PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazunori Honda (ranked 2850 p4p, 133 weight class) and Raphael Firenzi (ranked 3724 p4p, 159 weight class). Raphael Firenzi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Honda
vs
Firenzi

170 cm
26
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
134 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Bee Krazy

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazunori Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Firenzi!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Firenzi misses with a hook to the body

and Honda counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Firenzi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Honda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Honda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Firenzi keeping moving, preventing Honda from controlling successfully.
Firenzi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Firenzi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Firenzi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda trying to control but Firenzi is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Firenzi wants to clinch but Honda slips to the side

and Honda counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Firenzi wants to sweep but no luck.
Honda's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Honda drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Firenzi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Honda has Firenzi in his guard.

Honda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Firenzi is one step ahead there.
Firenzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Firenzi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Firenzi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Honda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Honda has his hands on Firenzi's head, controlling the position.
Firenzi looking to sit in guard and control but Honda gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Firenzi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Firenzi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Honda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Honda stopping the sweep attempt from Firenzi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Honda drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Firenzi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Honda has Firenzi in his guard.

Firenzi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Honda wants to sweep here but Firenzi controlling him for the moment.
Firenzi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Honda seems keen to control Firenzi's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Firenzi throws an elbow that misses. Honda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Firenzi's guard. Nice move by Honda!

Firenzi wants to stand and escape but Honda is having none of it.

Firenzi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Honda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Honda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Firenzi 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Firenzi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Honda dominated that round.
That's time! Honda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Firenzi fails with the takedown.
Honda keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Firenzi misses with a combination

and Honda counters with a shoot takedown. Firenzi fights it but they end up in guard.
Honda preventing the sweep.
Honda lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda won't allow Firenzi to sweep him here.
Firenzi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Firenzi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Honda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Firenzi keeping moving, preventing Honda from controlling successfully.

Firenzi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firenzi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Honda stops Firenzi from standing up.

Honda postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Firenzi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Honda, into his guard.

Firenzi wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Honda's closed guard. He's half up but Honda has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Honda pivots and extends the arm, Firenzi falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Honda! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazunori Honda!
In defeat, Raphael Firenzi stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll Be Back!'.