanagawa.
A short right from Kanagawa on the inside.
Kanagawa can't find room to land a body shot as Conti controls the action.
Conti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kanagawa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Conti blocking some punches.
Conti lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kanagawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Conti throws a head punch that misses.
Kanagawa misses with a body punch.
Kanagawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Conti controls his hands.
Conti lands a damaging elbow.
Conti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Conti lands a right hand.
Conti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Conti misses with a body punch.
Kanagawa tries a body shot but Conti blocks it.
Kanagawa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kanagawa scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kanagawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Conti lands an elbow inside that Kanagawa shrugs off.
Conti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Conti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kanagawa backwards.
A short left from Conti.
Kanagawa blocks the elbow strike.
Conti utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Conti gets through Kanagawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kanagawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kanagawa misses with a punch on the inside.
Kanagawa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Conti or not.
Kanagawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kanagawa prevents a body shot from Conti.
Kanagawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Conti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kanagawas head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conti scores a nice knee to the body.

Conti jumps into guard, dragging Kanagawa to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa wants to stand but Conti is controlling his posture from full guard.

Conti had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kanagawa defends it easily.

Conti working for a triangle but Kanagawa defends it easily.
Conti wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kanagawa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Conti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kanagawa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Conti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Conti dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kanagawa looks to land a right hand but Conti moved out of range.
Kanagawa misses with a left hand
letting Conti counter with a right hand.
Conti jabs at Kanagawa's body.
Some wild striking there from Kanagawa.
Conti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kanagawa misses the body punch
and Conti finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Conti!

Conti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Conti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kanagawa takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Masaaki Kanagawa has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kanagawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kanagawa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Conti blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanagawa misses with a body punch.
Kanagawa tries a body shot but Conti blocks it.
Kanagawa lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kanagawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Conti is looking to clinch but Kanagawa is avoiding it.
Kanagawa throws out a counter right but Conti avoids it with no problem.
Conti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kanagawa lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Conti lands the left hand.
Kanagawa takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Conti decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kanagawa is trying to maintain the position but Conti is very close to passing his half guard.
Conti takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Conti is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kanagawa reverses the position - he's now on top in Conti's guard.
Conti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kanagawa can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Conti trying to control the position.
Kanagawa won't allow Conti to sweep him here.
Conti will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Conti lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Conti stopping the sweep attempt from Kanagawa.
Conti content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Conti is in close to Kanagawa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanagawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Conti with a nice head shot there.
Conti landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conti postures up.
Conti pushes down on Kanagawa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Conti is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Conti is working for a kimura but Kanagawa is defending it quite comfortably.

Kanagawa actively working from the bottom here.
Kanagawa wants to improve his position but Conti is controlling well.

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.
Conti passes to full mount!
Conti with the ground and pound from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kanagawa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Conti lands with some strikes.
Kanagawa tries to lock up and control but Conti gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kanagawa is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Conti is staying active.
Kanagawa keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Conti lands a nice shot to the head.
Conti landing shots from mount.
Kanagawa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luca Conti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Masaaki Kanagawa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kanagawa cracks a nice hook into Conti's ribs.
Conti tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kanagawa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kanagawa swings for the body but Conti moves out of range.
Conti throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kanagawa on the side of the head.
Luca Conti is winning the standup battle so far.

Conti shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kanagawa is trying to defend but Conti finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Conti working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conti is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Conti breaks from Kanagawa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Conti landing strikes from the mount and Kanagawa is in trouble!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conti lands a heavy elbow.
Kanagawa is in all sorts of trouble here.

Conti looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conti putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Conti landing shots from mount.
Kanagawa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Conti working for a submission but Kanagawa is keeping him at bay.

Conti is working for a guillotine from mount but Kanagawa frees his head quite easily.
Conti lands a couple of good shots and Kanagawa has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa is really stuck here.
Conti connects with a big shot to the side of Kanagawa's head.
Conti is landing with strikes. Kanagawa can't take much more of this.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Conti scores with punches to the body.
Luca Conti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Conti has good solid back control here.
Conti 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.
Conti'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 three minutes gone in the round.
Kanagawa just trying to survive but Conti is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Conti controlling from the back.
Further stalling from Conti.
Kanagawa grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conti is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Conti scores with punches and elbows.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Conti controlling the positon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luca Conti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Conti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luca Conti!