PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raja Guru (ranked 2197 p4p, 2746 weight class) and Tanjiro Namikaze (ranked 164 p4p, 197 weight class). The key to victory for Raja Guru has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Guru
vs
Namikaze

173 cm
26
149
5 - 3 - 0

172 cm
27
145
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Fast

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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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Raja Guru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tanjiro Namikaze!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Guru lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Tanjiro Namikaze has been cut.
Guru misses the shot to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Guru lands with a nice body kick.
Guru lunges at Namikaze with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Namikaze's hand.

Namikaze is rocked!
Namikaze throws a jab but it's blocked by Guru.
Guru misses with an uppercut.
Raja Guru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guru scores with a push kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guru chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Namikaze shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Guru is trying to defend but Namikaze finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guru is trying to stand back up but Namikaze is controlling him
Namikaze stalling.
Guru keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Namikaze scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Guru wants to get back to his feet.
Namikaze tries to pass the half guard into mount. Guru knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Still in half guard, Namikaze seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Guru on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Guru tries to get out of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Namikaze is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Namikaze slows the pace down in half guard.
Namikaze throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Namikaze with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Guru pushes Namikaze off looking to stand but Namikaze dives back in and keeps control.
Namikaze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Namikaze sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Guru defending well though.
Guru won't allow Namikaze to pass to mount.
Namikaze not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Namikaze missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Namikaze performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Namikaze takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Namikaze is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Guru wants to get back to his feet.
Namikaze not doing much here.

That's four 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.
It looks like Namikaze might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Namikaze lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Namikaze sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Guru defending well though.
Namikaze trying to control the pace.
Namikaze thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Namikaze lands with a punch from half guard.
Namikaze sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Namikaze not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Namikaze in particular looking to stall.
Namikaze trying to control the action but Guru is working from the bottom.
Guru is looking to escape.
Namikaze seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Namikaze trying to control from half guard but Guru is working away.
Well, if Namikaze is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Namikaze's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's six 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.
Guru wants to get back to his feet.
Namikaze seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Guru keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Namikaze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Guru ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Namikaze moves away.
The crowd cheers as Guru lands an impressive looking overhand right. Namikaze doesn't seem phased though.
Namikaze uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Guru.
Namikaze with the counter takedown but Guru avoids it easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Guru swivels and escapes.
Guru throws the left hand but Namikaze avoids the punch easily.
Namikaze slips under a jab.
Namikaze wants to counter with a clinch but Guru pushes him away.
Namikaze avoids the body shot from Guru.
Namikaze feints the counter takedown.
Namikaze blocks a head kick by Guru.
Namikaze tries to counter by closing the distance.
Guru throws a body punch but Namikaze moves out of range.

Namikaze closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Guru did well to prevent Namikaze getting side control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze stops Guru from getting back to his feet.
Namikaze is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Namikaze has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Namikaze is continuing to stall.
Namikaze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The adventures of Namikaze the control monster continue. Boring.
Namikaze trying to control the action but Guru is working from the bottom.
Namikaze stalling.
Namikaze throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Namikaze looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Namikaze is controlling the pace.
More stalling from Namikaze.
Guru wants to get back to his feet.
Guru is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Namikaze scores with a couple of nice shots.
Namikaze scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Namikaze looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tanjiro Namikaze dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanjiro Namikaze's cut.
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.

Namikaze throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Guru to counter with a crisp jab.
Namikaze fails with a takedown attempt.
And Guru counters with a quick kick to the body but Namikaze blocks it.
Guru misses with a low kick as Namikaze jumps back.
Namikaze fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Guru tests Namikaze's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Namikaze is still on wobbly legs! Can Guru finish him?
Namikaze staying out of range there.
Namikaze feints the counter takedown.
Namikaze seems to have recovered his senses.
We've been told by Guru's head coaches at Casa Steel that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Namikaze gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Guru gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Namikaze is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raja Guru!