PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kyo Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Rakusaba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rakusaba's choice of entrance music: David Bowie - Suffragette City. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kawajiri
vs
Rakusaba

180 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
27
181 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyo Kawajiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Rakusaba!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawajiri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Rakusaba counter with a right hand.
Rakusaba shoots for a double leg takedown but Kawajiri sprawls well. He's pushed Rakusaba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kawajiri throws a one two combo.

It looks like Kazushi Rakusaba has been cut.
Rakusaba tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kawajiri counters with a left and a right that stings Rakusaba.
Some wild striking there from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri misses with a series of wild punches.

Kawajiri gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kawajiri is controlling Rakusaba's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rakusaba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakusaba being controlled here momentarily.
Kawajiri keeping moving, preventing Rakusaba from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Kyo Kawajiri wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Rakusaba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kawajiri's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri wants to improve his position but Rakusaba is controlling well.
Kawajiri is trying to maintain the position but Rakusaba is very close to passing his half guard.
Kawajiri is trying to stand back up but Rakusaba is controlling him
Rakusaba works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rakusaba.
Kawajiri tries to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.
Rakusaba controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba avoids the attempt from Kawajiri to control.
Kawajiri is looking to improve his position but Rakusaba isn't that keen on the idea.
Rakusaba wants to control the pace but Kawajiri is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kazushi Rakusaba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Rakusaba's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rakusaba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kyo Kawajiri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rakusaba closes the distance and clinches.
Rakusaba has Kawajiri pressed against the cage, preventing Kawajiri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rakusaba keeps control of Kawajiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kawajiri wants to get back to striking at distance but Rakusaba won't allow it.
Kawajiri prevents the takedown attempt.
Kawajiri has had enough of the clinch but Rakusaba keeps him there for the moment.
Kawajiri is pressed up against the cage. Rakusaba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kawajiri down to the mat. Kawajiri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kyo Kawajiri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Rakusaba.
Kawajiri looks to land a combination but Rakusaba avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawajiri misses with a two punch combination.
Rakusaba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kawajiri swivels and escapes.

Rakusaba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rakusaba lands some shots froms side control.
Rakusaba working away.
Kawajiri tries to bench press Rakusaba off him but Rakusaba keeps the position.

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.
Rakusaba gets to mount! Kawajiri was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kawajiri wants to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.
Kawajiri tries to reverse the position but Rakusaba maintains control.
Rakusaba takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kawajiri tries to hold on but Rakusaba pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri can't escape the position.
Kawajiri is working hard here to advance position.
Kawajiri is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

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.
Kawajiri is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rakusaba controlling the pace for now.
Kawajiri working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakusaba looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Rakusaba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kazushi Rakusaba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kawajiri tries to break free but Rakusaba pushes him back against the cage.
Kawajiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rakusaba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kawajiri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rakusaba shoots for a takedown but Kawajiri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rakusaba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kyo Kawajiri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Rakusaba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri tried to score with a low kick but Rakusaba checks it.
Rakusaba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
An inside leg kick from Kawajiri misses.

Rakusaba shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kawajiri napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kawajiri wants to control but Rakusaba postures up.
Rakusaba misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kawajiri is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakusaba cracks Kawajiri with a big right hand but Kawajiri just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawajiri is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Kawajiri's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rakusaba controls the position from side control.
Rakusaba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kawajiri's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri is trying to work for a sweep but Rakusaba has mounted him!
Rakusaba with the ground and pound from mount.
Kawajiri wants to control but Rakusaba is having none of it.
Rakusaba trying to control but he's not successful this time.

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.
Rakusaba controlling his opponent.
Kawajiri is looking to get to half guard.
Kyo Kawajiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kazushi Rakusaba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rakusaba looking to control but Kawajiri is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Rakusaba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rakusaba 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazushi Rakusaba!