PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Whitney Fletcher (ranked 6548 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nobita Kawasaki (ranked 4867 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawasaki has chosen La Luna e la Gatta as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fletcher
vs
Kawasaki

204 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Whitney Fletcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nobita Kawasaki!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kawasaki drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kawasaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawasaki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kawasaki wants to pass to mount but Fletcher is defending the position.
Kawasaki is trying to control. Fletcher wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawasaki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fletcher knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kawasaki moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kawasaki's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Kawasaki decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Fletcher shoots in and bounces Kawasaki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kawasaki is controlling Fletcher's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki striking off his back but it's not causing Fletcher any problems.
Fletcher throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fletcher stays in close to Kawasaki's body and controls the position.
Kawasaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fletcher.
Kawasaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fletcher is one step ahead there.

Fletcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kawasaki controlling the position.
Kawasaki looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fletcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki goes for a double leg but Fletcher avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fletcher continues to drive forward.

Kawasaki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fletcher on his heels. He'll look to pass Fletcher's guard now, I'm sure.
Kawasaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kawasaki trying to control but Fletcher is working from the bottom.
Fletcher has Kawasaki pulled in close to control his posture.
Kawasaki looking to sit in guard and control but Fletcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Fletcher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kawasaki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fletcher lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kawasaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fletcher can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fletcher is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Fletcher is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fletcher postures up and lands a big shot to Kawasaki's brow.
Fletcher will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fletcher engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kawasaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fletcher with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nobita Kawasaki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kawasaki goes for a double leg but Fletcher avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fletcher continues to drive forward.
Kawasaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fletcher ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Kawasaki rushes Fletcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Fletcher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawasaki looks to land a combination but Fletcher avoids it well.
It looked like Fletcher was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Fletcher shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fletcher showed some decent athleticism there.
Fletcher lands with a punch from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fletcher content to control rather than advance.
Fletcher winds up and cracks Kawasaki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fletcher slips a nice elbow through Kawasaki's hands, connecting with Kawasaki's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fletcher looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fletcher prevents Kawasaki from improving his position.

Fletcher is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kawasaki is just riding it out for now. Fletcher eventually gives up the hold.
Fletcher has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fletcher content to control rather than advance.
Kawasaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kawasaki wants to control but Fletcher is keeping busy.

Fletcher is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kawasaki is just riding it out for now. Fletcher eventually gives up the hold.
Kawasaki is looking to control Fletcher's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kawasaki avoid being mounted?
Fletcher drops an elbow to the side of Kawasaki's head.
Fletcher scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kawasaki trying to hold on to Fletcher's head to control him but Fletcher postures up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fletcher working the head and body with strikes.
Fletcher controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fletcher is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Fletcher is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Fletcher is working for a kimura but Kawasaki is defending it quite comfortably.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Fletcher is looking for a kimura here.

Fletcher is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kawasaki sees it coming and defends easily.

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.
Fletcher drops an elbow to the side of Kawasaki's head.
Nice strikes from Fletcher there.

Fletcher is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kawasaki sees it coming and defends easily.

Kawasaki actively working from the bottom here.

Fletcher is looking for a kimura here.
Kawasaki tries to roll over but Fletcher keeps him under control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kawasaki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Whitney Fletcher dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kawasaki shoots in looking for a takedown but Fletcher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kawasaki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Kawasaki closes the distance and clinches.

Fletcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nobita Kawasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kawasaki is defended easily by Fletcher.
Kawasaki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawasaki does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fletcher appears to be looking for a big counter.
Whitney Fletcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kawasaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Fletcher sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Whitney Fletcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nobita Kawasaki.
Fletcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Kawasaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fletcher looks for the body kick but Kawasaki saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawasaki moves into range and clinches up with Fletcher.

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

Fletcher closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kawasaki did well to prevent Fletcher getting side control.
Kawasaki tries to get to full guard but Fletcher has control of the leg.

Fletcher is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kawasaki sees it coming and defends easily.
Fletcher takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kawasaki pushes Fletcher off looking to stand but Fletcher dives back in and keeps control.
Kawasaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fletcher is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Fletcher is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kawasaki has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fletcher is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kawasaki is just riding it out for now. Fletcher eventually gives up the hold.
Kawasaki tries to kick Fletcher off but Fletcher keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kawasaki trying to control here.
Fletcher sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fletcher's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fletcher is working for a submission of some sort.
Fletcher prevents Kawasaki from improving his position.

Fletcher is looking for a kimura but Kawasaki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fletcher to get the leverage.
Kawasaki pushes Fletcher off looking to stand but Fletcher dives back in and keeps control.
Kawasaki is looking to improve his position.
Kawasaki wants to control but Fletcher is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Fletcher is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Fletcher looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fletcher is thwarting Kawasaki's attempts to control the position.

Fletcher is working for a submission of some sort.

Fletcher is looking for a kimura but Kawasaki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fletcher to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kawasaki trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Whitney Fletcher showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fletcher 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Whitney Fletcher!