PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andr De Fran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Fran has chosen No Worries as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kato
vs
De Fran

176 cm
28
167 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

172 cm
28
158 lbs
18 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent
Perkele!

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenji Kato!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Andr De Fran!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Fran misses with an uppercut. Kato saw that one coming.
De Fran looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kato lands a jab to the head.
De Fran throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice body punch from De Fran.
Kato works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
De Fran connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kato's hands.
Kenji Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kato throws a looping overhand right but De Fran ducks down to avoid it.
Kato feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits De Frans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kato takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Fran wants to clinch up but Kato keeps it at a distance.
De Fran fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
De Fran works the jab nicely.

Kato closes the distance and pushes De Fran back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fran blocks an uppercut.
Kato keeps control of De Fran as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kato is looking to break free of the clinch but De Fran has double underhooks.
De Fran dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kato stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kato misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kato.
Kato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
De Fran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kato avoids it.
Kato can't find room to land a body shot as De Fran controls the action.
Kato just leaning against De Fran, taking a breather.
Kato scores with a nice hook to the head.
De Fran lands an elbow that stopped Kato in his tracks for a moment.
A nice left hand lands by Kato.
De Fran blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Fran tries to throw a body punch but Kato avoids it by throwing De Fran back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Fran tries to land knees in the clinch but Kato avoids the damage to the body.
De Fran blocks an uppercut.
Kato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as De Fran takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kato has De Fran pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from De Fran.
Kato's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
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!
Kato wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
De Fran doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De Fran as Kato tries to tie him up.
Kato misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by De Fran.
De Fran is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kato is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fran wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kato has him pressed against the cage.
Kato works on De Fran's body with a couple of short punches.
Kato tries to circle away but De Fran has him pinned against the cage.
De Fran misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kato.
Kato scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Kato.
Kato lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
De Fran misses with an uppercut. Kato saw that one coming.
Both fighters circling a little - Kato finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kato jabs De Fran right on the nose. De Fran blinks but takes it well.
De Fran avoids a kick to the body.
Despite the aggression on De Fran's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kato. De Fran does a little dance to reset his feet.
De Fran misses with a left hand
and Kato counters with a stiff right hand.
Kato blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kato connects with a body shot.
De Fran staying out of range there.
Kato sets himself, and De Fran steps forward looking for the clinch! Kato avoids it this time.
Kato is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Kato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
De Fran misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kato makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kato is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by De Fran.
Kato wants to land a leg kick but De Fran is out of range.
Kato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
De Fran takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
De Fran blocks the body kick.
Kato throws a wild body kick that De Fran sees coming a mile off.
De Fran throws out a counter right but Kato avoids it with no problem.
A lazy body kick from Kato
and De Fran counters with a one-two to the body.
Kato throws a shot from downtown. De Fran moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Kato dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

De Fran misses with a body kick.
Kato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kato has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kato tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and De Fran is able to avoid easily.
A slow jab from Kato misses its intended target.
Kato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Fran.
De Fran missing with a left hand there. Kato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
De Fran looks to land a body kick but Kato moved away.
Kato turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kato throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kato. De Fran does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kato throws a head kick that misses.
Kato throws a poor cross that misses
and De Fran counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
De Fran throws a wild body kick that Kato sees coming a mile off.
Kenji Kato is winning the standup battle so far.
De Fran is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kato.
Kato digs a good hook to De Fran's body.
De Fran fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kato is out of range.
Kato takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kato connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
De Fran throws a head kick but Kato moves out of range.
Kato throws a sloppy head kick and De Fran moves out of range easily.
Kato attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
De Fran lands a leg kick that knocks Kato off balance momentarily.
De Fran misses with a leg kick
and Kato counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from De Fran. Kato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kato dodges the punch combination from De Fran.
De Fran gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Kato clinches up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Fran tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kato avoids it.
De Fran is trying to maintain a safe position but Kato gets an underhook and turns De Fran into the cage.
Kenji Kato has scored more points in the clinch so far.
De Fran lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
De Fran lands on the inside with an uppercut.
De Fran has had enough of the clinch but Kato keeps him there for the moment.
De Fran prevents a body shot from Kato.
Kato blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice glancing elbow lands by De Fran.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kato.
Kato misses with a punch on the inside.
Kato misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Kato - that landed with a thud.
De Fran avoiding damage.
Kato is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kato lands a right hand that snaps the head of De Fran backwards.
Kato tries to work over De Fran's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kato tries a body shot but De Fran blocks it.
De Fran slows down the pace here.
De Fran is working Kato over against the cage.
Kato is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kato manages to break the clinch.
Kato throws a lazy body kick

and De Fran counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by De Fran.
A hook to the body from Kato.
Still in the clinch, Kato scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kato taking a breather.
Kato misses with a body punch.
De Fran working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
De Fran misses with an elbow strike.
Kato is working for takedown but De Fran is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kato blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
De Fran is trying to break the clinch but Kato is controlling him.
Kato swings wildly with an uppercut but De Fran uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kato lands with a thumping leg kick.
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 Kenji Kato will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

De Fran misses with a right hand
and Kato counters with a left to the body.
De Fran ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kato moves away.
Kato thumps De Fran with a low kick.
Kato stuns De Fran with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kato.
Kato misses with a hook.
De Fran is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kato with a body shot.
De Fran throws a head kick that misses.
Kato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before De Fran can pounce on him.
De Fran takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato thows a left - swing and a miss!
De Fran lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kato.
Kato misses with an uppercut. De Fran saw that one coming.
Kato throws a low kick but it's checked well by De Fran.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fran needs to keep his hands up - Kato had a free shot at his head there.
De Fran throws a body kick that misses.
De Fran scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
De Fran takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kato throws an off balance right hand
and De Fran counters with a left to the body.
Kato tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
De Fran swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Fran ducks under a wild hook from Kato.
De Fran now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
De Fran misses with a body shot.
De Fran's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kato throws a shot from downtown. De Fran moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut lands for Kato. That snapped De Fran's head back.
A low kick from Kato is predictable there
and De Fran counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Fran on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
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!
Kato throws a lazy body kick
and De Fran counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kato misses the shot to the body.
De Fran slips under a jab.
De Fran misses with a hook to the body
and Kato counters with a nice uppercut.
De Fran tries to close the distance and clinch but Kato swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donk. Kato catches De Fran right on the button with a cross.

Kato moves into the clinch successfully.
Kato lands an uppercut.
Kato tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. De Fran smiles and moves away.
Kato lands a jab to De Fran's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fran throws a head kick that Kato semi-blocks.
Kato fakes a jab and throws a low kick but De Fran checks it well.
Kato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
De Fran misses with a hook
and Kato counters with a nice leg kick.
Kato will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kato slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
De Fran delivers a nice body kick.
Kato is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De Fran can do to turn this around?
Kato throws a hook but De Fran avoids it easily.
Kato scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kato throws a hook but De Fran avoids it easily.
Kato swings widly with a right hand
and De Fran counters with a lovely straight right hand!
De Fran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by De Fran - just one landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
De Fran takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
De Fran tries to land a front kick but Kato steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
De Fran dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kato. That did some damage!
Kato throws a nice outside leg kick.
De Fran misses with a head kick.
A shot to the liver by Kato. Beautiful body shot.
A punch combination from De Fran misses.
Nice body kick from Kato.
De Fran takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kato.
Kato connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Kato clearly takes that round.
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.

De Fran tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
De Fran looks for the body kick but Kato saw that one coming.
De Fran takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
De Fran tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A jab from Kato finds it's way through De Fran's defenses.
Kato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kato connects with a crisp jab.
Kato tests De Fran's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Fran lands with a right hand.
Kato throws the left hand but De Fran avoids the punch easily.
De Fran throws an overhand right that lands on Kato's shoulder, as Kato tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from De Fran misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Fran throws out a powerful jab.
Kato throws out a leg kick but De Fran moves out of range and Kato only half commits.
Kato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kato throws a predictable looking body shot
letting De Fran counter with a right hand.
De Fran takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
De Fran misses with a straight right.
Kato lands a nice shot to the body.
Kato misses with the body kick
and De Fran counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kato delivers a nice body kick.
Kato jabs De Fran to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato takes one on the chin but seems OK.
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!
Kato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract De Fran.
De Fran looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice body kick there by Kato.
Kato misses with a body kick.
De Fran misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
De Fran misses the jab.
De Fran misses with a straight left.
De Fran takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
De Fran lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kato with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
De Fran changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
De Fran tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Fran throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
De Fran fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kato is out of range.
Kato takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kato misses with a looping right.
Kato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kato swings for the body but De Fran moves out of range.
Kato sets himself, and De Fran steps forward looking for the clinch! Kato avoids it this time.

Kato darts in and clinches De Fran up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kato.
Kato managing to block the knees to the body from De Fran.
Kato lands a hook that snaps the head of De Fran backwards.
De Fran throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from De Fran.
Kato has De Fran pressed against the cage, preventing De Fran from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato is trying to push De Fran away but De Fran has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kato is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
De Fran stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
De Fran goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
De Fran misses with a shot to the kidneys.
De Fran looking to slow down the pace here.
Kato tries to circle away but De Fran has him pinned against the cage.
De Fran has Kato pressed against the cage, preventing Kato from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
De Fran misses with a punch on the inside.
De Fran has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kato.

De Fran breaks from the clinch.
De Fran tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Fran on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
De Fran keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Kato had his way with Andr De Fran in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kato misses with a wild body shot.
De Fran connects with a right hand. Kato shakes it off.
Kato works De Fran's body with a nice hook.
Kato connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kato.
Kato misses with a body punch
and De Fran counters with a good low kick that Kato was not able to check.
Kato throws a leg kick but De Fran sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kato walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. De Fran checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kato scores with a shot to the body.
De Fran throws a body shot but no joy.
De Fran is looking to slow Kato down with leg kicks.
Kato stuns De Fran with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from De Fran. That one must have hurt.
Kato takes a jab right on the kisser.
De Fran ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
De Fran flicks out a counter leg kick but Kato steps away.
De Fran throws a jab but it's blocked by Kato.
Kato checks a low kick from De Fran.
Kato lands a nice hook to De Fran's body. De Fran takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
De Fran slips a straight right by Kato.
De Fran looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kato ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
De Fran tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kato wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Fran lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kato takes a step back to recover.
De Fran connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kato's hands.
De Fran throws a hook but Kato blocks it.
Andr De Fran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Fran has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kato's corner calls for a 1-2. Kato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Fran scores with a leg kick.
Kato misses with a body shot
and De Fran counters with a slapping leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kato.
Kato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
De Fran fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kato lands with a nice body kick.
Kato throws a solid leg kick but De Fran takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kato.
De Fran misses with a straight left.
Kato lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Fran at a distance.
De Fran scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Kato is rocked!
De Fran throws a head kick but Kato moves out of range.
Oh Kato is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
De Fran is looking to slow Kato down with leg kicks.
Kato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kato seems to have got his legs back now.
Kato lands a leg kick that knocks De Fran off balance momentarily.
Kato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but De Fran was well out of range. Poor timing from Kato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from De Fran. Kato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kato throws a low kick but De Fran avoids it.
Kato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from De Fran.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kato misses with a looping right.
Kato throws a nice looking combination but De Fran bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
De Fran scores with a hook to the body. Kato takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Fran throws out the jab.
De Fran throws a body shot but no joy.
De Fran digs a good body shot into Kato's ribs.
Kenji Kato is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Fran.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andr De Fran.
I think Kato has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 49:46
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Kato!
Kenji Kato retains his lightweight title!
An out of breath Kenji Kato thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.