PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiroki Tomori (ranked 2314 p4p, 2745 weight class) and Aleksander Kazimierz (ranked 121 p4p, 137 weight class). Kazimierz has chosen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJFjXtHcy4 as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Tomori
vs
Kazimierz

171 cm
30
142
15 - 10 - 1

175 cm
27
140
11 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 17 - 2, fighting out of London, Aleksander Kazimierz!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazimierz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tomori as he jumps to the side.

Tomori clinches.
Tomori pushes Kazimierz back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tomori misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tomori throws an elbow but misses.

Tomori escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kazimierz dives in and grabs Tomori's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tomori pushes down on Kazimierz's head and hops out.

Tomori throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kazimierz was covering up waiting for the punch and Tomori finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tomori engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori is fighting to break Kazimierz's control of his arms but Kazimierz is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tomori has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tomori wants to control from the top but Kazimierz keeps moving.
Tomori knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazimierz on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kazimierz is keeping the position for now.
Tomori won't allow Kazimierz to sweep him here.
Kazimierz is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tomori 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.
Tomori missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tomori controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kazimierz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tomori defends well and Kazimierz ends up having to push Tomori into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Kazimierz.
Kazimierz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tomori is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kazimierz.

Kazimierz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tomori was covering up waiting for the punch and Kazimierz finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Tomori has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kazimierz off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tomori stuns Kazimierz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Tomori clinches with his opponent.
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Kazimierz controls the action.
Kazimierz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tomori fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kazimierz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tomori sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've been told by Tomori's head coaches at Catch Wrestling L.A. that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kazimierz shoots in and drives through. Tomori sprawls well.

Tomori clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz looking for a takedown.
A shot in the inside from Tomori.
Tomori lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kazimierz avoids a wild elbow strike from Tomori.
Tomori tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kazimierz's elbow.
Tomori works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tomori - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kazimierz can't get the takedown.

Tomori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tomori forces Kazimierz back against the cage and clinches.
Tomori digs a right hand into Kazimierz's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kazimierz's gas tank.
Tomori trying to land knees to the body.
Tomori lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tomori drags the fight down to the ground.
Kazimierz throws a big right hand that misses.
Tomori trying to control the position.
Tomori wants to stand but Kazimierz is controlling the position.
Kazimierz wants to control from the top but Tomori keeps moving.
Tomori can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kazimierz controls the pace.
Kazimierz trying to control but Tomori is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Tomori dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kazimierz is defended easily by Tomori.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kazimierz.
Hiroki Tomori is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kazimierz goes for a double leg but Tomori avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tomori continues to drive forward.
Hiroki Tomori has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Kazimierz.
Kazimierz fails with a takedown attempt.

Tomori pushes Kazimierz up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tomori.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tomori.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Tomori.
Kazimierz is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tomori is defending well.
Tomori lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kazimierz.
Kazimierz is breathing heavily.
Tomori lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori is looking to clinch but Kazimierz is avoiding it.

Tomori moves into the clinch.
Tomori lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tomori is pressed up against the cage. Kazimierz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tomori down to the mat. Tomori avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kazimierz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tomori defends well and Kazimierz ends up having to push Tomori into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kazimierz gets tackled into the cage by Tomori. Tomori maintains the clinch.

Tomori manages to break the clinch.

Kazimierz gets tackled into the cage by Tomori. Tomori maintains the clinch.
Tomori lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kazimierz backwards.
Tomori taking a breather.
Tomori is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tomori throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz can't get the takedown.
Kazimierz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tomori lands with a light punch inside.
Kazimierz blocks an elbow strike from Tomori.
Tomori lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kazimierz has Tomori pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tomori manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kazimierz looking for a takedown.
Tomori lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short left from Tomori.
Tomori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kazimierz.
Kazimierz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tomori pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazimierz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tomori sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kazimierz somewhat.

Tomori darts in and clinches Kazimierz up against the cage.
Kazimierz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tomori is looking for a takedown.
Kazimierz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tomori is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tomori lands with a left to the head.
Tomori lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kazimierz backwards.
Kazimierz blocks an uppercut.
Tomori throws an elbow but it misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tomori.
Kazimierz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tomori after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tomori creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kazimierz is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tomori pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tomori pushes Kazimierz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomori lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomori scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kazimierz tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tomori is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kazimierz is defending well for now.
Tomori prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kazimierz looking for a takedown.
Tomori lands an elbow just above Kazimierz 's eye.

It looks like Aleksander Kazimierz has been cut.
Tomori slows down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kazimierz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tomori gets a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tomori.
Tomori lands with a short shot to the head.

Kazimierz is rocked!
Tomori softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kazimierz is still on wobbly legs! Can Tomori finish him?
Tomori unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Kazimierz! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Tomori is unloading with more strikes now! Kazimierz drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hiroki Tomori!