PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mehdi Illir (ranked 1928 p4p, 1468 weight class) and Akira Kaburagi (ranked 189 p4p, 147 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Illir
vs
Kaburagi

178 cm
27
165
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
26
165
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Sakura Style

Bloodbath MMA Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mehdi Illir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Kaburagi!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illir tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kaburagi defends well and Illir ends up having to push Kaburagi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Illir is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kaburagi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Illir to the mat. Illir regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Illir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've been hearing good reports from Illir'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.
Illir keeping moving, preventing Kaburagi from controlling successfully.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kaburagi working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Illir escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kaburagi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Illir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Illir is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kaburagi defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaburagi connects with a couple of short punches.
Kaburagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Illir is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Illir will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Illir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaburagi wants to control from the top but Illir keeps moving.
Kaburagi stopping the sweep attempt from Illir.

Illir escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kaburagi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Illir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Illir is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kaburagi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Illir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.

Illir working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kaburagi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kaburagi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kaburagi preventing the sweep.
Illir is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kaburagi throws a body punch but Illir moves out of range.

Kaburagi 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.

Illir isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kaburagi stacks Illir on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kaburagi!
Check out the look on Kaburagi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Illir is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kaburagi is looking to take a break and control but Illir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illir struggling a bit here.

Kaburagi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Illir, who protects the arm well.
Kaburagi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Illir some visible discomfort.
Illir manages to get back to half guard.
Illir wants to improve his position but Kaburagi is controlling well.
Illir is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Illir wants to sweep but Kaburagi has passed to side control!
Kaburagi trying to control the position but Illir is working away.
Illir can't do much from the bottom here.
Illir tries to improve position but can't.

Kaburagi is trying to get an arm triangle but Illir is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Illir tries to improve position but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kaburagi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Illir shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kaburagi pinned against the cage. Kaburagi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kaburagi looking to score a takedown here. Illir is defending well but Kaburagi drives through and ends up in Illir's guard.
Kaburagi pushing down on Illir's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Illir slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Illir has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kaburagi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaburagi with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi looking to pass the guard.
Illir controls Kaburagi momentarily but Kaburagi frees himself.
Illir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaburagi trying to control but Illir is working from the bottom.
Illir 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.
Kaburagi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Illir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaburagi preventing the sweep.

Illir is looking for a triangle but Kaburagi pushes his legs off easily.
Kaburagi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kaburagi looking to pass the guard.
Illir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaburagi is one step ahead there.
Illir preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Illir darts in looking for a takedown but Kaburagi gets double underhooks and turns Illir into the cage.
Illir is trying to maintain a safe position but Kaburagi gets an underhook and turns Illir into the cage.

Illir is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kaburagi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Illir to the mat. Illir regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Illir looking to control.
Illir throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Illir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaburagi is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illir manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kaburagi manages to get himself to full guard.

Kaburagi is trying to control the position but Illir postures up.
Illir trying to control but Kaburagi is working from the bottom.
Illir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaburagi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaburagi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Illir looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illir working a defensive guard here.
Illir is pulling down on Kaburagi's head to control his posture.

Illir escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kaburagi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kaburagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Illir is looking for a triangle here but Kaburagi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kaburagi is looking to take a break and control but Illir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kaburagi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Illir throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaburagi's waist but Kaburagi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Illir off to one side.
Kaburagi tries to clinch there but Illir circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Illir.

Kaburagi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Illir!
Illir tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kaburagi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Illir is not content to let Kaburagi control the position.
Illir tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akira Kaburagi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Illir struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illir is looking to regain half guard here but Kaburagi keeps moving and retains side control.
Kaburagi is looking to take a break and control but Illir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Illir tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Illir is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kaburagi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Illir gets full guard.
Illir looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Illir working a defensive guard here.
Kaburagi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Illir's head.
Illir working a defensive guard but Kaburagi manages to pass into side control anyway.
Illir is looking to regain half guard here but Kaburagi keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illir regains half guard.

Kaburagi is working for a kimura but Illir is defending it quite comfortably.
Illir has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kaburagi is working away from the top position though.

Kaburagi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Illir is just riding it out for now. Kaburagi eventually gives up the hold.

Illir looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kaburagi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kaburagi wants to take a breather but Illir is having none of it.
Illir wants to control but Kaburagi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Illir regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Illir thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Akira Kaburagi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kaburagi stays in close to Illir's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mehdi Illir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Illir fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kaburagi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kaburagi 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kaburagi!
After the fight, Akira Kaburagi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.