PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rene Jimenez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazu Kakihara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jimenez
vs
Kakihara

211 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rene Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazu Kakihara!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jimenez misses with the combination.
Kakihara tries a head kick but it misses.
Jimenez tries to counter with a takedown but Kakihara is quick to defend against it.
Kakihara fails to land with a series of punches.
Kakihara misses with a straight left.

Jimenez clinches with his opponent.

Jimenez breaks the clinch.
Kakihara misses with the body kick

and Jimenez counters by clinching up.
Kakihara is trying to maintain a safe position but Jimenez gets an underhook and turns Kakihara into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Jimenez lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kakihara backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jimenez misses with a knee to the head.
Kakihara tries to stall but Jimenez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jimenez lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Jimenez breaks from the clinch.
Kakihara throws a lazy head kick
and Jimenez counters with a three punch combo that has Kakihara backing up. Kakihara nods at Jimenez to acknowledge the strikes.

Jimenez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jimenez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jimenez working over Kakihara with some ground and pound. Kakihara looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jimenez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kakihara has hold of Jimenez's hands but Jimenez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jimenez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jimenez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jimenez in particular looking to stall.
Kakihara trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jimenez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kakihara gets full guard.
Jimenez throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kakihara wants to sweep here but Jimenez controlling him for the moment.
Jimenez throws a big elbow that misses.
Kakihara trying to keep a closed guard but Jimenez is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jimenez landing some decent shots from guard.
Jimenez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jimenez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kakihara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kakihara is trying to control the position but Jimenez postures up.
Jimenez lands a couple of digs.
Jimenez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kakihara is trying to keep Jimenez in close.
Jimenez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez won't allow Kakihara to sweep him here.
Kakihara bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jimenez's guard.

Kakihara stays in close to Jimenez's body and controls the position.
Kakihara looking to pass the guard.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Kakihara from controlling successfully.

Jimenez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kakihara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jimenez keeping full guard, as Kakihara tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakihara wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.
Jimenez being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Kakihara from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jimenez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Jimenez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kakihara fakes the leg kick and cracks Jimenez in the body.
A big left from Kakihara misses.
Jimenez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kakihara lands an overhand right.
Jimenez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kakihara can pounce on him.

Jimenez closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Jimenez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakihara throws a lazy right hand but Jimenez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jimenez seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kakihara looks for the body kick but Jimenez saw that one coming.
Jimenez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kakihara shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kakihara.
Kakihara tries to land a body kick

and Jimenez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jimenez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jimenez prevents Kakihara from improving his position.
Jimenez misses with a head shot. Kakihara uses the momentum to regain guard.
Jimenez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jimenez scoring with some ground and pound.
Kakihara is trying to keep Jimenez in close.
Jimenez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kakihara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jimenez.
Kakihara working a defensive guard here.
Jimenez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kakihara can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kakihara's head.
Jimenez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kakihara controls Jimenez momentarily but Jimenez frees himself.
Kakihara looking for a sweep. Not yet Kakihara, not yet.
Jimenez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jimenez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kakihara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jimenez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jimenez with a nice head shot there.
Jimenez stopping the sweep attempt from Kakihara.
Kakihara lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kakihara trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jimenez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jimenez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kakihara has picked Jimenez up and slammed him! Jimenez can't keep hold of the triangle and Kakihara manages to pass to side control!
Kakihara advances to mount.
Kakihara is trying to take his opponent's back.
Kakihara is stalling here but it's allowed Jimenez to get half guard.
Jimenez is trying to stand back up but Kakihara is controlling him
Kakihara moves into full mount! Jimenez won't be happy about that!
Kakihara trying to control but Jimenez is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kakihara might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jimenez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kazu Kakihara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kakihara throws a body kick that misses

and Jimenez counters with a takedown into side control.
Jimenez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Kakihara gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jimenez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jimenez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kakihara's head.
Jimenez is looking to take a break and control but Kakihara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jimenez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jimenez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kakihara trying to control but Jimenez postures up.
Kakihara is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jimenez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kakihara is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kakihara tries to get to full guard but Jimenez has control of the leg.
Rene Jimenez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kakihara is pressing down on Jimenez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jimenez throws a big elbow that misses.

Kakihara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jimenez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jimenez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jimenez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jimenez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kakihara keeping moving, preventing Jimenez from controlling successfully.
Jimenez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kakihara lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakihara wants to control from the top but Jimenez keeps moving.
Jimenez wants to stand up but Kakihara is controlling him.
Kakihara trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimenez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jimenez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kakihara.
Kakihara trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kakihara slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kakihara trying to control the position but Jimenez is working away.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jimenez avoids the head kick by Kakihara.
Kakihara throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jimenez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kakihara lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kakihara throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jimenez avoids a kick to the body.
Jimenez throws a big counter combination but Kakihara scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kakihara misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kazu Kakihara.
I think Kakihara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazu Kakihara!