PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Donde (ranked 407 p4p, 52 weight class) and Kendo Hirigushi (ranked 837 p4p, 115 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Donde
vs
Hirigushi

180 cm
23
155 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

181 cm
25
166 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymond Donde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kendo Hirigushi!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donde wants to clinch up but Hirigushi keeps it at a distance.
Hirigushi unleashes a big counter combination but Donde bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Donde tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hirigushi defends well and Donde ends up having to push Hirigushi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hirigushi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hirigushi stuffs the takedown.
Hirigushi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Donde has his takedown stuffed
and Hirigushi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymond Donde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donde fails with a takedown attempt.

Donde moves into range and clinches up with Hirigushi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donde lands a nice uppercut.
A short uppercut from Donde.

Hirigushi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hirigushi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Donde shoots in and gets a takedown into Hirigushi's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Donde drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hirigushi dives on top into guard.

Donde is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hirigushi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Donde's guard.

Hirigushi stands up from Donde's guard - Hirigushi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Donde doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hirigushi counters with a left and a right that stings Donde.
Donde looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hirigushi is fending him off so far but Donde persists. Nope, Hirigushi circles away and we're back to standing.
Donde with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hirigushi counters with a straight right hand.
Donde tries to clinch but Hirigushi moves away
and Hirigushi counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Donde moves in looking to clinch but Hirigushi pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donde tries to clinch but Hirigushi moves out of range.
Hirigushi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Donde with a poor takedown
letting Hirigushi counter with a right hand.

Oooooh!!! Hirigushi has knocked Donde down with a huge combo! Hirigushi steps away and waves a wobbly Donde back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Donde is rocked!
Hirigushi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Oh Donde is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hirigushi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Donde is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Donde closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hirigushi circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Donde.
Donde gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hirigushi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Donde fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hirigushi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Raymond Donde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donde fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hirigushi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Donde seems to have got his legs back now.
Donde misses with a takedown
and Hirigushi counters with a crisp right that sends Donde to the canvas! Hirigushi follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kendo Hirigushi!
Kendo Hirigushi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.