PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Killua Zoldyck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kagami Taiga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kagami Taiga has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zoldyck
vs
Taiga

180 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Killua Zoldyck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kagami Taiga!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taiga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zoldyck is fending him off so far but Taiga persists. Nope, Zoldyck circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Taiga as Zoldyck shoots in.
Taiga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zoldyck is defended easily by Taiga.
Zoldyck changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taiga tries to avoid it but Zoldyck manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taiga to the ground. Taiga escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Killua Zoldyck. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taiga tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zoldyck sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Taiga somewhat.
Zoldyck really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taiga tries to clinch but Zoldyck moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zoldyck is defended easily by Taiga.

Taiga dives in and scores a takedown into Zoldyck's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taiga prevents Zoldyck from getting back to his feet.
Taiga loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Zoldyck escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taiga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taiga stopping the sweep attempt from Zoldyck.
Taiga stays in close to Zoldyck's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taiga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zoldyck looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taiga is one step ahead there.
Zoldyck is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taiga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Taiga throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyck tries to stand but Taiga is controlling from the bottom.

Taiga throws his legs up looking for a submission but Zoldyck uses it to pass to side control.
Taiga can't do much from the bottom here.
Zoldyck tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyck takes a little break here. Taiga wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Taiga is trying to get back to half guard.

Zoldyck goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Taiga rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zoldyck's guard! Nice work there by Taiga!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zoldyck is controlling Taiga's posture.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zoldyck trying to keep a closed guard but Taiga is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kagami Taiga will probably get the nod.
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.

Zoldyck pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taiga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zoldyck is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taiga sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Killua Zoldyck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zoldyck tries to close the distance and clinch but Taiga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zoldyck moves in looking to clinch but Taiga pushes him off.

Taiga drives through with a takedown into Zoldyck's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Taiga content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zoldyck can't keep his opponent in guard - Taiga advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taiga seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Taiga content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyck is looking to control Taiga's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zoldyck avoid being mounted?
Zoldyck wants to get back to full guard.

Taiga is looking for a kimura but Zoldyck is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Taiga to get the leverage.
Zoldyck is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Taiga throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zoldyck is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Zoldyck trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zoldyck is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taiga pulls his head out easily.
Taiga trying to control the action but Zoldyck is working from the bottom.
Taiga with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kagami Taiga wasn't active enough on the ground.

Zoldyck drives through with a takedown into guard.
Taiga managing to control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taiga can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taiga wants to get back to his feet but Zoldyck is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyck wanted to stand there but Taiga had control of the position.
Zoldyck tries to free his leg and advance position but Taiga is retaining full guard.
Taiga is adopting a defensive guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Taiga trying to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kagami Taiga hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Zoldyck gets caught napping as Taiga dives in and scores a takedown. Zoldyck manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taiga preventing the sweep.
Zoldyck is looking to stand up but Taiga isn't so interested in that idea.
Taiga passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taiga wants to get back to his feet.
Taiga passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Zoldyck!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kagami Taiga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taiga looking to score a takedown here. Zoldyck is defending well but Taiga drives through and ends up in Zoldyck's guard.
Zoldyck being controlled here, momentarily.
Kagami Taiga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taiga is looking to pass into half guard but Zoldyck pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Zoldyck is in guard.
Taiga looking for a sweep. Not yet Taiga, not yet.
Taiga can't keep his opponent in guard - Zoldyck advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Taiga regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoldyck wants to control from the top but Taiga keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zoldyck accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zoldyck throwing strikes but missing.
Taiga wants to get back to his feet but Zoldyck is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zoldyck works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyck trying to control the action but Taiga is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zoldyck is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Taiga doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zoldyck.
Zoldyck seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Taiga tries to get to full guard but Zoldyck has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoldyck trying to control the action but Taiga is working from the bottom.
Taiga trying to hold on to Zoldyck's head to control him but Zoldyck postures up.
Zoldyck looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zoldyck is looking to take a break and control but Taiga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Killua Zoldyck wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Zoldyck shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taiga keeping moving, preventing Zoldyck from controlling successfully.
Zoldyck postures up.
Taiga keeping moving, preventing Zoldyck from controlling successfully.
Zoldyck has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Taiga is proving hard to escape from.
Zoldyck stops Taiga from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Killua Zoldyck has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zoldyck will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Killua Zoldyck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kagami Taiga is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Taiga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Killua Zoldyck.
Well Taiga 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kagami Taiga!