PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Mccray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yu Oppenadai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mccray
vs
Oppenadai

154 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

172 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenny Mccray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yu Oppenadai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mccray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Oppenadai swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Oppenadai gets a clinch.
Oppenadai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mccray is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mccray has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Oppenadai after a bit of a struggle.
Mccray tries a body shot but Oppenadai blocks it.
Mccray is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Mccray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mccray is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mccray is trying to pull guard but Oppenadai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccray has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Oppenadai is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Oppenadai lands a takedown into guard.
Oppenadai controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Oppenadai preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccray throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mccray working a defensive guard here.
Oppenadai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Oppenadai landing some decent shots from guard.
Mccray is pulling down on Oppenadai's head to control his posture.
Oppenadai tries to stand but Mccray is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mccray tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Oppenadai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oppenadai dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Oppenadai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Oppenadai gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mccray could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Oppenadai has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mccray regains guard immediately.
Oppenadai works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mccray might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mccray is looking to control Oppenadai's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mccray avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oppenadai prevents Mccray from improving his position.
Mccray keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mccray punching from the bottom.

Oppenadai is looking for a kimura here.
Mccray punching from the bottom.

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.
Mccray is trying to control but can't.
Mccray is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Oppenadai performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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

Oppenadai has Mccray up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oppenadai breaks from the clinch.
Oppenadai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yu Oppenadai dominated that round.
That's time! Mccray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oppenadai lands a two punch combo.
Oppenadai works Mccray's body with a nice hook.

Oppenadai drives through with a takedown into Mccray's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Oppenadai throws a strike but Mccray rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mccray has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Oppenadai is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccray is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mccray preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccray would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Oppenadai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mccray has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Oppenadai is proving hard to escape from.
Mccray sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yu Oppenadai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Oppenadai has managed to clinch.
Mccray tries to circle away but Oppenadai has him pinned against the cage.
Mccray is trying to push Oppenadai away but Oppenadai has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Oppenadai keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mccray's efforts to push away.
Mccray has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Oppenadai after a bit of a struggle.
Mccray drops down looking for an ankle pick but Oppenadai pulls his leg out and moves away.

Oppenadai closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccray is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenny Mccray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mccray controlling the action here for a moment.
Mccray is trying to break the clinch but Oppenadai has him pressed against the cage.

Oppenadai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mccray tries to close the distance and clinch up but Oppenadai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oppenadai doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Mccray gets tackled into the cage by Oppenadai. Oppenadai maintains the clinch.
Come on Oppenadai - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oppenadai pulls Mccray into guard.

Mccray decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Oppenadai, up you get!

Oppenadai clinches.

Oppenadai ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Oppenadai no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Oppenadai is trying to control the position but Mccray postures up.

Mccray stands up and waves to Oppenadai to follow him.

Oppenadai takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yu Oppenadai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Oppenadai has managed to clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Oppenadai.
Mccray just leaning against Oppenadai, taking a breather.
Oppenadai prevents Mccray from breaking the clinch.

Oppenadai manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Oppenadai.
Oppenadai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mccray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oppenadai moves into the clinch successfully.

Oppenadai breaks the clinch.
Mccray is looking to clinch but Oppenadai is avoiding it.
Mccray 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oppenadai throws a head kick that half lands.

Oppenadai closes the distance and pushes Mccray back into the cage.
Mccray has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Oppenadai after a bit of a struggle.
A short body shot lands from Oppenadai as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Oppenadai on the inside.

Mccray successfully pulls guard.
Mccray tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mccray looking for a guillotine here but Oppenadai defends easily.
Mccray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oppenadai not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Oppenadai wants to get up but he can't break Mccray's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mccray lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Oppenadai looking for a sweep. Not yet Oppenadai, not yet.
Yu Oppenadai has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mccray stands and steps away. Oppenadai gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Oppenadai throws a series of punches but Mccray avoids them all with ease.
Mccray attempts a counter takedown but Oppenadai avoids it well and moves away.

Oppenadai has Mccray up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mccray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mccray showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Oppenadai.
Mccray misses the shot to the body.
Oppenadai is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Oppenadai has closed the distance and engaged Mccray in a clinch.
Mccray working hard to break the clinch.

Oppenadai breaks the clinch.
Mccray tries to clinch up but Oppenadai circles away and keeps his distance.
Oppenadai wants to counter the offense by Mccray and move into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mccray tries to clinch up.
Oppenadai throws a head kick that Mccray semi-blocks.
Oppenadai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oppenadai lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Oppenadai!

Oppenadai moves into range and clinches up with Mccray.
Mccray is trying to pull guard but Oppenadai turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mccray swings wildly with an uppercut but Oppenadai uses good head movement to avoid it.

Oppenadai lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yu Oppenadai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Oppenadai 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yu Oppenadai!