PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alejandro Rios (ranked 4266 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yasunobu Kashiwabara (ranked 3899 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Yasunobu Kashiwabara was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rios
vs
Kashiwabara

175 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alejandro Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yasunobu Kashiwabara!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rios defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kashiwabara.
Yasunobu Kashiwabara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rios stuffs the takedown attempt from Kashiwabara. Kashiwabara gets slowly back to his feet.
Kashiwabara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rios avoids it really well and circles away.
Alejandro Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasunobu Kashiwabara.
Kashiwabara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rios swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kashiwabara closes the distance and pushes Rios back into the cage.
Rios has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kashiwabara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rios has had enough of the clinch but Kashiwabara keeps him there for the moment.
Kashiwabara tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rios smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kashiwabara manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Kashiwabara is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kashiwabara is trying to pull guard but Rios turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rios blocks a body shot from Kashiwabara.
A short right from Kashiwabara.
Kashiwabara misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kashiwabara has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rios uses from the top position.
Kashiwabara controls Rios momentarily but Rios frees himself.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Kashiwabara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kashiwabara throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kashiwabara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rios has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kashiwabara working for a triangle but Rios defends it easily.
Kashiwabara is striking but Rios is not phased and passes to half guard.
Rios missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kashiwabara has one foot on Rios's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kashiwabara's guard.

Kashiwabara kicks Rios off and gets to his feet.
Kashiwabara tries to close the distance and clinch but Rios swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kashiwabara fails with the takedown.

Rios scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rios is breathing heavily.
Rios wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kashiwabara keeps working.
Kashiwabara is looking to improve his position.
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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rios seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rios tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kashiwabara knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rios seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kashiwabara punching from the bottom.
Rios wants to pass to mount but Kashiwabara is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yasunobu Kashiwabara dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kashiwabara.
Kashiwabara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rios paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kashiwabara instigates a clinch.
Kashiwabara misses with a knee strike.
Kashiwabara fails to pull guard.
Rios working hard to break the clinch.

Rios has Kashiwabara pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rios pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kashiwabara tumbling to the mat - Rios dives into Kashiwabara's guard.
Rios trying to control but Kashiwabara is working from the bottom.
Yasunobu Kashiwabara has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kashiwabara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kashiwabara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rios is one step ahead there.
Rios looking to sit in guard and control but Kashiwabara gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kashiwabara won't allow Rios to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rios pulls Kashiwabara in close to prevent any damage.
Kashiwabara prevents Rios from getting back to his feet.
Rios is trying to keep Kashiwabara in close.
Rios working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kashiwabara.
Kashiwabara missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rios avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kashiwabara goes for a double leg but Rios avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rios continues to drive forward.
Rios drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kashiwabara sprawls and moves away.
Alejandro Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasunobu Kashiwabara.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rios advances nicely into full mount.
Kashiwabara tries to lock up and control but Rios gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rios wants to control the pace but Kashiwabara is squirming around nicely.
Kashiwabara tries to hold on but Rios postures up.
Kashiwabara is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rios landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kashiwabara's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kashiwabara is looking to get to half guard.
Rios lands a nice shot to the head.
Rios takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kashiwabara regains half guard.
Kashiwabara is looking to control Rios's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kashiwabara avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alejandro Rios dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kashiwabara shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rios pinned against the cage. Rios gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kashiwabara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rios displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kashiwabara.

Rios gets tackled into the cage by Kashiwabara. Kashiwabara maintains the clinch.
Rios tries to land a knee to the head but Kashiwabara blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kashiwabara gets control of Rios's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kashiwabara will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rios trying to control but Kashiwabara is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kashiwabara trying to keep a closed guard but Rios is proving a slippery customer.
Kashiwabara is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kashiwabara keeping moving, preventing Rios from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rios's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rios preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kashiwabara clinches up with Rios and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rios is trying to push Kashiwabara away but Kashiwabara has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rios is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rios avoiding damage as Kashiwabara throws knees to the body.
Kashiwabara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rios just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alejandro Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasunobu Kashiwabara.
Rios is trying to drag Kashiwabara to the mat but Kashiwabara just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rios changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kashiwabara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kashiwabara wants to clinch but Rios slips to the side
and Rios counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Rios rushes Kashiwabara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rios blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rios tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kashiwabara's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kashiwabara digs a right hand underneath Rios's ribcage. Rios let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Kashiwabara ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kashiwabara no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kashiwabara is trying to control the position but Rios postures up.
Rios throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kashiwabara wants to stand and escape but Rios is having none of it.
Rios won't allow Kashiwabara to sweep him here.
Kashiwabara is trying to keep Rios in close.
Kashiwabara has Rios pulled in close to control his posture.
Kashiwabara trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alejandro Rios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rios scores with a takedown into Kashiwabara's guard.
Kashiwabara trying to control the position.
Rios preventing the sweep.
Kashiwabara is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rios works over Kashiwabara with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alejandro Rios.
I think Rios 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alejandro Rios!