|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Dong (ranked 5422 p4p, 516 weight class) and Sakuraba Kagawa (ranked 24993 p4p, 619 weight class). Sakuraba Kagawa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
 |
|
 |
| 186 cm
26
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0 |
|
199 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 5 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin |
|
BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed |
|
| |
|
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Franklin Dong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sakuraba Kagawa!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kagawa wants to clinch but Dong slips to the side
and Dong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kagawa wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Dong manages to pass to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dong is taking a breather. Kagawa says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dong stands up out of the half guard.
Kagawa tries to clinch up but Dong circles away and keeps his distance.
Kagawa is looking to clinch.
Dong went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kagawa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kagawa gets tackled into the cage by Dong. Dong maintains the clinch.
Kagawa has Dong pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dong manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've been hearing reports that Dong has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dong manages to break the clinch.
Kagawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Dong sprawls well. He's pushed Kagawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kagawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Dong circles away.
Dong does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dong appears to be looking for a big counter.
Kagawa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dong looks for the body kick but Kagawa saw that one coming.
Dong is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kagawa's half guard.
Dong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kagawa's head.
Dong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dong gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Dong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dong is working for a kimura but Kagawa is defending it quite comfortably.
Well, if Dong is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kagawa to stand up.
Kagawa throws a series of punches but Dong moves out of range.
Dong seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kagawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kagawa tries to clinch up but Dong circles away and keeps his distance.
Kagawa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kagawa darts in trying to clinch
and Dong counters with a single leg into guard. Kagawa didn't expect that.
Dong is standing up over Kagawa. Kagawa looks to escape but Dong dives into side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kagawa trying his best to control but Dong has mounted him.
Dong takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dong sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kagawa blocking the ground and pound.
Dong controlling the position easily from mount.
Kagawa is trying to reverse the position but instead Dong has taken his back - oops!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa showing good submission defense here.
Dong throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Dong has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Dong somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Franklin Dong dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Kagawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dong rushes Kagawa and presses him up against the cage.
Dong wants the takedown. Kagawa is fighting it off but Dong persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kagawa's guard against the cage.
Kagawa is looking for a triangle here but Dong uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Dong has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kagawa gets caught napping as Dong dives in and scores a takedown. Kagawa manages to retain guard.
Dong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kagawa, up you get!
Dong fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kagawa sprawls well initially but Dong persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kagawa scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Dong manages to mount him!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kagawa tries to reverse the position but Dong maintains control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Dong takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dong throws some wild stikes that Kagawa manages to avoid easily.
Kagawa wants to control but Dong is having none of it.
Kagawa blocking the ground and pound.
Kagawa has given up his back here. Will Dong look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Dong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kagawa can do to turn this around?
Dong has good solid back control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dong working for a choke but Kagawa is defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Dong is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kagawa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Kagawa trying to get back to his feet but Dong is in full control for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kagawa has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Dong gets his hands free as Kagawa looks to control.
Franklin Dong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kagawa preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dong.
I would not like to be Kagawa right now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dong working for a choke but Kagawa is defending well.
Dong is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Kagawa defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dong punches the canvas rather than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Franklin Dong dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Kagawa throws a sloppy head kick
and Dong holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dong tries to circle away but Kagawa has him pinned against the cage.
Dong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Dong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kagawa or perhaps it was just good defense by Dong, which made it look bad.
Kagawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Dong wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kagawa closes the distance but Dong moves to the side
and Dong counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kagawa!
Dong decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kagawa is looking to clinch but Dong is avoiding it.
Kagawa cracks Dong with a good jab.
Dong scores with a takedown into Kagawa's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dong's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dong gets to his feet. Kagawa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sakuraba Kagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dong clinches up against the cage.
Kagawa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kagawa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dong gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kagawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dong's efforts to push away.
Kagawa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dong manages to break the clinch.
Kagawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dong throws a big counter combination but Kagawa scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kagawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kagawa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kagawa scores with a head kick.
Kagawa tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakuraba Kagawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kagawa throws a sloppy head kick
and Dong counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kagawa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kagawa won't be happy with that.
Kagawa bucks up and tries to throw Dong off but instead Dong has got his back!
Kagawa is rocked!
Kagawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kagawa is still in real trouble! Can Dong finish him?
Dong looking for the choke but no joy.
Kagawa seems to have recovered his senses.
You can see the frustration on Kagawa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Kagawa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Dong has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kagawa's body.
Dong is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
I would not like to be Kagawa right now.
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.
Dong misses with a punch to the head.
Dong is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Dong missing with strikes from the back.
Sakuraba Kagawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklin Dong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
You can see the frustration on Kagawa's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that's the end of the fight!
Franklin Dong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dong, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklin Dong!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
46% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
