PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sheldon Robinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuki Katsuo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sheldon Robinson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Robinson
vs
Katsuo

188 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sheldon Robinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazuki Katsuo!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robinson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Katsuo as he jumps to the side.

Katsuo rushes Robinson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Robinson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Katsuo moves in looking to clinch but Robinson pushes him off.
Katsuo tries to clinch but Robinson is having none of it.

Katsuo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Robinson trying to control from the bottom.
Katsuo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robinson is looking to control Katsuo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Robinson avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Katsuo in particular looking to stall.
Katsuo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Robinson defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson is staying active underneath Katsuo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
It looks like Katsuo is going to stand back up.
Robinson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Katsuo.
Robinson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Katsuo stands up from half guard.
Robinson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Katsuo misses with the combination.

Katsuo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Robinson on his heels. He'll look to pass Robinson's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson controls Katsuo momentarily but Katsuo frees himself.
Katsuo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Robinson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Katsuo stopping the sweep attempt from Robinson.
Katsuo throwing strikes from guard but Robinson blocks nicely.
Katsuo postures up.
Robinson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katsuo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsuo throws a strike but Robinson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Katsuo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Robinson throwing strikes from guard but Katsuo blocks nicely.
Robinson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Robinson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Robinson preventing the sweep.
Robinson wants to control from the top but Katsuo keeps moving.
Robinson with a nice head shot there.
Katsuo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Robinson is looking to work some ground and pound but Katsuo has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsuo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Katsuo tries to clinch up but Robinson circles away and keeps his distance.
Kazuki Katsuo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robinson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Katsuo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Robinson somewhat.

Katsuo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Robinson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Robinson manages to get back to half guard.
Robinson is looking for a sweep. Katsuo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Robinson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Robinson is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Katsuo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Katsuo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Robinson is trying to defend but Katsuo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Robinson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Robinson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Katsuo from controlling successfully.
Katsuo postures up in Robinson's guard and throws a big left but Robinson blocks it.
Robinson wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Robinson manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Katsuo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Robinson!
You can see the frustration on Robinson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
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.
Katsuo fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Katsuo just content to control the position.
Robinson holds on to Katsuo's head and controls the position momentarily.
Katsuo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robinson keeps working.
Robinson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Katsuo.

Katsuo stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Katsuo misses with a low kick.

That's two 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.
Robinson shoots in for a takedown but Katsuo shows good takedown defense.
Katsuo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Robinson wants to clinch.
Katsuo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Robinson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Katsuo moves into the clinch.

Katsuo has picked Robinson up - he's going for a ride! Katsuo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Katsuo is trying to control. Robinson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Robinson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kazuki Katsuo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Robinson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Katsuo.
Robinson pushes Katsuo off looking to stand but Katsuo dives back in and keeps control.

Katsuo is looking for a kimura but Robinson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Katsuo to get the leverage.
Robinson is looking to improve his position.
Katsuo thows a huge punch but Robinson dodges it nicely.
Robinson is looking to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Katsuo drives through and clinches with Robinson against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Katsuo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Robinson doesn't manage to clinch there - Katsuo circles away.
Katsuo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Robinson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Robinson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Robinson fails with the takedown
and Katsuo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Katsuo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Robinson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Katsuo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Katsuo throws an elbow but Robinson slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuki Katsuo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Robinson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Katsuo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Katsuo swings around for an armbar but Robinson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Katsuo's guard.
Robinson lands a couple of digs.
Robinson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Katsuo's head.
Katsuo keeping moving, preventing Robinson from controlling successfully.
Robinson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Robinson with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robinson lands a couple of digs.

Katsuo is looking for a triangle but Robinson pushes his legs off easily.
Katsuo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsuo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katsuo pulls Robinson in close to his closed guard and prevents Robinson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Robinson stays in close to Katsuo's body and controls the position.
Katsuo keeping moving, preventing Robinson from controlling successfully.
Katsuo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Katsuo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Katsuo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is looking to reverse the position.
Robinson manages to get back to half guard.
Robinson is looking to control Katsuo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Robinson avoid being mounted?
Katsuo is keen to just control but Robinson is a slippery customer.
Robinson manages to get to full guard.
Katsuo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson wants to stand up but Katsuo is controlling him.
Katsuo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Katsuo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Robinson checks a leg kick.
Katsuo cracks Robinson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Katsuo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kazuki Katsuo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Katsuo from controlling successfully.
Katsuo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Robinson has a closed guard, preventing Katsuo from standing up.
Robinson trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Robinson keeping moving, preventing Katsuo from controlling successfully.
Sheldon Robinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Robinson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuki Katsuo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Katsuo 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuki Katsuo!
Kazuki Katsuo took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.