PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dan Kim (ranked 3506 p4p, 3485 weight class) and Tanjiro Namikaze (ranked 282 p4p, 281 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kim
vs
Namikaze

175 cm
20
155
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
145
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tanjiro Namikaze!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Namikaze moves away.

Namikaze 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.
We've been hearing good reports from Kim's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Namikaze sitting in guard here, content to control.
Namikaze with a flurry of punches that miss.
Namikaze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Namikaze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Namikaze working some strikes from top position.
Namikaze throws a big right hand that misses.
Namikaze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Namikaze.
Namikaze stays in close to Kim's body and controls the position.
Kim lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namikaze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Namikaze is on top in guard.

Namikaze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Namikaze throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Namikaze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Namikaze is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Namikaze sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Namikaze throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Namikaze postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Namikaze won't allow Kim to sweep him here.
Namikaze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Namikaze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Namikaze is looking to work some ground and pound but Kim has wrist control.
Kim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Namikaze trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Namikaze or perhaps it was just good defense by Kim, which made it look bad.
It looked like Kim wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Namikaze bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kim is letting Namikaze control him for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Namikaze in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kim regains half guard there - taking advantage of Namikaze's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Namikaze is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Namikaze not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Namikaze lands strikes from half guard.
Namikaze wants to pass to mount but Kim is defending the position.
Namikaze throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kim manages to get to full guard.
Namikaze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim being controlled here, momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Namikaze drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Namikaze.
Namikaze throws an elbow that misses. Kim uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Namikaze's guard. Nice move by Kim!

Kim preventing the sweep.
Namikaze is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Namikaze lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Namikaze in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Namikaze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namikaze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Namikaze wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Namikaze is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Namikaze working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Namikaze scoring with punches to the head and body.
Namikaze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Namikaze scoring with punches to the head and body.
Namikaze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Namikaze scoring with punches to the head and body.
Namikaze looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Namikaze loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Namikaze throwing strikes but missing.
Namikaze throws a big elbow that misses.
Namikaze trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Namikaze makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Namikaze postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Namikaze has gone for a leg lock! Kim slips out almost immediately though and dives into Namikaze's guard.

Namikaze is pulling down on Kim's head. It's preventing any offense from Kim, at least for the moment.
Kim preventing the sweep.
Namikaze wants to hit a sweep here but Kim passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Namikaze there!
Namikaze wants to control but Kim is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Namikaze tries to reverse the position but Kim maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Namikaze is wriggling around trying to escape.
Namikaze swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Tanjiro Namikaze has got the better of the ground game so far.
Namikaze is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kim trying to control but Namikaze is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Namikaze can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanjiro Namikaze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Namikaze avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Namikaze ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Namikaze is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kim sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Namikaze shoots in and drives through. Kim sprawls well.
Namikaze blocks a jab.

Namikaze fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kim sprawls well initially but Namikaze persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Namikaze is nestled in close to Kim, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Namikaze missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Namikaze prevents Kim from improving his position.
Namikaze wants to pass the guard but Kim is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Namikaze throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kim regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namikaze working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Namikaze postures up and lands a big shot to Kim's brow.
Kim bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Namikaze's guard.

Kim preventing the sweep.
Namikaze tries to strike from the bottom.
Kim stopping the sweep attempt from Namikaze.
Kim not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Namikaze is pulling down on Kim's head. It's preventing any offense from Kim, at least for the moment.
Namikaze looking for a sweep. Not yet Namikaze, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Namikaze can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Namikaze is on top in guard.

Namikaze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Namikaze throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Namikaze throws a strike but Kim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Namikaze wants to sweep but no luck.
Namikaze bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kim's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Namikaze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Namikaze from controlling successfully.
Kim is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Namikaze throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Namikaze tries to free his leg and advance position but Kim is retaining full guard.
Dan Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kim is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Namikaze controls from within his opponent's guard.
Namikaze content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Namikaze.
Kim is trying to keep Namikaze in close.
Namikaze with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Kim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Namikaze landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Namikaze lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tanjiro Namikaze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Namikaze showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tanjiro Namikaze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Namikaze winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanjiro Namikaze!
After winning the bout, Tanjiro Namikaze thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.