PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tsuyoi Kakuto (ranked 5144 p4p, 24841 weight class) and Raffaele Esposito (ranked 0 p4p, 659 weight class). Kakuto comes to the cage accompanied by Gorillaz-Dirty Harry. Tsuyoi Kakuto is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kakuto
vs
Esposito

190 cm
38
209
14 - 8 - 0

178 cm
25
215
2 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tsuyoi Kakuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raffaele Esposito!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kakuto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Esposito's guard.

Esposito is working an open guard so Kakuto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kakuto swats away the attempt to clinch by Esposito.
A little feinted left hand from Kakuto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kakuto leaves Esposito with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Kakuto as Esposito shoots in.
Esposito fails to land the takedown.
Tsuyoi Kakuto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raffaele Esposito.

Kakuto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Esposito wants to get back to his feet but Kakuto passes into half guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kakuto seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Kakuto gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Esposito misses with a takedown
and Kakuto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Esposito fails with the takedown
and Kakuto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Esposito with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kakuto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Kakuto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kakuto decides to stand up, so the ref orders Esposito to his feet.

Kakuto gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kakuto decides to stand up, so the ref orders Esposito to his feet.
Esposito tries to close the distance and clinch but Kakuto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kakuto appears to be looking for a big counter.
Esposito doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Kakuto to counter with a crisp jab.
Esposito looks winded!
Esposito doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kakuto counters with a left and a right that stings Esposito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kakuto decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Kakuto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Esposito's guard.

Kakuto gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kakuto feints and as Esposito raises his hands in defense, Kakuto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Esposito wants to get back to his feet but Kakuto passes into half guard.

Kakuto gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Esposito shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kakuto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Esposito!

Kakuto stands up.

Kakuto gets a double leg takedown into Esposito's guard.

Kakuto decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Esposito, up you get!
Raffaele Esposito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kakuto gets the takedown into side control.

Kakuto stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kakuto is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kakuto.

Kakuto has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kakuto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Esposito is working an open guard so Kakuto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kakuto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Kakuto stands up and we're back to a striking position.
We've been told by Kakuto's head coaches at Canucks Combat Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Kakuto scores with a takedown into Esposito's guard.
Kakuto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kakuto stands up from Esposito's guard - Kakuto perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoi Kakuto dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Esposito tries to sprawl but Kakuto drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kakuto stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Kakuto decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kakuto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Esposito to the mat! Esposito manages to get full guard.

Kakuto stands and steps away. Esposito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Esposito tries for a takedown but Kakuto circles away easily
and Kakuto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kakuto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kakuto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kakuto stands up.
Esposito is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakuto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kakuto stopping the sweep attempt from Esposito.

Kakuto stands and steps away. Esposito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kakuto scores with a takedown into Esposito's guard.

Kakuto gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Esposito's half guard.

Esposito looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tsuyoi Kakuto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kakuto decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Kakuto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Our spies down at at Cozad Amsterdam inform us that Esposito has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Esposito is working an open guard so Kakuto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kakuto feints and as Esposito raises his hands in defense, Kakuto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto stands up from Esposito's guard - Kakuto perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kakuto shoots in and bounces Esposito off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kakuto gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kakuto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kakuto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Esposito can do to turn this around?
Esposito is trying to control but Kakuto passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kakuto decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Esposito fails with the takedown.

Kakuto gets a takedown into half guard.

Kakuto decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoi Kakuto dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

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

Kakuto decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Esposito, up you get!

Kakuto drives through with a takedown into Esposito's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Kakuto stands and steps away. Esposito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tsuyoi Kakuto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kakuto drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Kakuto decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakuto shoots in and gets a takedown into Esposito's guard.
Esposito is trying to hold Kakuto in close to prevent damage but Kakuto has managed to pass into half guard.
Esposito is trying to get back to full guard.
Esposito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kakuto stands up and beckons Esposito to join him on the feet.
Esposito tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kakuto defends well and Esposito ends up having to push Kakuto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Esposito shoots in for a takedown but Kakuto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Esposito gets caught napping as Kakuto dives in and scores a takedown. Esposito manages to retain guard.
Esposito wants to get back to his feet but Kakuto passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto decides to stand and escape the position.

Kakuto gets the takedown into side control.

Kakuto stands up and beckons Esposito to his feet.

Kakuto drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kakuto stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Kakuto stands and steps away. Esposito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Esposito was covering up waiting for the punch and Kakuto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Esposito is looking to stand back up but Kakuto counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Esposito.
Raffaele Esposito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Kakuto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Kakuto decides to stand back up. Kakuto steps back and let's Esposito get back to his feet.
Tsuyoi Kakuto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kakuto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Esposito quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kakuto stands up and beckons Esposito to join him on the feet.

Kakuto drives through with a takedown into Esposito's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kakuto is standing up over Esposito. Esposito looks to escape but Kakuto dives into side control.

Kakuto decides to stand back up. Kakuto steps back and let's Esposito get back to his feet.

Kakuto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Esposito pushes Kakuto off but Kakuto dives into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raffaele Esposito comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kakuto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tsuyoi Kakuto!
A victorious Tsuyoi Kakuto thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.