PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Humpty Dumpty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaji Maruo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maruo has chosen Avril Lavigne - Hello Kitty as his entrance music. Kaji Maruo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dumpty
vs
Maruo

165 cm
18
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Humpty Dumpty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaji Maruo!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maruo slaps away a takedown attempt from Dumpty, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Maruo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dumpty's coaches at Body Pain_12elite_599$+VM have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maruo not doing much here.
Dumpty gets full guard.
Maruo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maruo wants to control from the top but Dumpty keeps moving.

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

Maruo closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maruo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Dumpty regains guard immediately.
Dumpty keeping moving, preventing Maruo from controlling successfully.
Maruo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Maruo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maruo preventing the sweep.
Dumpty on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dumpty tries to get out of the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Maruo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dumpty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kaji Maruo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Maruo throws a body punch but Dumpty moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty shoots in for a double leg but Maruo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dumpty slips a jab and a cross from Maruo.
Dumpty is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maruo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Humpty Dumpty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dumpty defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maruo.
Maruo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maruo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dumpty sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Maruo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaji Maruo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Maruo instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short uppercut from Maruo.
Dumpty gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maruo.
Maruo prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maruo turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maruo manages to end up in side control.
Maruo just content to control the position.
Dumpty is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Maruo working away.
Dumpty striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Dumpty is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dumpty wants to control but Maruo postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maruo trying to control the action but Dumpty is working from the bottom.
Dumpty tries to improve position but can't.
Maruo trying to control the position but Dumpty is working away.
Dumpty is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dumpty wants to control but Maruo postures up.
Maruo trying to control the position but Dumpty is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maruo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaji Maruo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maruo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dumpty's waist but Dumpty gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maruo off to one side.
Dumpty misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maruo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maruo throws a nice looking combination but Dumpty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maruo throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dumpty decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maruo's guard.
Dumpty missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Maruo wants to stand and escape but Dumpty is having none of it.
Dumpty scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dumpty stopping the sweep attempt from Maruo.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maruo is trying to keep Dumpty in close.
Dumpty scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dumpty lands a couple of digs.
Dumpty won't allow Maruo to sweep him here.
Dumpty is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Dumpty drops back, looking for a kneebar! Maruo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Maruo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Maruo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maruo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maruo is breathing heavily.
Dumpty is looking for a sweep.
Dumpty regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maruo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dumpty is staying active underneath Maruo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty is in trouble now - Maruo has advanced to mount!
Dumpty tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Maruo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Maruo has control of Dumpty's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Dumpty regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Dumpty is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maruo tries to control but Dumpty wriggling away.
Dumpty working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty tries to lock up and control but Maruo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dumpty tries to reverse the position but Maruo maintains control.
Dumpty tries to hold on but Maruo pushes him away.
Dumpty is working to get back to half guard.
Maruo takes Dumpty's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Dumpty is in trouble.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maruo is looking to control Dumpty but Dumpty is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humpty Dumpty dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Maruo doesn't manage to clinch there - Dumpty circles away.

Dumpty gets caught napping as Maruo dives in and scores a takedown. Dumpty manages to retain guard.
Maruo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dumpty swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maruo stays in close to Dumpty's body and controls the position.
Dumpty looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Maruo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Maruo trying to control but Dumpty is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kaji Maruo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Dumpty fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maruo dives in and scores a takedown into Dumpty's guard.
Maruo trying to control but Dumpty is working from the bottom.
Dumpty is striking from the bottom but Maruo uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Dumpty is refusing to be controlled, as Maruo sits in half guard.
Maruo is pressing down on Dumpty's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dumpty is holding on for now.
Dumpty is positioning himself well to prevent Maruo advancing to mount.
Maruo blocks the strikes from Dumpty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty is refusing to be controlled, as Maruo sits in half guard.
Dumpty is looking for a sweep. Maruo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Maruo content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kaji Maruo.
Maruo tries to clinch up but Dumpty circles away and keeps his distance.
Maruo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maruo tries to close the distance and clinch but Dumpty swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dumpty shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maruo sprawls well. Maruo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dumpty gets slowly back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dumpty keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maruo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty blocks a jab.
Maruo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dumpty's waist but Dumpty gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maruo off to one side.
Dumpty tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maruo swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Humpty Dumpty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dumpty swats away the attempt to clinch by Maruo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dumpty is defended easily by Maruo.
Maruo shoots in for a double leg but Dumpty sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maruo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dumpty scores with a takedown into Maruo's guard.
Dumpty has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dumpty postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maruo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dumpty chips away with some ground and pound.
Maruo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kaji Maruo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dumpty throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dumpty keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maruo's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dumpty trying to control the position from guard on top but Maruo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dumpty postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kaji Maruo.
Well Maruo 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kaji Maruo!