PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Hiroya Kawabe (ranked 5756 p4p, 3496 weight class) and Paulo Kimura (ranked 448 p4p, 340 weight class). On his way into the ring it seems that Hiroya Kawabe has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Hiroya Kawabe seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kawabe
vs
Kimura

168 cm
23
147
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
148
1 - 2 - 0

Decent elbows
Good chin

Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroya Kawabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paulo Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawabe throws a right hand that Kimura ducks under and follows up with a left that Kimura also avoids with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Kimura. Those never looked like landing.
Kimura misses with a body kick.
Kimura throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kawabe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kawabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Kimura circles away.
Kimura cracks Kawabe with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kimura pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kimura with a nice calf kick.
Kimura swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Kawabe moves into the clinch.

Kimura manages to break the clinch.
Paulo Kimura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kimura finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kawabe misses with a double jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kawabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Kimura misses

and Kawabe counters by moving into the clinch.

Kawabe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kawabe.
Kimura swats away the attempt to clinch by Kawabe.
Kawabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kimura lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Kimura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kawabe, pushing him back against the ropes.

Kimura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kimura swinging wildly here.
Kawabe is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kimura scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura lands a lovely overhand right.
Paulo Kimura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kawabe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kimura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice leg kick from Kimura, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kimura lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kawabe moves in looking to clinch but Kimura pushes him off.
Kimura is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kawabe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kawabe wants to clinch up but Kimura keeps it at a distance.
Kimura lands with a cross.
Kawabe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawabe looks to score with a jab to the body but Kimura is just out of range.
Kawabe tries to clinch up but Kimura circles away and keeps his distance.
Kawabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe tries to clinch up.
Good standup being displayed there by Kimura as he connects with a hook.
Kimura throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kimura throws a leg kick that misses.
Kawabe turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kimura dodges the punch combination from Kawabe.
Kawabe tries to clinch there but Kimura circles away.
Kimura swats away the attempt to clinch by Kawabe.

Kawabe clinches with his opponent.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura misses with the combination.
Kawabe moves out of range of the strikes.
Kimura tries to land a front kick but Kawabe steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kimura has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kimura misses with a leg kick.
Kawabe lands a nice looking body kick.
Kimura looks to land a left hand but Kawabe moved out of range nicely.
Kawabe throws a sloppy head kick and Kimura moves out of range easily.
Kimura misses with a body shot.
Kawabe scores with a hook to the body. Kimura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kimura looks winded!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kimura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kawabe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kawabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Kimura dominated that round.
That's time! Kawabe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kimura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kimura throws a big shot that misses.
Kawabe is looking to clinch but Kimura is avoiding it.
Kimura throws a body shot but no joy.
Kawabe throwing a counter right hand but Kimura manages to avoid it.
Kimura throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jab from Kawabe.
Kawabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kimura circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kawabe throws a head kick that misses
and Kimura counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Paulo Kimura seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Kawabe misses
and Kimura counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Kawabe instigates a clinch.
Kimura stalling against the ropes.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kimura takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kawabe tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kimura counters with a three punch combo that has Kawabe backing up. Kawabe nods at Kimura to acknowledge the strikes.
Kimura is breathing heavily.
Kimura misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kimura looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kawabe misses with a series of wild punches.
Kimura misses with a looping right.
Kawabe tries to clinch up but Kimura circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Kimura, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kawabe is looking for a counter combo.

Kawabe drives through and clinches with Kimura against the ropes.
Kimura tries to break free but Kawabe pushes him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe throws a head punch that misses.
Kawabe is stalling here.

Kawabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kawabe closes the distance and clinches.

Kawabe breaks the clinch.
Kimura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kimura cracks Kawabe with a good jab.
Kimura tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawabe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawabe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kimura counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Kawabe.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kawabe.
Kawabe tries to clinch but Kimura moves away
and Kimura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kawabe scores with a sloppy right hand. Kimura should have avoided that one.
Kimura plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kimura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kawabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Kimura.
Kawabe tries to clinch up but Kimura circles away and keeps his distance.
A low kick lands for Kawabe.
Kawabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kimura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Kimura.

Kawabe rushes Kimura and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Kimura misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kawabe wants to clinch up but Kimura keeps it at a distance.
Kimura swinging wildly here.
Kawabe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kimura.
Kawabe lands a high kick!
Kawabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Kimura circles away.
Kawabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kimura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kimura throws a counter combo.
Kimura throws a low kick, looking for Kawabe's leg but Kawabe calmly moves out of range.
Nice jab there from Kawabe.
Kawabe tries to clinch but Kimura is having none of it.
Kimura wants to counter with a clinch but Kawabe pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Kimura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kawabe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kimura pushes Kawabe away with a front kick.
Kawabe sizes up Kimura with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kimura fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kawabe manages to avoid it.
Danga de danga de dang - Kawabe scores with a four punch combination!
Kimura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kimura has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kimura is stalling here.

Kimura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawabe lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kimura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kawabe circles away quickly and effectively.
Kawabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kimura misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawabe tries to clinch but Kimura is having none of it.
Kawabe wants to clinch up but Kimura keeps it at a distance.
Kimura wants to counter the offense by Kawabe and move into the clinch position.
Kimura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice body kick from Kawabe.
Kawabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kimura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kawabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kimura has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kimura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kimura scores with a three punch combo!
Kawabe doesn't manage to clinch there - Kimura circles away.
Hiroya Kawabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kawabe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kimura throws a nice looking combination but Kawabe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kawabe tries to clinch there but Kimura circles away.
Kimura throws a lazy right hand but Kawabe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kawabe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kawabe tries to clinch but Kimura moves out of range.
Kawabe throws a head kick but Kimura moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kawabe tries to clinch there but Kimura circles away.

Kawabe forces Kimura back against the ropes and clinches.
Kawabe tries to land knees in the clinch but Kimura avoids the damage to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kawabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kawabe wants to clinch up but Kimura keeps it at a distance.
Kawabe swinging wildly here.

Kawabe instigates a clinch.

Kawabe breaks from the clinch.
Kawabe throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe slips a straight right by Kimura.
Kawabe throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kawabe tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kimura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kimura is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kimura circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawabe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good work by Kawabe as he checks the leg kick.

Kawabe closes the distance and pushes Kimura back into the ropes.
Kawabe is trying to stall.
Kawabe tries to stall but Kimura uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kimura darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kawabe with a jab.
Kimura goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kawabe tries to clinch but Kimura is having none of it.
Kawabe throws a series of punches but Kimura avoids them all with ease.
As Kawabe backs off Kimura throws a huge counter combo but Kawabe manages to avoid it all.
Kawabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kimura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kawabe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kawabe connects with a leg kick.

Kawabe clinches up against the ropes.

Kimura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hiroya Kawabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Paulo Kimura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kawabe throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kimura's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hiroya Kawabe.
I think Kimura has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Kimura!