PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kakihara Anjo (ranked 7505 p4p, 693 weight class) and Sascha Koniezko (ranked 25153 p4p, 869 weight class). Koniezko comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Imperial March (L.O.D. Rage Mix) kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anjo
vs
Koniezko

187 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kakihara Anjo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sascha Koniezko!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koniezko throws a nice looking combination but Anjo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Anjo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Anjo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And Koniezko tries to counter it with a takedown but Anjo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Koniezko with a poor takedown
and Anjo counters with a straight right hand.

Koniezko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Koniezko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koniezko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Anjo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Koniezko somewhat.
A clash of legs there as Koniezko blocks the low kick.
Koniezko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koniezko misses with a double jab
and Anjo counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Anjo!
A jab lands there for Anjo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koniezko walks into a stiff left hand from Anjo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniezko throws a nice looking combination but Anjo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koniezko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anjo was well out of range. Poor timing from Koniezko.
Anjo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Koniezko tries to counter by closing the distance.
Anjo catches Koniezko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Anjo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Anjo trying to stall but Koniezko improves his position.
Anjo wants to stall.
Koniezko has Anjo pushed against the cage.

Koniezko manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koniezko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anjo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Koniezko darts in and clinches Anjo up against the cage.
Anjo misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Koniezko jumps guard and drags Anjo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Anjo preventing the sweep.
Anjo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koniezko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koniezko controlling Anjo's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo wants to control from the top but Koniezko keeps moving.
Anjo stopping the sweep attempt from Koniezko.
Koniezko controlling Anjo's posture.
Koniezko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sascha Koniezko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anjo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Koniezko instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koniezko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Koniezko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Anjo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Koniezko has him pressed against the cage.

Koniezko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koniezko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Koniezko seems keen to control Anjo's posture.
Anjo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Koniezko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Koniezko is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Anjo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Anjo is trying to push Koniezko away but Koniezko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Anjo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koniezko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kakihara Anjo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koniezko forces Anjo back against the cage and clinches.
Anjo working hard to break the clinch.
Anjo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Koniezko's coach down at Rip Shit Riot Yoga Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Koniezko's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Anjo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Anjo tries a body shot but Koniezko blocks it.
Anjo tries to break the clinch but Koniezko is controlling the position.

Koniezko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koniezko needs to keep his hands up - Anjo had a free shot at his head there.

Koniezko has managed to clinch.
Anjo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Koniezko is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koniezko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A right handed body shot lands from Koniezko.

Koniezko breaks the clinch.
Koniezko slips a jab and a cross from Anjo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniezko swings widly with a right hand
letting Anjo counter with a right hand.
Anjo takes a swing at Koniezko's ribcage but misses.
Koniezko misses with a leg kick
and Anjo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Anjo scores with a three punch combo!
Anjo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Anjo feints a jab promting Koniezko to slip. Anjo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Koniezko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Anjo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koniezko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Koniezko tries a low kick but Anjo avoids it.
Nice sprawl there from Anjo as Koniezko shoots in.
Anjo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Anjo misses with a wild body shot.
Anjo misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koniezko takes the fight into the clinch.
Koniezko tries to pull guard but Anjo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kakihara Anjo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sascha Koniezko.
Koniezko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Koniezko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Koniezko clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Anjo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Koniezko decides to pull guard.
Anjo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koniezko on the ground.

Koniezko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Anjo cracks Koniezko with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anjo thuds his right hand into Koniezko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Anjo lands a glancing blow to the side of Koniezko's head.
Koniezko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Anjo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Anjo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Koniezko throws a combination that misses
and Anjo counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Koniezko has closed the distance and engaged Anjo in a clinch.
Koniezko keeps control of Anjo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Anjo wants to break free but Koniezko has control.
Anjo tries to circle away but Koniezko has him pinned against the cage.
Anjo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Koniezko breaks the clinch.

Anjo gets tackled into the cage by Koniezko. Koniezko maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koniezko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Anjo to keep the fight standing.

Koniezko pulls Anjo into guard.

Koniezko is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Anjo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anjo is looking to break free of the clinch but Koniezko has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Anjo's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Koniezko successfully pulls guard.
Koniezko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koniezko controlling Anjo's posture.
Koniezko wants to sweep here but Anjo controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kakihara Anjo dominated that second round.
That's time! Anjo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Koniezko forces Anjo back against the cage and clinches.
Anjo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Anjo can't break the clinch.
Koniezko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Koniezko scores with a nice hook to the head.

Koniezko manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Koniezko seems keen to control Anjo's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koniezko is continuing to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniezko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Anjo is one step ahead there.
Koniezko keeps trying to improve his position.

Koniezko is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Anjo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Koniezko jumps into guard, dragging Anjo to the mat.
Anjo won't allow Koniezko to sweep him here.
Anjo throws a big elbow that misses.

Koniezko pushes Anjo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kakihara Anjo is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anjo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Anjo just misses with a punch to the body.
Koniezko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anjo defends it nicely.
Anjo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Koniezko drops his hands momentarily and Anjo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
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!
Anjo throws a right hand that Koniezko ducks under and follows up with a left that Koniezko also avoids with ease.

Koniezko rushes Anjo and presses him up against the cage.

Koniezko jumps guard.
Koniezko keeping moving, preventing Anjo from controlling successfully.
Anjo looking to sit in guard and control but Koniezko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koniezko stands up from Anjo's guard - Koniezko perhaps looking for a knockout.
Koniezko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anjo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anjo cracks Koniezko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Anjo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Anjo does no damage.
Koniezko moves forwards but Anjo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Anjo scores with a nice strike.
Kakihara Anjo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koniezko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
No joy there for Koniezko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koniezko clinches with his opponent.
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!
Anjo wants to get back to striking at distance but Koniezko won't allow it.
Anjo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Koniezko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koniezko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kakihara Anjo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sascha Koniezko.
Anjo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koniezko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Good shot there by Anjo.
Sascha Koniezko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Koniezko closes the distance and clinches.
Anjo wants to stall.
Anjo has had enough of the clinch but Koniezko keeps him there for the moment.
Anjo is trying to break the clinch but Koniezko is controlling him.
Koniezko throws a punch but it's blocked by Anjo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sascha Koniezko.
I think Anjo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kakihara Anjo!
Sascha Koniezko was interviewed post fight and said 'He cheated! Check his gloves, they've got chloroform on them!'.