PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henry Pollock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurogane Kawasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kawasaki's choice of entrance music: Eminem - Go to Sleep. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Pollock
vs
Kawasaki

174 cm
26
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

164 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Henry Pollock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurogane Kawasaki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pollock closes the distance and pushes Kawasaki back into the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Kawasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kawasaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pollock is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kawasaki is trying to push Pollock away but Pollock has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Pollock pulls guard.
Kawasaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kawasaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Pollock has wrist control.
Kawasaki wants to stand and escape but instead Pollock has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Pollock is looking to work some ground and pound but Kawasaki has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pollock won't allow Kawasaki to sweep him here.
Kawasaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pollock sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pollock continues to stall.
Kawasaki is trying to keep Pollock in close.
Pollock slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kawasaki is trying to control the position but Pollock postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pollock is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kawasaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kawasaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kawasaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Pollock tries to sprawl out of it but Kawasaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Pollock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pollock takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pollock, as that shot connected.
Kawasaki throws a head kick that misses.
Kawasaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kawasaki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pollock pinned against the ropes. Pollock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henry Pollock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurogane Kawasaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock throws a right and a left that Kawasaki avoids nicely.
Kawasaki closes the distance and clinches up with Pollock, looking for a takedown. Kawasaki pushes Pollock against the ropes but Pollock circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pollock throwing a counter right hand but Kawasaki manages to avoid it.
Kawasaki looks winded!
Kawasaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pollock avoids the head kick by Kawasaki.
Pollock lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Pollock thuds a left hand into Kawasaki's body.

Pollock fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kawasaki, pushing him back against the ropes.
Pollock wants a takedown.
Kawasaki is trying to break free.
Kawasaki looking to stall.
Pollock jumps guard but Kawasaki stands there with Pollock around his waist. Pollock gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pollock has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kawasaki uses from the top position.
Pollock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pollock controlling Kawasaki's posture.
Kawasaki trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pollock's guard.
Pollock trying to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pollock tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Pollock dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kawasaki wants to clinch
and Pollock counters with a straight right hand.
Pollock rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kawasaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kawasaki goes for a double leg but Pollock avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Pollock continues to drive forward.
Pollock with a jab.
A jab from Kawasaki finds it's way through Pollock's defenses.
Pollock blocks a head kick by Kawasaki.
Pollock 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.
Pollock slips a jab and a cross from Kawasaki.
The fighters circling - Pollock throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry Pollock is winning the standup battle so far.

Pollock closes the distance and pushes Kawasaki back into the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pollock jumps guard.
Kawasaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Kawasaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kawasaki trying to control but Pollock is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawasaki looking to sit in guard and control but Pollock gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pollock is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kawasaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pollock works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kawasaki is looking to escape.
Kawasaki blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pollock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawasaki is looking to escape.
Pollock not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pollock in particular looking to stall.
Pollock's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kawasaki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock controls from within his opponent's guard.

Pollock drops back looking for a leg! Kawasaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kawasaki manages to kick Pollock off! Pollock jumps back into Kawasaki's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kawasaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kawasaki's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kawasaki duly obliges.
Pollock is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kawasaki can do to turn this around?
Kawasaki takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pollock jabs at Kawasaki's body.
Henry Pollock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kawasaki is breathing heavily.
Kawasaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry Pollock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pollock takes the fight into the clinch.
Pollock is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pollock tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kawasaki smiles and moves away.
Kawasaki throws a head kick but Pollock moves out of range.
Pollock seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kawasaki throws a sloppy head kick

so Pollock counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kawasaki is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pollock dives into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pollock is trying to get an arm triangle but Kawasaki is defending well.
Pollock in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Pollock dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pollock throws a combination. Kawasaki tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kawasaki shoots in and drives through. Pollock sprawls well.
Kawasaki throws a body shot but no joy.
Pollock looks to land a right hand but Kawasaki moved out of range.
Pollock avoids the head kick by Kawasaki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawasaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawasaki throws a nice looking combination but Pollock bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Pollock gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pollock drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Pollock pulls Kawasaki into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pollock scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kawasaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawasaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kawasaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pollock counters with a straight right hand.
Pollock is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kawasaki misses with the combination.
Pollock dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kawasaki. That did some damage!
Kawasaki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pollock counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Pollock has closed the distance and engaged Kawasaki in a clinch.
Pollock tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kawasaki smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pollock lands with a shot to the body.
Kawasaki shoots in for a double leg but Pollock sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pollock fails to land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pollock closes the distance and pushes Kawasaki back into the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pollock.
Pollock is trying to pull guard but Kawasaki has him pressed against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henry Pollock. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pollock gets control of Kawasaki's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pollock will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pollock seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kawasaki with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pollock pulls Kawasaki in close to his closed guard and prevents Kawasaki from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pollock is on top in guard.

The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Pollock sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kurogane Kawasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kawasaki has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pollock off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kawasaki throws a nice head kick!
Pollock throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Pollock catches Kawasaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Henry Pollock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters circling a little - Pollock finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Pollock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pollock has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Pollock!