PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hero Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burch comes into the arena with POD-Boom blaring out of the sound system. This should be a great matchup!

Burch
vs
Kawasaki

168 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 Tokyo, Donovan Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hero Kawasaki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kawasaki is defended easily by Burch.
Burch throws a right and a left that Kawasaki avoids nicely.
A head kick misses from Kawasaki.
Burch throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Hero Kawasaki has been cut.

Kawasaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Burch trying to control the position.

Kawasaki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Burch manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kawasaki has Burch in his guard.
Kawasaki keeping moving, preventing Burch from controlling successfully.
Burch stands and throws Kawasaki's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Burch in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Burch working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawasaki is looking to reverse the position.
Burch trying to control the action but Kawasaki is working from the bottom.
Burch tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Burch happy to just control the position for now.
Burch working away.
Kawasaki is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Burch jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Burch throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kawasaki looks gassed!
Burch misses with a takedown attempt

so Kawasaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Burch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Burch trying to keep a closed guard but Kawasaki is proving a slippery customer.
Burch wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawasaki has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Burch is proving hard to escape from.
Burch wants to sweep here but Kawasaki controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Burch seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Burch is working an open guard so Kawasaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Burch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Burch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burch closes the distance but Kawasaki moves to the side

and Kawasaki counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Burch!
Kawasaki with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kawasaki working for a submission but Burch is keeping him at bay.
Burch is desperately trying to improve his position but Kawasaki has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kawasaki gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Burch looks to clinch

and Kawasaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kawasaki.
Kawasaki tries to stand but Burch is controlling from the bottom.
Burch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawasaki taking some punishment here, with Burch in his half guard.
Burch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawasaki keeps working.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawasaki keeps working.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kawasaki looking for submissions off his back.
Kawasaki is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hero Kawasaki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hero Kawasaki's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kawasaki counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Burch!

Kawasaki looking for a guillotine from mount but Burch is having none of it.

Kawasaki goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Burch is on top in guard.
Kawasaki looking to control but Burch passes into half guard.
Kawasaki trying to control here.
Burch is trying to control the action in half guard but Kawasaki is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Burch working Kawasaki over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burch working Kawasaki over with strikes.
Burch is taking a breather. Kawasaki says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kawasaki has hold of Burch's hands but Burch slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Kawasaki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burch tries to clinch

and Kawasaki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Burch's guard now.
Burch wants to sweep but no luck.
Burch is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kawasaki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Burch looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Burch looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Burch!
Kawasaki pushes Burch away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Burch gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki struggling a bit here.
Kawasaki tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Burch presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kawasaki tries to lock up and control but Burch gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kawasaki is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Burch is staying active.
Burch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kawasaki is looking to escape.
Kawasaki is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burch stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Burch is looking to clinch.

Kawasaki gets the takedown into side control.

Kawasaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burch, who protects the arm well.
Burch is looking for a sweep.
Kawasaki trying to control the action but Burch is working from the bottom.

Kawasaki tries for a kimura but Burch is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Burch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Burch, who protects the arm well.
Burch is trying to improve his position.

Kawasaki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Burch is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hero Kawasaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Burch can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hero Kawasaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hero Kawasaki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick from Kawasaki lands but Burch takes it in his stride.
Kawasaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Burch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Burch scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Burch working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Kawasaki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burch prevents Kawasaki from improving his position.
Burch is keen to just control but Kawasaki is a slippery customer.
Kawasaki wants to get back to full guard.

Kawasaki looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kawasaki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burch pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Burch.
Burch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawasaki keeps working.
Kawasaki is looking to reverse the position.
Kawasaki is trying to control Burch's posture but Burch avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burch prevents Kawasaki from escaping the position.
Burch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawasaki keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kawasaki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Burch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Burch trying to control the position here.
Burch keeping full guard, as Kawasaki tries to pass.

Burch is working an open guard so Kawasaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawasaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kawasaki wants to free his trapped foot but Burch is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kawasaki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Burch doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kawasaki.
It looks like Kawasaki is going to stand back up.
Kawasaki trying to control from half guard but Burch is working away.
Kawasaki is thwarting Burch's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kawasaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kawasaki stands up out of the half guard.
Kawasaki fails with the takedown
enabling Burch to counter with a crisp jab.
Hero Kawasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawasaki lands with a kick to the temple. Burch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kawasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Donovan Burch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hero Kawasaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kawasaki feints and as Burch raises his hands in defense, Kawasaki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Burch throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hero Kawasaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kawasaki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hero Kawasaki!