PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Okami Kumo (ranked 5222 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jigaro Kano (ranked 3622 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kumo
vs
Kano

180 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Okami Kumo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jigaro Kano!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kano stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kano wants it to stay on the feet.

Kano feints and as Kumo raises his hands in defense, Kano changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kumo controls Kano momentarily but Kano frees himself.
Kano tries to free his leg and advance position but Kumo is retaining full guard.

Kumo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kumo keeping full guard, as Kano tries to pass.
Kano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kumo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kano is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Kano might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kumo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kumo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kano sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kumo tries for a takedown but Kano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Kano gets a double leg takedown into Kumo's guard.
Kumo looking to control.

Kumo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kumo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kumo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kano has managed to get both his arms back between Kumo's legs - danger averted.
Kano sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kumo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kano pushing down on Kumo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kumo trying to hold on to Kano's head to control him but Kano postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kumo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kumo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kano is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kumo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kano seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kano prevents Kumo from improving his position.

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.
Kano not doing much here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kano closes the distance and clinches up with Kumo, looking for a takedown. Kano pushes Kumo against the cage but Kumo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Kumo.
Kumo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kano moves into the clinch.
Kumo trying to control the position but instead, Kano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kumo into the cage.
Kumo is trying to break the clinch but Kano is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kumo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kumo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jigaro Kano dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - Kumo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kumo fails to land the takedown.
Kano has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kumo is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Kumo tries to keep at a distance but Kano has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kano turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kumo struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kumo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kano's best efforts.
Kano sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kano wants to pass the guard but Kumo is defending well.
Kano has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Jigaro Kano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kano controlling the position easily from mount.
Kumo tries to hold on but Kano postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kano wants to take Kumo's back here but Kumo is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Kano blocks Kumo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kano content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Kano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kumo tries to hold on but Kano postures up.
Kano controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumo tries to hold on but Kano pushes him away.
Kumo sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kano wants to pass to mount but Kumo is defending the position.
Kano is keen to just control but Kumo is a slippery customer.
Kumo tries to roll over but Kano keeps him under control.

Kumo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kumo is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kumo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Kano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kumo is pressing down on Kano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kumo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
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.

Jigaro Kano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kumo tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kano defends well and Kumo ends up having to push Kano into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kumo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kumo misses the jab.

Kumo rushes Kano and presses him up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kano as Kumo tries to tie him up.
Kano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kano goes for a takedown attempt but Kumo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Kumo pushes Kano up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kano is trying to trip Kumo. He has hold of a leg but Kumo is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kano persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Kano is posturing up here but Kumo has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Kano tries to roll out but it's too tight and Kano has to tap! Slick submission there by Kumo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Okami Kumo!
During a confident post fight interview, Okami Kumo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.