PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Elorde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Elorde
vs
Kazama

169 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
142 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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, Gabriel Elorde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jin Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazama throws a nice looking combination but Elorde bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kazama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Elorde, pushing him back against the cage.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama scores with a jab.
Elorde avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gabriel Elorde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elorde fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kazama manages to avoid it.
Kazama moves in looking to clinch but Elorde pushes him off.
Elorde with a hook.
Elorde looks to score with a jab to the body but Kazama is just out of range.
Kazama takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A solid body kick from Kazama.
Kazama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kazama clinches up with Elorde and pushes him back against the cage.
Kazama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kazama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Elorde's brow.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Elorde has had enough of the clinch but Kazama keeps him there for the moment.
Kazama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kazama lands an elbow inside that Elorde shrugs off.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kazama.
Kazama misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama trying to land knees to the body.
Kazama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kazama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Elorde blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Elorde managing to block the knees to the body from Kazama.
Kazama misses with an elbow over the top.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elorde has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kazama misses with an elbow over the top.
Kazama working hard to break the clinch.
Elorde dodges an elbow strike from Kazama.
Kazama throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Elorde avoids it.
Kazama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but Elorde blocks with his arms.
Kazama looks gassed!
Kazama has Elorde pressed against the cage.
Kazama landing knees to the head.

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.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Elorde wants to get back to striking at distance but Kazama won't allow it.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elorde has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama misses with an elbow strike.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Elorde blocks it with crossed arms.

Kazama manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Kazama.
Elorde connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kazama momentarily.
Elorde throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Elorde scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kazama doesn't seem bothered though.
Elorde bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kazama's head.
Elorde swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kazama is looking to clinch but Elorde is avoiding it.
Elorde thows a body shot but no joy.
Elorde misses with an uppercut. Kazama saw that one coming.
Elorde lands a slapping body shot.
Kazama takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kazama defending well as Elorde loads up on a big left hand.
Kazama takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elorde's corner calls for a 1-2. Elorde obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Elorde missing with a left hand there. Kazama was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kazama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elorde circles away quickly and effectively.
Elorde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kazama moves away.
Elorde throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kazama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Elorde.
A punch lands to the side of Elorde 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kazama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Elorde swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kazama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elorde circles away quickly and effectively.
Kazama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Elorde blocks a head kick by Kazama.
Kazama slips under a jab from Elorde.
Elorde is looking to wear down Kazama with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kazama.
Kazama looks to land a combination but Elorde avoids it well.
Elorde misses with an uppercut. Kazama saw that one coming.
Elorde tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kazama was well out of range. Poor timing from Elorde.

Kazama closes the distance and clinches.
Elorde on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kazama pushes off an throws an elbow but Elorde leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

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.
Elorde blocks an elbow strike from Kazama.
Elorde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kazama misses with a knee strike.

Kazama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elorde dodges the punch combination from Kazama.
Kazama moves out of range as Elorde strikes.
Elorde misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kazama.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kazama throws a series of punches but Elorde moves out of range.
Elorde throws a big shot that misses.
Elorde takes a swing at Kazama's ribcage but misses.
Kazama scores with a head kick.

Kazama gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kazama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kazama lands with a slapping head kick.
Elorde misses with an uppercut. Kazama saw that one coming.
Kazama defending well as Elorde loads up on a big left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kazama.

Kazama closes the distance and pushes Elorde back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kazama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Elorde waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Kazama.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kazama.
Kazama slips under a jab from Elorde.
Elorde takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Kazama closes the distance and pushes Elorde back into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kazama.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kazama throws an elbow but misses.
Elorde blocks an elbow strike from Kazama.
Elorde is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kazama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Elorde takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kazama throws an elbow but it misses.
Kazama stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kazama looking to throw knees to the head but Elorde is blocking nicely.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kazama in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kazama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Elorde blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elorde is trying to break the clinch but Kazama has him pressed against the cage.
Kazama leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Elorde avoids the elbow strike from Kazama, against the cage.
Kazama scores a nice knee to the body.
Kazama connects with a nasty looking knee right to Elorde's face.
Kazama lands an elbow just above Elorde 's eye.
Elorde can't break the clinch.
Kazama pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama defending well as Elorde loads up on a big left hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Elorde is defending well 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.
Kazama pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kazama lands an elbow inside.
Kazama lands an elbow inside.
Kazama looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kazama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kazama leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kazama misses with a knee to the head.
Kazama tries to stall but Elorde uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Kazama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Elorde scores with a jab to the head.
Kazama tries to clinch up.
Kazama is looking to clinch.
Kazama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kazama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jin Kazama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elorde is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kazama.
Elorde misses with a wild body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kazama.
Kazama slips under a jab.

Kazama instigates a clinch.
Elorde wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kazama has him pressed against the cage.
Elorde avoiding damage as Kazama throws knees to the body.
Elorde is trying to break free.
Elorde avoids the elbow strike from Kazama, against the cage.
Kazama misses with a knee strike.
Elorde managing to block the knees to the body from Kazama.
Elorde avoids the elbow strike from Kazama, against the cage.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama slips under a jab.
Elorde throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kazama lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Elorde throws a hook but Kazama avoids it easily.

That's four 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.
Kazama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elorde circles away quickly and effectively.
Kazama lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Elorde backs up against the cage.
Elorde misses the jab.
Kazama takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kazama scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Elorde lands with an overhand left.

Kazama takes the fight into the clinch.
Kazama connects with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kazama takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kazama looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Elorde is trying to force a seperation but Kazama has the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazama lands an elbow that stopped Elorde in his tracks for a moment.
Kazama looking to throw knees to the head but Elorde is blocking nicely.
Kazama will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Elorde up against the cage.
Elorde blocks an elbow strike from Kazama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Elorde's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Elorde throws a body punch but Kazama moves out of range.
Elorde misses with a jab to the body
and Kazama counters with a nice body kick.

Kazama rushes Elorde and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kazama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kazama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Elorde's brow.
Kazama misses with a knee strike.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama looking to throw knees to the head but Elorde is blocking nicely.
Elorde dodges an elbow strike from Kazama.
Kazama creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Elorde's defenses.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Elorde misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kazama closes the distance and clinches.
Kazama misses with an elbow over the top.
Elorde working hard to break the clinch.
Kazama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Elorde's efforts to push away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kazama throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kazama lands an elbow that stopped Elorde in his tracks for a moment.
Nice elbow from Kazama.
Elorde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Elorde blocks it with crossed arms.
Elorde avoids the elbow strike from Kazama, against the cage.

Elorde breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kazama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Elorde digs a good hook to Kazama's body.
A slow jab from Elorde misses its intended target.
Elorde pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Elorde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A left and a right from Kazama both land. Nice combination.
Kazama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Elorde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kazama moves away.

Kazama has managed to clinch.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elorde has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama looking to throw knees to the head but Elorde is blocking nicely.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Kazama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elorde takes a swing at Kazama's ribcage but misses.

Kazama has managed to clinch.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but Elorde blocks with his arms.
Kazama throws an elbow but it misses.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but Elorde blocks it.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kazama trying to land knees to the body.
Elorde tries to break free but Kazama pushes him back against the cage.
Elorde wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kazama prevents Elorde from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elorde dodges an elbow strike from Kazama.
Kazama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kazama with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elorde pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Elorde connects with a single shot there.
Elorde just misses with a punch to the body.
Kazama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kazama moves into the clinch successfully.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Elorde blocks it with crossed arms.
Elorde dodges an elbow strike from Kazama.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Elorde is trying to break the clinch but Kazama has him pressed against the cage.
Elorde blocks an elbow strike.
Elorde can't break the clinch.
Elorde wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four 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.
Kazama creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Elorde blocks the elbow strike.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but Elorde blocks it.
Elorde blocks an elbow strike.
Kazama tries to land a knee to the head but Elorde blocks with his arms.
Elorde managing to block the knees to the body from Kazama.

Elorde breaks from the clinch.
Elorde throws out a loose jab but Kazama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kazama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Elorde.
Kazama stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A big right from Elorde misses.

Kazama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kazama gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kazama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kazama misses with an elbow strike.
Elorde avoiding damage as Kazama throws knees to the body.
Kazama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Kazama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kazama has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Kazama!