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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Imanari (ranked 235 p4p, 418 weight class) and Ivan Kamenev (ranked 24 p4p, 58 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Imanari might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 吉田兄弟 Rising. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 165 cm
29
145
11 - 1 - 0 |
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178 cm
22
157
8 - 0 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin |
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Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Kamenev!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Darius Henderson and Bruno Hogan.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamenev shoots in for a takedown but Imanari shows good takedown defense.
Kamenev rushes Imanari and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kamenev avoiding damage.
Imanari being controlled against the cage.
Kamenev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kamenev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Imanari ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Imanari no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Imanari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Imanari trying to keep a closed guard but Kamenev is proving a slippery customer.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing Kamenev from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imanari controls Kamenev momentarily but Kamenev frees himself.
Imanari has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing Kamenev from controlling successfully.
Kamenev looking to pass the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kamenev wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kamenev avoids the body shot from Imanari.
Kamenev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kamenev tries to clinch there but Imanari circles away.
Kamenev looking to score a takedown here. Imanari is defending well but Kamenev drives through and ends up in Imanari's guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Imanari is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kamenev trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Imanari manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Imanari postures up.
Imanari trying to control but Kamenev is working from the bottom.
Kamenev looking for subs off his back but Imanari has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kamenev is not content to let Imanari control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kamenev looking for subs from the bottom but Imanari mounts him!
Imanari content just to control the position here.
Kamenev regains half guard.
Kamenev actively working from the bottom here.
Kamenev is not content to let Imanari control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev wants to improve his position but Imanari is controlling well.
Kamenev felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kamenev trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kamenev manages to get to full guard.
Imanari is fighting to break Kamenev's control of his arms but Kamenev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Ivan Kamenev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Kamenev shoots in looking for a takedown but Imanari manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kamenev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kamenev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Imanari as he jumps to the side.
Kamenev lands with a cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kamenev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Imanari gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kamenev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev throws a looping overhand right but Imanari ducks down to avoid it.
Imanari gets a clinch.
Kamenev successfully pulls guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kamenev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Imanari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kamenev has his foot on Imanari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Imanari works his way back into a safe position though.
Kamenev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kamenev looking for a guillotine here but Imanari defends easily.
That's two 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.
Kamenev wants to sweep here but Imanari controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kamenev has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Imanari is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kamenev.
Imanari working away.
Kamenev is trying to get back to half guard.
Kamenev looking for a sweep but Imanari has passed into full mount! Oh no!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev wants to hold on but Imanari pushes him away.
Kamenev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kamenev tries to control Imanari's body but Imanari pushes him off. Kamenev squirms to his side and now Imanari has his back!
Imanari is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kamenev defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Imanari gets his hands free as Kamenev looks to control.
Imanari has the hooks in. Kamenev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kamenev staying busy and making it hard for Imanari to control.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Imanari controlling the positon.
Kamenev is really stuck here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev is still trying to improve position.
Kamenev tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Imanari avoids the attempt from Kamenev to control.
Kamenev is trying to reverse the position but instead Imanari has taken his back - oops!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kamenev is keeping busy.
Kamenev trying to control but not successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Imanari dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Imanari leaves Kamenev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kamenev tries to clinch up
and Imanari counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kamenev!
Kamenev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Imanari has control of an arm but Kamenev manages to advance to Imanari's back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev is trying to stick to Imanari's back but Imanari is turning into Kamenev. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kamenev's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Imanari.
Kamenev is trying to control the position but Imanari postures up.
Kamenev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Imanari escapes and throws Kamenev's legs to the side, diving into side control!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Imanari is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kamenev will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kamenev is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Kamenev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Imanari has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kamenev!
That's two 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.
Kamenev working to try and regain half guard.
Kazuo Imanari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Imanari trying to control but Kamenev is having none of it.
Kamenev wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Kamenev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
What can Kamenev do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is looking to control Kamenev but Kamenev is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Imanari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kamenev can do to turn this around?
Kamenev is in bad spot here.
Will Imanari go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Imanari biding his time, controlling Kamenev.
Imanari trying to control momentarily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
You can see the frustration on Kamenev's face He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kamenev trying to control the position but Imanari manages to sink in the hooks.
Imanari has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Kamenev trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kamenev is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Imanari is staying active.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kazuo Imanari clearly takes that round.
That's time! Imanari's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Kamenev scores with a sloppy right hand. Imanari should have avoided that one.
Kamenev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imanari manages to avoid it.
Kamenev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Imanari, pushing him back against the cage.
Imanari pulls guard effortlessly.
Kamenev wants to pass the guard but Imanari is keeping the position.
Imanari working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kamenev.
Kamenev wants to pass the guard but Imanari is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.
Kamenev stands and throws Imanari's legs to the side, diving into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Imanari is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kamenev tries for a kimura but Imanari is defending well.
Kamenev wants to control but Imanari is keeping him busy.
Kamenev is trying to get an arm triangle but Imanari is defending well.
Imanari manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
That's two 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.
Imanari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kamenev is working away from the top position though.
Kamenev trying to control from Imanari's half guard. Imanari has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kamenev pushing down on Imanari's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kamenev seems to be working for a kimura but Imanari defends the submission attempt.
Imanari is trying to maintain the position but Kamenev is very close to passing his half guard.
Imanari makes his way to full guard, as Kamenev worked for a kimura.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev trying to move into half guard but instead Imanari has managed to sweep!
Imanari preventing the sweep.
Kamenev looking to control.
Kamenev is looking for a triangle here but Imanari uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Imanari gets to mount! Kamenev was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Imanari controlling the position easily from mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kamenev to take his back!
Kamenev just trying to survive but Imanari is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Imanari trying to control.
What can Kamenev do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Imanari gets his hands free as Kamenev looks to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imanari slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Kamenev can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Kazuo Imanari will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Imanari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kamenev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Imanari gets a clinch.
Imanari pulls guard.
Kamenev pushing down on Imanari's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kamenev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Imanari trying to control but Kamenev postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamenev passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Imanari!
Kamenev goes for an armbar but he's not got it Imanari turns into him and now he's in Kamenev's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenev throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Imanari escapes and throws Kamenev's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Imanari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kamenev keeps working.
Imanari is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kamenev's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kamenev is trying to control Imanari's posture but Imanari avoids it.
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.
Imanari in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Imanari passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kamenev!
Kamenev has given up his back here.
Kamenev wants to escape the position.
Imanari is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kamenev turns into Imanari and is now in his guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamenev forces his way into half guard.
Imanari tries to get to full guard but Kamenev has control of the leg.
Kamenev is working for a submission of some sort.
Kamenev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ivan Kamenev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kamenev is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Imanari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kamenev trying to get back to full guard but Imanari takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Imanari trying to control but Kamenev is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Imanari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Imanari 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 49:46
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 49:46
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Imanari!
Kazuo Imanari retains his featherweight title!
Our winner, Kazuo Imanari, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
28% |
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