PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Imanari (ranked 438 p4p, 3058 weight class) and Romega Vartanein (ranked 45 p4p, 295 weight class). Imanari comes to the cage accompanied by 吉田兄弟 Rising. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Imanari
vs
Vartanein

165 cm
29
145
9 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
130
3 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Fight Club Clothing & Laundry 20%
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Imanari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Romega Vartanein!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Imanari takes the fight into the clinch.
Vartanein tries a body shot but Imanari blocks it.
Vartanein wants to get back to striking at distance but Imanari won't allow it.
Imanari is trying to drag Vartanein to the mat but Vartanein just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Imanari is pushing Vartanein up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The referee is keeping an eye on Imanari - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vartanein doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vartanein blocks an uppercut.
Imanari lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imanari has Vartanein pressed against the cage, preventing Vartanein from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Vartanein breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vartanein throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Imanari counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vartanein wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right from Imanari.
Vartanein is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vartanein lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari wants a takedown.
Vartanein tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Imanari swings wildly with an uppercut but Vartanein uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Vartanein tries to throw a body punch but Imanari avoids it by throwing Vartanein back against the cage.
Imanari has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vartanein is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuo Imanari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vartanein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Imanari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vartanein throws a leg kick but Imanari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vartanein tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Imanari is able to avoid easily.
Vartanein throws a hook but Imanari avoids it easily.
Romega Vartanein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Imanari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vartanein throws out the jab.
Vartanein swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vartanein throws a body punch but Imanari moves out of range.
Vartanein throws out a loose jab but Imanari uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Vartanein misses

so Imanari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vartanein is looking to sweep but instead, Imanari has passed into half guard.
Imanari slows the pace down in half guard.
Vartanein trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Imanari manages to pass to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Imanari is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Vartanein is surviving well by controlling Imanari's body position as best he can.
Imanari avoids the attempt from Vartanein to control.

Imanari goes for an armbar but Vartanein turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Vartanein.
Vartanein wants to get up but he can't break Imanari's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vartanein wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.
Vartanein must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Imanari seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Vartanein trying to control the position from guard on top but Imanari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vartanein is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Vartanein's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing Vartanein from controlling successfully.
Vartanein is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Imanari not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vartanein pushes down on Imanari's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vartanein wants to control but Imanari is keeping him busy.
Vartanein is taking a breather. Imanari says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vartanein is looking to stall here but Imanari recovers full guard.
Imanari wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Vartanein trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vartanein slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Imanari wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Vartanein content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Imanari has locked up a guillotine! Imanari's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Vartanein is holding on here and Imanari must be using up a lot of energy. Vartanein has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Imanari gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Kazuo Imanari!
Kazuo Imanari retains his bantamweight title!
Kazuo Imanari thanked the fans post fight for their support.