PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benji Thaio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuya Kiriyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Thaio
vs
Kiriyama

195 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Thaio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuya Kiriyama!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thaio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kiriyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thaio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thaio misses with a takedown attempt - Kiriyama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kiriyama changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thaio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kiriyama controlling from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiriyama postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Thaio is trying to control Kiriyama's posture but Kiriyama avoids it.
Thaio manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thaio has hold of Kiriyama's hands but Kiriyama slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kiriyama is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thaio!
Kiriyama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thaio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thaio working to try and regain half guard.
Kiriyama postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thaio looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaio is working to get back to half guard.
Kiriyama lands a nice shot to the head.
Thaio wants to hold on but Kiriyama pushes him away.
Thaio is squirming around, avoiding Kiriyama's attempts to control the action.
Thaio is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thaio is breathing heavily.
Kiriyama tries to control but Thaio wriggling away.
Kiriyama with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaio tries to hold on but Kiriyama postures up.
Kiriyama tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kiriyama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thaio working to try and regain half guard.

Kiriyama swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazuya Kiriyama!