PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Test One (ranked 4565 p4p, 4570 weight class) and Yudai Kitamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

One
vs
Kitamura

170 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Test One!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yudai Kitamura!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kitamura moves into the clinch.
One drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kitamura pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kitamura fails with the takedown

and One counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kitamura won't be happy with that.

One is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kitamura is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kitamura gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kitamura is trying to stand back up but One is controlling him
Kitamura is looking to control One's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kitamura avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
One stops Kitamura from getting back to his feet.
One seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kitamura does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kitamura manages to get to full guard.

Kitamura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. One doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. One manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
One knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kitamura on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
One landing with the ground and pound.
One wants to control from the top but Kitamura keeps moving.
One throwing strikes from guard but Kitamura blocks nicely.
Kitamura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from One.
One won't allow Kitamura to sweep him here.

One postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kitamura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of One, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

One is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kitamura is looking to stand up but One won't let him.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
One throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kitamura escapes and throws One's legs to the side, diving into side control!
One is trying to improve his position.
Kitamura advances to full mount.
One on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if One tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One working to try and regain half guard.
One wants to get back to his feet.

Kitamura looking for a guillotine from mount but One is having none of it.
One is squirming around, avoiding Kitamura's attempts to control the action.
One is looking to get to half guard.
Kitamura looking to control but One is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One is trying to reverse the position but instead Kitamura has taken his back - oops!
One just trying to survive but Kitamura is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
One is trying to break free.
One is working hard here to advance position.
One trying to control the hands but Kitamura won't let him.
One is in bad spot here.
Kitamura landing with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
One is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yudai Kitamura 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.

Kitamura tries to clinch up.
One tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kitamura sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten One somewhat.
Kitamura dives in for a single leg takedown but One sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kitamura digs a good body shot into One's ribs.

Kitamura rushes One and presses him up against the cage.
Kitamura has One pushed against the cage.
One prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kitamura prevents a takedown attempt there.
One goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kitamura prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Test One. That's going to take a lot out of him.
One wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kitamura is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kitamura holding his opponent close, against the cage.

One has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kitamura regains guard immediately.

Kitamura pushes One off and scrambles back to his feet.

One fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kitamura sprawls well initially but One persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kitamura manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. One keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Kitamura.
One jumps guard but Kitamura turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
One drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kitamura pulls his leg out and moves away.

One drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kitamura is trying to control One's posture but One avoids it.
One creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

One tries for a kimura but Kitamura is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Kitamura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitamura sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kitamura is breathing heavily.
Kitamura is refusing to be controlled, as One sits in half guard.
One lands with a punch from half guard.
Kitamura is looking to escape.
One looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
One looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

It looks like Yudai Kitamura has been cut.

One is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kitamura sees it coming and defends easily.
One throwing shots but Kitamura is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

One is working for a submission of some sort.
Yudai Kitamura has got the better of the ground game so far.

One is working for an americana but Kitamura has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst One was thinking about the submission.
Kitamura keeping full guard, as One tries to pass.
Kitamura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
One lands a couple of digs.
One wants to pass the guard but Kitamura is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yudai Kitamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yudai Kitamura's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kitamura shoots in for a takedown but One shows good takedown defense.

One scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kitamura regains half guard there - taking advantage of One's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kitamura gets back to full guard.
Kitamura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

One tries to get to full guard but Kitamura has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
One wants to control but Kitamura is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
One is not content to let Kitamura control the position.
One is trying to control but can't.
Kitamura takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kitamura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kitamura postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for One to stand up.

Kitamura throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. One tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kitamura is in One's guard.

One working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kitamura has passed into half guard!
One is looking for a sweep. Kitamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

One is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kitamura pulls his head out easily.
Kitamura tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
One tries to roll over but Kitamura keeps him under control.
One is looking to escape.
Kitamura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
One has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kitamura is working away from the top position though.

Kitamura is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One tries to roll over but Kitamura keeps him under control.
Kitamura not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kitamura is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. One doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kitamura.
One tries to roll over but Kitamura keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kitamura is thwarting One's attempts to control the position.
Kitamura controlling the pace.
One tries to kick Kitamura off but Kitamura keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

One shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kitamura is trying to defend but One finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kitamura is not content to let One control the position.
Test One has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yudai Kitamura is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
One lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yudai Kitamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kitamura has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yudai Kitamura!