PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hakuin Rinzai (ranked 7671 p4p, 224 weight class) and Aleksander Kazimierz (ranked 24262 p4p, 245 weight class). Aleksander Kazimierz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rinzai
vs
Kazimierz

182 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hakuin Rinzai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Aleksander Kazimierz!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazimierz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rinzai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kazimierz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rinzai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kazimierz but Kazimierz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kazimierz misses with a wild combination.
Kazimierz scores with a three punch combo!
Kazimierz thuds a left hand into Rinzai's body.
Kazimierz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rinzai backs up against the cage.

Kazimierz moves into the clinch.
Kazimierz stalling.
Rinzai misses with an elbow strike.
Rinzai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kazimierz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rinzai's efforts to push away.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kazimierz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kazimierz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kazimierz forces Rinzai back against the cage and clinches.
Rinzai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kazimierz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kazimierz lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Hakuin Rinzai has been cut.
Rinzai can't break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rinzai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kazimierz walks away with a smile on his face. Rinzai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakuin Rinzai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Kazimierz misses.
Kazimierz misses with a double jab.
Kazimierz throws out a leg kick but Rinzai moves out of range and Kazimierz only half commits.
Kazimierz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kazimierz scores with a head kick. Rinzai tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazimierz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rinzai is trying to maintain a safe position but Kazimierz gets an underhook and turns Rinzai into the cage.
Rinzai tries to pull guard but Kazimierz won't allow it.
A body shot lands from Kazimierz.
Rinzai is trying to break free.
Rinzai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rinzai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kazimierz pulls his leg out and moves away.

Kazimierz rushes Rinzai and presses him up against the cage.
Kazimierz prevents a takedown attempt there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rinzai is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinzai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kazimierz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rinzai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rinzai shoots in for a takedown but Kazimierz shows good takedown defense.
Kazimierz with the counter takedown but Rinzai avoids it easily.
Kazimierz takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Rinzai tries to keep at a distance but Kazimierz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rinzai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kazimierz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rinzai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kazimierz smiles and moves away.
Aleksander Kazimierz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kazimierz rushes Rinzai and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinzai is trying to pull guard but Kazimierz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kazimierz stops a takedown attempt from Rinzai.
Rinzai fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kazimierz breaks the clinch.

Kazimierz moves into the clinch successfully.
Rinzai working hard to break the clinch.
Rinzai is trying to push Kazimierz away but Kazimierz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kazimierz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rinzai fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Kazimierz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hakuin Rinzai's cut.
That's time! Rinzai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kazimierz clinches up with Rinzai and pushes him back against the cage.
Kazimierz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

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

Kazimierz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kazimierz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rinzai up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kazimierz.

Kazimierz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinzai tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kazimierz defends well and Rinzai ends up having to push Kazimierz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kazimierz moves into the clinch successfully.
Rinzai tries to pull guard but Kazimierz won't allow it.

Kazimierz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazimierz misses with a series of wild punches.
Kazimierz throws a sloppy head kick and Rinzai moves out of range easily.
Rinzai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakuin Rinzai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinzai misses with a two punch combination.

Kazimierz clinches up with Rinzai and pushes him back against the cage.
Kazimierz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rinzai tries to pull guard but Kazimierz won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kazimierz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazimierz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kazimierz dips to his left and cracks Rinzai with an uppercut!
Rinzai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kazimierz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rinzai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kazimierz as he avoids it easily.
Kazimierz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rinzai wants to clinch.
Rinzai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kazimierz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aleksander Kazimierz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rinzai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kazimierz avoids it really well and circles away.
Kazimierz stuffs the takedown attempt from Rinzai. Rinzai gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kazimierz clinches with his opponent.

Kazimierz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rinzai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kazimierz's waist but Kazimierz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rinzai off to one side.
A head kick from Kazimierz lands but Rinzai takes it in his stride.
Rinzai shoots in looking for a takedown. Kazimierz tries to sprawl out of it but Rinzai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kazimierz manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kazimierz forces Rinzai back against the cage and clinches.
A left hand lands to the body for Kazimierz.
Rinzai tries for a takedown but Kazimierz manages to get underhooks.
Kazimierz is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinzai is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kazimierz to keep the fight standing.
Stalling in the clinch from Kazimierz.

Kazimierz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazimierz misses with a head kick.

Kazimierz moves into range and clinches up with Rinzai.
Kazimierz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kazimierz using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rinzai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Kazimierz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hakuin Rinzai's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rinzai shoots in for a takedown but Kazimierz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kazimierz stuffs the takedown.
Rinzai tries to close the distance and clinch but Kazimierz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kazimierz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hakuin Rinzai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinzai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kazimierz circles away.

Kazimierz takes the fight into the clinch.

Kazimierz breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinzai takes one on the button.
Kazimierz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rinzai dives in for a single leg takedown but Kazimierz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rinzai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rinzai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinzai is looking to clinch.
Rinzai misses with a takedown attempt
and Kazimierz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazimierz throws a nice head kick!
Kazimierz misses with the combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kazimierz.
Kazimierz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rinzai has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kazimierz with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kazimierz ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rinzai.
Aleksander Kazimierz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rinzai shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rinzai shoots for a takedown but Kazimierz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Kazimierz rushes Rinzai and presses him up against the cage.
Rinzai trying to land knees to the body.
Kazimierz lands a damaging elbow.
Rinzai is trying to break free.
Rinzai wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kazimierz avoiding damage.

Kazimierz breaks from the clinch.

Kazimierz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz connects with a knee to the head.

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

Kazimierz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kazimierz is stalling here.
Kazimierz holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kazimierz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kazimierz lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rinzai.
Rinzai looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rinzai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kazimierz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rinzai moves to clinch but Kazimierz breaks away
and Kazimierz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kazimierz breaks from the clinch.
Kazimierz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kazimierz wants it to stay on the feet.
Kazimierz misses with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Kazimierz as Rinzai shoots in.
Hakuin Rinzai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksander Kazimierz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kazimierz moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kazimierz throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Kazimierz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kazimierz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 24:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 24:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Kazimierz!