PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Reyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawajiri has chosen Water Pow as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Reyes
vs
Kawajiri

175 cm
27
146 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

171 cm
26
146 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daniel Reyes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tatsuya Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reyes throws a head kick but Kawajiri moves out of range.
Reyes looks to land a combination but Kawajiri avoids it well.

Kawajiri takes the fight into the clinch.
Reyes misses with the head strike.
Reyes gets underhooks to prevent Kawajiri's takedown attempt.
Kawajiri lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kawajiri wants to get back to striking at distance but Reyes won't allow it.
Kawajiri has Reyes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Reyes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kawajiri goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Reyes blocks an uppercut.
Reyes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kawajiri tries for a takedown but Reyes manages to get underhooks.
Daniel Reyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Reyes taking a breather.

Kawajiri is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Reyes can't fight it off and eventually Kawajiri manages to take the fight to the floor. Reyes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Reyes keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kawajiri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kawajiri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Reyes keeps moving.
Kawajiri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reyes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Reyes keeps moving.
Kawajiri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kawajiri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reyes working a defensive guard here.
Kawajiri throwing strikes but missing.
Kawajiri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kawajiri throwing strikes but missing.
Kawajiri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kawajiri works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kawajiri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kawajiri takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Reyes has hold of Kawajiri's hands but Kawajiri slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Reyes trying to control but Kawajiri postures up.
Kawajiri perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kawajiri throwing shots but Reyes is blocking nicely.
Reyes moves into full guard.
Kawajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Reyes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reyes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawajiri working some strikes from top position.
Kawajiri landing some decent shots from guard.
Reyes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kawajiri trying to control but Reyes is working from the bottom.
Kawajiri throws a big elbow that misses.
Kawajiri is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawajiri throwing strikes but missing.
Kawajiri postures up in Reyes's guard and throws a big left but Reyes blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Kawajiri dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kawajiri cracks Reyes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Reyes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Reyes ducks right into an uppercut from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that Reyes avoids nicely.
Nice cross by Kawajiri.
Kawajiri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Reyes throws out the jab.
Reyes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kawajiri will feel that in the morning.
Kawajiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kawajiri lands a nice looking body shot.
Kawajiri swinging wildly here.
Reyes throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kawajiri's head.
A head kick misses from Kawajiri.
Reyes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kawajiri misses with a low kick.
Kawajiri throws a shot from downtown. Reyes moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Reyes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kawajiri cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Reyes tries to keep at a distance but Kawajiri has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reyes tries to pull guard but Kawajiri won't allow it.
Kawajiri goes for a takedown in the clinch but Reyes prevents it.

Reyes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawajiri throws a hook to the side of Reyes's head but Reyes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reyes fakes the leg kick and cracks Kawajiri in the body.
Reyes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Reyes tries to bum rush Kawajiri with a series of wild strikes but Kawajiri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kawajiri is looking to clinch but Reyes is avoiding it.
Tatsuya Kawajiri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reyes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kawajiri's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reyes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kawajiri moves away.
Kawajiri moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Reyes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reyes wants to stand up but Kawajiri is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reyes working a defensive guard here.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Reyes keeps moving.
Kawajiri throwing strikes but missing.
Kawajiri landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri landing some decent shots from guard.
Kawajiri throws a big elbow that misses.
Kawajiri is looking to work some ground and pound but Reyes has wrist control.
Kawajiri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kawajiri working some strikes from top position.
Kawajiri throws a big elbow that misses.
Kawajiri lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kawajiri connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawajiri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Reyes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri is in close to Reyes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Reyes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reyes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawajiri trying to control but Reyes is working from the bottom.
Kawajiri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kawajiri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kawajiri trying to control but Reyes is working from the bottom.
Reyes has momentary wrist control but Kawajiri slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawajiri controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Kawajiri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri doesn't manage to clinch there - Reyes circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Reyes.
Reyes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kawajiri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reyes somewhat.
Kawajiri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Reyes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kawajiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That kick from Reyes tenderised Kawajiri's leg. Kawajiri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Reyes has a takedown stuffed.
Kawajiri has a takedown stuffed.
Reyes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kawajiri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri misses with a straight right.

Kawajiri fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reyes, pushing him back against the cage.
Kawajiri is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Reyes is defending well.
Daniel Reyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatsuya Kawajiri.

Kawajiri has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Reyes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The referee is taking a good look at Reyes as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Kawajiri!
Reyes just trying to survive but Kawajiri is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Reyes tries to roll but Kawajiri sticks to his back.
Reyes is trapped and Kawajiri is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Kawajiri landing with strikes.
Kawajiri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reyes covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Kawajiri punishes Reyes with strikes from the back mount.
Kawajiri lands a shot to the body.
Kawajiri scores with punches to the body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawajiri is landing with strikes from the back.
Can Reyes hold on?! Kawajiri is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Reyes is rocked!
Reyes grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Oh Reyes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kawajiri lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kawajiri tries to get the hooks in deep but Reyes pushed the leg off.
Reyes is taking damage to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Reyes seems to have got his legs back now.
Kawajiri scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Kawajiri is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Reyes is trapped and Kawajiri is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Kawajiri scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Reyes is looking for a way out.
Kawajiri wants to control but Reyes is keeping busy.
Kawajiri looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Kawajiri scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Reyes is looking for a way out.
Kawajiri lands a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kawajiri doesn't have the hooks in and Reyes manages to turn into his guard.
Tatsuya Kawajiri is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kawajiri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reyes manages to get himself to full guard.
Reyes wants to improve his position but instead Kawajiri has moved into half guard.
Kawajiri content to control rather than advance.
Daniel Reyes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kawajiri is trying to control the action in half guard but Reyes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatsuya Kawajiri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kawajiri 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatsuya Kawajiri!
Our winner, Tatsuya Kawajiri, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.