PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinko Naragami (ranked 3843 p4p, 5295 weight class) and Kai Reynolds (ranked 364 p4p, 423 weight class). The key to victory for Shinko Naragami has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Naragami
vs
Reynolds

178 cm
25
147
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
151
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinko Naragami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kai Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Columbo Gatti and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naragami wants to clinch up but Reynolds keeps it at a distance.
Reynolds moves in looking to clinch but Naragami pushes him off.
A jab from Naragami finds it's way through Reynolds's defenses.
Naragami scores with a shot to the body.
Good exchange - Naragami coming out on top.
Naragami connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Reynolds shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reynolds showed some decent athleticism there.
Reynolds takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Naragami is trying to maintain the position but Reynolds is very close to passing his half guard.
Naragami's coaches at Tokyo Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Naragami is trying to get back to full guard.

Reynolds is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Reynolds slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naragami wants to improve his position but Reynolds is controlling well.
Reynolds seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Reynolds moves nicely into side control.

Reynolds is trying to get an arm triangle but Naragami is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Reynolds controls the position from side control.
Reynolds tries to advance to mount but can't.
Reynolds content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA St Petersburg. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Reynolds is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Naragami is trying to escape and Reynolds transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Naragami is forced to tap! Nice work there by Reynolds! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kai Reynolds!
Post fight, an emotional Kai Reynolds said 'Sweep the leg'.