PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Opious Renter (ranked 4399 p4p, 4390 weight class) and Shota Kazehaya (ranked 0 p4p, 478 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.

Renter
vs
Kazehaya

167 cm
20
140
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
140
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Opious Renter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shota Kazehaya!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Renter shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Renter with a poor takedown

and Kazehaya counters with a single leg into guard. Renter didn't expect that.
Kazehaya postures up in Renter's guard and throws a big left but Renter blocks it.
Renter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kazehaya tries to stand but Renter is controlling from the bottom.
Kazehaya missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kazehaya is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Kazehaya drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kazehaya jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazehaya slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazehaya advances position into side control!
Kazehaya working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kazehaya prevents Renter from escaping the position.
Renter is trying to work for a sweep but Kazehaya has mounted him!
Kazehaya dominating with strikes here.

Kazehaya is working for a guillotine from mount but Renter frees his head quite easily.
Renter wants to control but Kazehaya is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kazehaya wants to finish this one by submission but Renter is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kazehaya.
Kazehaya with shots to the head and body - Renter looks very uncomfortable down there.

Kazehaya working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kazehaya controlling from mount.
Renter tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kazehaya takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazehaya is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazehaya looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kazehaya punching from mount but Renter doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Renter can't escape the position.
Kazehaya sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kazehaya is looking to stand but Renter has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renter tries to hold on but Kazehaya postures up.
Kazehaya scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Renter?

Kazehaya working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Renter looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Renter defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kazehaya's arms.

Renter defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shota Kazehaya dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kazehaya looks to land a combination. Renter sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Renter takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Kazehaya gets a clinch.
Kazehaya can't get the takedown.
Kazehaya managing to block the knees to the body from Renter.
Come on Kazehaya - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Renter tries to pull guard but Kazehaya forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kazehaya manages to pull guard.
Renter trying to control but Kazehaya is working from the bottom.
Kazehaya has Renter pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazehaya will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kazehaya bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Renter's guard.

Kazehaya postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kazehaya scoring with punches to the head and body.

Renter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kazehaya defends well.
Kazehaya throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazehaya is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Renter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kazehaya seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kazehaya is looking to work some ground and pound but Renter has wrist control.
Shota Kazehaya has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kazehaya slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kazehaya in side control, throwing shots but Renter defends.
Kazehaya scoring with punches and elbows.
Renter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kazehaya on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazehaya controlling from side mount.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Renter misses with a jab to the body
and Kazehaya counters with a stiff right hand.

Kazehaya closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renter trying to land knees to the body.

Kazehaya lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kazehaya throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kazehaya takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kazehaya is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Renter is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kazehaya lands a big shot there that rocks Renter but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazehaya tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Kazehaya working for a guillotine from mount but Renter is in no mood to give up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shota Kazehaya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Renter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kazehaya avoids the body shot from Renter.

Kazehaya scores with a takedown into Renter's guard.
Renter has a closed guard, preventing Kazehaya from standing up.

Kazehaya is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kazehaya looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Renter tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazehaya looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kazehaya wants to stand but Renter has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kazehaya slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.
Renter is trying to keep Kazehaya in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Renter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kazehaya sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Renter misses with a takedown attempt

and Kazehaya moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Opious Renter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Kazehaya forces Renter back against the cage and clinches.

Kazehaya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kazehaya moves into the clinch.

Kazehaya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Renter or perhaps it was just good defense by Kazehaya, which made it look bad.
Renter shoots for a takedown but Kazehaya saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazehaya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kazehaya shoots in and bounces Renter off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Renter looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kazehaya puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kazehaya lands with a punch from half guard.
Kazehaya works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kazehaya content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renter working to try and regain half guard.
Kazehaya scoring with strikes but Renter is staying in there.
Kazehaya controlling from the full mount.

Kazehaya working for a guillotine from mount but Renter is in no mood to give up.
Kazehaya working the ground and pound effectively.
Opious Renter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shota Kazehaya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazehaya tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shota Kazehaya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kazehaya 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 James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shota Kazehaya!