PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Kawamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miki Stamenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kawamura
vs
Stamenov

166 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Kawamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Miki Stamenov!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stamenov tries to clinch up but Kawamura circles away and keeps his distance.
Stamenov wants to clinch.

Stamenov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kawamura is trying to defend but Stamenov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kawamura is trying to stand.

Stamenov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kawamura wants to get back to his feet.
Kawamura wants to get back to full guard.
Kawamura is staying active underneath Stamenov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamura is trying to maintain the position but Stamenov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kawamura punching from the bottom.
Stamenov trying to control from half guard but Kawamura is working away.
Stamenov tries to stand and escape but Kawamura is controlling the position.
Stamenov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miki Stamenov.
Kawamura throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stamenov shoots in looking for a takedown but Kawamura manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Stamenov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stamenov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kawamura holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamenov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kawamura is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stamenov can't break the clinch.
Kawamura working aggressively here.
Kawamura is pressed up against the cage. Stamenov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kawamura down to the mat. Kawamura avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Stamenov.
Stamenov slips under a jab.
Stamenov shoots and misses

and Kawamura counters by moving into the clinch.
Kawamura effectively controlling the action here.

Stamenov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kawamura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kawamura works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kawamura is looking to advance position but Stamenov won't allow it.

Kawamura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Stamenov sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura wants to free his trapped foot but Stamenov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stamenov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kawamura connects with a couple of short punches.
Kawamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kawamura wanted to stand there but Stamenov had control of the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stamenov holds on and takes a little breather.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stamenov is on top in guard.
Stamenov stopping the sweep attempt from Kawamura.
Kawamura wants to get back to his feet but Stamenov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamenov is stalling in the full guard.
Kawamura is looking to stand back up but Stamenov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kawamura.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stamenov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kawamura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kawamura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stamenov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stamenov advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Miki Stamenov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kawamura stuffs the takedown.
Miki Stamenov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stamenov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kawamura drives through and clinches with Stamenov against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawamura.
Stamenov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stamenov being controlled against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kawamura throws an elbow but misses.
Kawamura throws a punch but it's blocked by Stamenov.

Kawamura decides to pull guard.
Stamenov trying to control but Kawamura is working from the bottom.
Stamenov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stamenov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamura lands some strikes from the bottom.

Kawamura is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stamenov defends well.
Kawamura keeping moving, preventing Stamenov from controlling successfully.
Stamenov passes Kawamura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kawamura is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Stamenov wants to control but Kawamura is keeping him busy.
Stamenov prevents Kawamura from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stamenov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kawamura wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Stamenov.
Kawamura is trying desperately to improve position.

Stamenov swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kawamura is now in Stamenov's guard. A big mistake from Stamenov there, giving up the dominant position!
Stamenov keeping moving, preventing Kawamura from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawamura avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kawamura wanted to stand there but Stamenov had control of the position.
Kawamura trying to control but Stamenov is working from the bottom.
Kawamura looking to pass the guard.
Kawamura looking to sit in guard and control but Stamenov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stamenov trying to control but Kawamura is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamenov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Stamenov gets to his feet - Kawamura follows without any prompting.
Stamenov shoots in for a double leg but Kawamura sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kawamura thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stamenov darts in looking for a takedown but Kawamura gets double underhooks and turns Stamenov into the cage.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Stamenov.
Kawamura tries for a takedown. No joy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawamura.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryo Kawamura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stamenov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stamenov fails with the takedown

and Kawamura moves into the clinch.
Stamenov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kawamura walks away with a smile on his face. Stamenov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stamenov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawamura pinned against the cage. Kawamura gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miki Stamenov.
Stamenov shoots in but no luck this time.
Kawamura misses with a lunging right hand

and Stamenov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kawamura tries to pull guard but Stamenov holds him up against the cage and eventually Kawamura drops back down to his feet.
Kawamura missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawamura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kawamura avoids the head kick by Stamenov.
Stamenov ducks under a wild hook from Kawamura.
Kawamura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kawamura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kawamura keeps the fight on the outside.
Kawamura defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Stamenov.
Stamenov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kawamura misses with an uppercut

and Stamenov counters by clinching up.
Kawamura misses with the head strike.
Kawamura throws an elbow but it misses.
Kawamura tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stamenov just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Stamenov is keeping busy.
Stamenov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Stamenov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kawamura's brow.

Kawamura decides to pull guard.
Stamenov is pushing down on Kawamura's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kawamura is fighting to maintain full guard but Stamenov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Stamenov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kawamura manages to get to full guard.
Kawamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Stamenov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura looks to throw the jab but Stamenov is out of range.
Stamenov is looking to score with low kicks.
Nice sprawl there from Kawamura as Stamenov shoots in.
Stamenov with a nice cross.
Stamenov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stamenov throws a one two combo.
Ryo Kawamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Kawamura.
Stamenov dives in for a single leg takedown but Kawamura sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kawamura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kawamura is looking to clinch but Stamenov is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamenov tries to clinch there but Kawamura circles away.
Stamenov fails with the takedown.
Miki Stamenov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawamura throws the left hand but Stamenov avoids the punch easily.
Kawamura throws a jab but it's blocked by Stamenov.
Stamenov connects with a jab.
Kawamura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stamenov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stamenov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kawamura.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Miki Stamenov.
I think Stamenov 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Miki Stamenov!