PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Masahiko Kimura (ranked 2960 p4p, 2986 weight class) and Grappling Panda (ranked 326 p4p, 328 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kimura
vs
Panda

170 cm
26
185
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
19
155
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Masahiko Kimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grappling Panda!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda stuffs the takedown.

Kimura changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Panda looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Panda has one of Kimura's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Kimura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kimura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kimura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda is not content to let Kimura control the position.
Panda can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda is not content to let Kimura control the position.
Panda struggling a bit here.
Panda prevents Kimura from moving into mount.
Kimura looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Panda can't do much from the bottom here.

Kimura working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Kimura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Panda is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Panda's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kimura is trying to get an arm triangle but Panda is defending well.

Kimura working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Kimura is trying to get an arm triangle but Panda is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura tries to advance position but instead Panda slips a leg back in to half guard.

Kimura looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kimura stalling away here and it's allowed Panda to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Kimura trying to control but Panda is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Panda is controlling Kimura's posture.
Kimura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Panda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kimura is looking to pass into half guard but Panda pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Panda is in guard.

Kimura being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kimura has his foot on Panda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Panda works his way back into a safe position though.

Kimura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masahiko Kimura dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kimura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Panda circles away.
Panda wants to counter the offense by Kimura and move into the clinch position.
Masahiko Kimura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Panda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kimura.
Kimura fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Panda avoids it really well and circles away.
Panda wants to counter the offense by Kimura and move into the clinch position.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masahiko Kimura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Panda rushes Kimura and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panda tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kimura just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kimura tightens his grip and picks Panda up, before dumping him to the ground. Panda manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura wants to control from the top but Panda keeps moving.
Kimura is pushing down on Panda's leg trying to pass to half guard. Panda is fighting to maintain full guard but Kimura has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kimura is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Panda can do to turn this around?

Panda is defending against the submission attempts here by Kimura.
Kimura is looking to pass Panda's guard but actually Panda recovers to full guard.
Kimura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Panda is keeping the position for now.
Kimura pushes down on Panda's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Panda keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panda is looking to control Kimura's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Panda avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Panda is holding on to half guard well.
Panda's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Kimura is working for a submission of some sort.
Kimura has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura looking to control but Panda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kimura moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Panda has worked his arm free - good work by Panda!

Kimura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kimura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Panda prevents Kimura from improving position.
Kimura wants to take a breather but Panda manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Panda has his hands on Kimura's head, controlling the position.
Kimura advances position into side control!

Kimura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kimura tries to advance to mount but Panda denies him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kimura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masahiko Kimura dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kimura shoots in for a takedown but Panda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Grappling Panda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kimura.
Panda wants to counter the offense by Kimura and move into the clinch position.
Masahiko Kimura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kimura closes the distance and clinches up with Panda, looking for a takedown. Kimura pushes Panda against the cage but Panda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masahiko Kimura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kimura bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kimura trying to control the position but Panda is working away.
Kimura tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kimura goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Panda has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kimura but great work by Panda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura looking for a sweep but Panda has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Panda controlling the pace for now.
Kimura tries to lock up and control but Panda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kimura is trying desperately to improve position.
Panda trying to control but Kimura is having none of it.
Kimura is trying to reverse the position but instead Panda has taken his back - oops!
Panda keeps control of the position as Kimura tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura turns into Panda and is now in his guard.
Kimura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kimura wants to pass the guard but Panda is keeping the position.
Panda is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Panda keeping full guard, as Kimura tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura trying to move into half guard but instead Panda has managed to sweep!

Kimura looking for subs off his back but Panda has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kimura is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Panda jumps into side control!
Kimura trying to control but Panda flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Panda controlling the positon.
Kimura tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Kimura tries to roll but Panda sticks to his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Panda is riding his opponent, not letting Kimura buck him off.

Panda tightening his grip on Kimura, looking for the choke.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Panda controlling the positon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grappling Panda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kimura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masahiko Kimura!