PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between gogo momo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sho Kasugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). momo comes to the cage accompanied by Miles Davis - Moon Dreams. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

momo
vs
Kasugi

171 cm
19
160 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, gogo momo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sho Kasugi!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A chopping leg kick lands by Kasugi.
Kasugi throws a sloppy head kick and momo moves out of range easily.
momo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kasugi but Kasugi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
momo shoots in but no luck this time.
momo blocks a head kick by Kasugi.
Kasugi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
momo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for gogo momo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kasugi misses with a head kick.
Kasugi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
momo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kasugi as he avoids it easily.
Sho Kasugi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
momo shoots in and drives through. Kasugi sprawls well.
momo avoids the head kick by Kasugi.
Kasugi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kasugi throws a low kick, looking for momo's leg but momo calmly moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasugi throws a leg kick which misses momo's front leg but catches the back leg as momo tries to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Kasugi.
Kasugi takes a swing at momo's ribcage but misses.
Kasugi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
momo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kasugi pinned against the cage. Kasugi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
momo shoots in and drives through. Kasugi sprawls well.
momo shoots in and drives through. Kasugi sprawls well.
Kasugi lands with a thumping leg kick.
momo is breathing heavily.
momo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kasugi lands with a kick to the temple. momo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
momo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
momo avoids the head kick by Kasugi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - momo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kasugi throws a head kick that misses.
momo fails with a takedown attempt.
Kasugi misses with a head kick.
momo tries to clinch up.
Kasugi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kasugi stuffs the takedown attempt from momo. momo gets slowly back to his feet.
Kasugi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasugi throws a head kick that momo semi-blocks.

It looks like gogo momo has been cut.
momo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kasugi as he avoids it easily.
Kasugi throws a sloppy head kick and momo moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Kasugi. No joy for momo on that attempt.

momo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kasugi can't do much from the bottom here.
Kasugi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
momo trying to control the position but Kasugi is working away.
Kasugi trying to control but momo flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

momo working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kasugi is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get momo off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

momo is looking for the choke from the back position but Kasugi is controlling his hands well.
A lull in the action here.

Kasugi showing good submission defense here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
momo has the hooks in. Kasugi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Kasugi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on gogo momo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

momo blocks a head kick by Kasugi.
momo fails with a takedown attempt.
momo avoids the head kick by Kasugi.
momo tries for a takedown but Kasugi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kasugi throws a sloppy head kick and momo moves out of range easily.
Kasugi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but momo was well out of range. Poor timing from Kasugi.
A head kick misses from Kasugi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
momo fails in his attempt to clinch.
momo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
momo shoots in for a takedown but Kasugi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for gogo momo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kasugi lands a high kick!
Kasugi stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
momo moves out of range as Kasugi throws a body kick.
Kasugi tries a head kick but it misses.
Kasugi is breathing heavily.
Kasugi throws the kick towards the body but momo avoids it.
Kasugi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

momo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
momo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kasugi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

momo is working for a submission of some sort.
Kasugi works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

momo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kasugi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kasugi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kasugi!
You can see the frustration on momo's face as Kasugi controls the position.
Kasugi gets to mount! momo was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
momo can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasugi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
momo is trying desperately to improve position.
momo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
momo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kasugi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
momo wants to control but Kasugi is having none of it.
Kasugi controlling the pace for now.
momo is looking to improve his position but Kasugi isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Kasugi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on gogo momo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

momo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kasugi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
momo wants to control the pace but Kasugi is squirming around nicely.
Kasugi is trying desperately to improve position.

momo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kasugi is now in momo's guard. A big mistake from momo there, giving up the dominant position!
Kasugi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

momo looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Kasugi is defending well. momo quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Kasugi has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! momo celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). gogo momo!
gogo momo retains his lightweight title!