PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Osamu Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Durden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durden has chosen Where is my mind 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.

Kawajiri
vs
Durden

171 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

175 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Osamu Kawajiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tyler Durden!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Durden.
Kawajiri drops Durden with a beautiful combination! Durden stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kawajiri is looking for the KO!
Kawajiri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Durden wants to clinch.

Durden closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kawajiri wants a takedown.
A short right from Kawajiri.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kawajiri lands a left hand.

Durden manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Durden shoots in and drives through. Kawajiri sprawls well.
Durden changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kawajiri tries to avoid it but Durden manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kawajiri to the ground. Kawajiri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durden tries a head kick but it misses.
Kawajiri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Durden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawajiri misses with a series of wild punches.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that Durden avoids nicely.
Kawajiri tries for a takedown but Durden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Durden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Durden misses with a takedown attempt - Kawajiri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Osamu Kawajiri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Durden.
Durden on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri tries for a takedown but Durden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kawajiri moves out of range of the body kick.
Durden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kawajiri darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kawajiri is breathing heavily.
Durden is looking to improve his position.
Kawajiri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kawajiri prevents Durden from standing back up.
Durden wants to get back to full guard.

Kawajiri is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden tries to roll over but Kawajiri keeps him under control.
Durden is looking to escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Durden closes the distance and pushes Kawajiri back into the cage.

Kawajiri breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kawajiri looks to clinch

and Durden counters by clinching up.

Durden breaks the clinch.
Durden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden shoots for a takedown but Kawajiri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Donk. Durden catches Kawajiri right on the button with a cross.
Kawajiri stuffs the takedown.
Durden tries to clinch up.
Durden throws a sloppy head kick and Kawajiri moves out of range easily.
Kawajiri shoots in but no luck this time.
Danga de danga de dang - Durden scores with a four punch combination!
Durden throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kawajiri's head.
Kawajiri tries to clinch but Durden moves out of range.
Kawajiri tries to bum rush Durden with a series of wild strikes but Durden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Durden shoots for a takedown but Kawajiri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kawajiri fails to land the takedown.
Durden throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kawajiri's head.
Durden throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kawajiri's waist but Kawajiri gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Durden off to one side.
Kawajiri lands with a straight right. Durden didn't see that one coming.
Kawajiri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Durden.
Kawajiri is looking to clinch but Durden is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Durden.
Kawajiri connects with a right hand. Durden shakes it off.
Kawajiri throws a chopping leg kick but Durden manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Decent striking displayed by Kawajiri there.
Durden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kawajiri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kawajiri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Durden.
Kawajiri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durden throws a sloppy head kick and Kawajiri moves out of range easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Durden.
Durden throws a head kick that misses

so Kawajiri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kawajiri decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good leg kick by Durden there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kawajiri blocks a head kick by Durden.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osamu Kawajiri 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.

Kawajiri wants to clinch up but Durden keeps it at a distance.
Kawajiri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Durden tries to avoid it but Kawajiri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Durden to the ground. Durden escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Durden misses with the combination.
Nice takedown defense from Durden. No joy for Kawajiri on that attempt.
Osamu Kawajiri is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Durden.
Durden plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Durden tries to bum rush Kawajiri with a series of wild strikes but Kawajiri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kawajiri blocks a head kick by Durden.
Durden circles away from the clinch attempt
and Durden counters with a three punch combo that has Kawajiri backing up. Kawajiri nods at Durden to acknowledge the strikes.
Durden shoots in for a double leg but Kawajiri sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kawajiri throws the kick towards the body but Durden avoids it.
Kawajiri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kawajiri wants to clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kawajiri.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri lands with a nice combination. Durden backs away looking to recover.
A head kick by Durden misses
and Kawajiri counters with a solid body kick.
Kawajiri throws a big shot that misses.
Horrible takedown by Durden or perhaps it was just good defense by Kawajiri which made him look bad.
Durden throws a head kick but Kawajiri moves out of range.

Durden has closed the distance and engaged Kawajiri in a clinch.

Kawajiri is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Durden can't fight it off and eventually Kawajiri manages to take the fight to the floor. Durden looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Durden keeping moving, preventing Kawajiri from controlling successfully.
Durden lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kawajiri!

Durden looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden is stalling here but it's allowed Kawajiri to get half guard.

Kawajiri pushes Durden off and gets back to his feet.
Durden throws a head kick that misses.
Durden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Durden tries a head kick but it misses.
Kawajiri keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Durden.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kawajiri blocks a head kick by Durden.
Kawajiri misses with a takedown attempt
and Durden counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osamu Kawajiri. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Durden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kawajiri forces Durden back against the cage and clinches.

Durden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Durden lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kawajiri takes a step back to recover.
A head kick misses from Durden.
Durden throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kawajiri.
Kawajiri wants to clinch.
Durden stalks Kawajiri and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kawajiri's face. Kawajiri staggers backwards, shaken.
Kawajiri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Durden counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Durden tries a head kick but it misses.
Kawajiri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Durden.
Durden connects with a high kick.
A big left from Kawajiri misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Durden misses with a takedown attempt - Kawajiri sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Durden tries a head kick but it misses.

Kawajiri takes the fight into the clinch.

Durden breaks the clinch.
Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Durden as he avoids it easily.

Durden has Kawajiri up against the cage in a clinch.

Durden manages to break the clinch.
Kawajiri takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kawajiri takes a kick to the side of the head.
Durden shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kawajiri pinned against the cage. Kawajiri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Durden as Kawajiri shoots in.
Kawajiri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Durden.

Durden instigates a clinch.
Durden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kawajiri is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
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 Osamu Kawajiri will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kawajiri lands with a nice combination. Durden backs away looking to recover.
Kawajiri closes the distance and clinches up with Durden, looking for a takedown. Kawajiri pushes Durden against the cage but Durden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Durden as Kawajiri shoots in.
Durden throws a head kick but Kawajiri moves out of range.
Durden throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Durden has Kawajiri up against the cage in a clinch.

Durden breaks the clinch.
Durden throws a body punch but Kawajiri moves out of range.
Kawajiri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Durden tries to avoid it but Kawajiri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Durden to the ground. Durden escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osamu Kawajiri. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Durden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Durden lands with a kick to the temple. Kawajiri shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kawajiri misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Durden pushes Kawajiri up against the cage in a clinch.
Kawajiri wants to break free but Durden has control.

Durden breaks the clinch.
Durden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kawajiri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Durden throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Durden misses.
Horrible takedown by Kawajiri or perhaps it was just good defense by Durden which made him look bad.
Durden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kawajiri as he jumps to the side.
Durden shoots in but Kawajiri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawajiri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kawajiri lunges at Durden with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Durden's hand.
Durden misses with a head kick.
Kawajiri swinging wilding here.
Durden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kawajiri shoots in for a double leg but Durden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Durden throws a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri throws a series of punches but Durden moves out of range.
Kawajiri misses with the combination.
Durden throws a sloppy head kick and Kawajiri moves out of range easily.
Kawajiri looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Durden is fending him off so far but Kawajiri persists. Nope, Durden circles away and we're back to standing.
Kawajiri has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kawajiri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Durden.
Kawajiri shoots for a takedown but Durden saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kawajiri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Durden.
Durden tries a head kick but it misses.
Kawajiri throws a left and a right that both miss
and Durden counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Durden as Kawajiri shoots in.
Durden throws a sloppy head kick and Kawajiri moves out of range easily.
Durden swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Durden on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kawajiri. Kawajiri obviously looking to wear him down.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Durden.
Durden lands with a slapping head kick.
Durden misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kawajiri lands a two punch combo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Durden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Durden fails with the takedown.
Kawajiri moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice takedown defense from Kawajiri. No joy for Durden on that attempt.

Kawajiri moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kawajiri as Durden tries to tie him up.
Kawajiri is trying to break free.

Durden breaks from the clinch.
Durden tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kawajiri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kawajiri misses with a two punch combination.
Osamu Kawajiri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri tries to keep at a distance but Durden has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kawajiri stops a takedown attempt from Durden.
Durden is pressed up against the cage. Kawajiri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Durden down to the mat. Durden avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kawajiri blocks a head kick by Durden.
A right-left combo lands from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri throws a push kick but Durden slaps the foot to one side.
Durden throws a nice head kick!
Durden shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tyler Durden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kawajiri shoots in but no luck this time.
Durden throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kawajiri counters with a shoot takedown. Durden fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Kawajiri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Durden's head.
Durden throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durden wants to sweep here but Kawajiri controlling him for the moment.
Kawajiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Durden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Osamu Kawajiri.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kawajiri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Osamu Kawajiri!