PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kotaro Minamino (ranked 24656 p4p, 24937 weight class) and Joe Legend (ranked 668 p4p, 649 weight class). Kotaro Minamino could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Legend's chin.

Minamino
vs
Legend

176 cm
19
155
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
155
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Minamino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Legend!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legend stuffs the takedown.
Minamino looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Legend shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Minamino but Minamino pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Minamino closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Legend did well to prevent Minamino getting side control.
Legend is positioning himself well to prevent Minamino advancing to mount.

Minamino is looking for a kimura here.

Minamino is looking for a kimura but Legend is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Minamino to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legend trying to control but Minamino postures up.
Legend slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legend wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Minamino preventing the sweep.
Legend pulls Minamino in close to prevent any damage.
Legend trying to keep a closed guard but Minamino is proving a slippery customer.
Legend wants to stand but Minamino is controlling the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Minamino is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Legend is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Legend has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Legend throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Legend controls from within his opponent's guard.

Minamino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Minamino looking for a guillotine here but Legend defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minamino is working an open guard so Legend takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Legend looks to land a combination but Minamino avoids it well.
Legend lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Legend stalks Minamino and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Minamino's face. Minamino staggers backwards, shaken.
Legend closes the distance and clinches up with Minamino, looking for a takedown. Legend pushes Minamino against the cage but Minamino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Legend closes the distance and clinches.
Legend is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Minamino gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kotaro Minamino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Legend.
Legend has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Minamino avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Legend prevents the takedown attempt.
Minamino tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legend goes for a takedown in the clinch but Minamino prevents it.
Legend drops down looking for an ankle pick but Minamino pulls his leg out and moves away.
Legend shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Minamino sprawls well. Minamino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Legend gets slowly back to his feet.
Minamino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Minamino shoots in and drives through. Legend sprawls well.

Minamino tries to keep at a distance but Legend has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legend tries for a takedown. No joy.
Minamino jumps guard but Legend stands there with Minamino around his waist. Minamino gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Legend dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Legend closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Legend is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Minamino stops a takedown attempt from Legend.
Minamino tries to pull guard but Legend holds him up against the cage and eventually Minamino drops back down to his feet.
Legend has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Minamino is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kotaro Minamino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Legend.
Legend tries for a takedown but Minamino manages to get underhooks.
Legend gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Minamino.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Legend takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Legend drops down looking for an ankle pick but Minamino pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minamino tries to keep at a distance but Legend has taken the fight into the clinch.
Minamino tries to pull guard but Legend won't allow it.
Legend leaning his opponent against the cage.

Legend manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Legend manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Minamino manages to get himself to full guard.

Minamino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legend trying to control the position from guard on top but Minamino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Minamino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Minamino looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Legend passes into half guard.
Legend missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Minamino looking for submissions off his back.

Minamino actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Legend in particular looking to stall.
Legend is trying to control the action in half guard but Minamino is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Minamino actively working from the bottom here.
Minamino tries to get to full guard but Legend has control of the leg.
Legend is controlling the pace.
Legend prevents Minamino from improving his position.

That's four 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.

Minamino looking for submissions off his back.

Minamino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Legend performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Legend's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Legend duly obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Legend showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Legend moves into the clinch successfully.
Minamino gets underhooks to prevent Legend's takedown attempt.
Minamino gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Legend.
Minamino is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kotaro Minamino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Legend.
Minamino tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Legend smiles and moves away.
Minamino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut there from Legend.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Legend throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Minamino.
Minamino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Legend.
Legend throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legend shoots for a double leg takedown but Minamino sprawls well. He's pushed Legend's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Legend has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minamino slips a jab and a cross from Legend.
Minamino definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A cross from Legend lands.
Legend shoots in for a double leg but Minamino sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Minamino moves out of range of the leg kick from Legend.
Some wild striking there from Legend.
Minamino has a takedown stuffed.

Legend rushes Minamino and presses him up against the cage.
Legend is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Legend has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Minamino after a bit of a struggle.
Minamino drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Legend gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legend successfully pulls guard.
Legend wants to stand up but Minamino is controlling him.

Minamino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Minamino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Minamino has gone for a leg lock! Legend slips out almost immediately though and dives into Minamino's guard.

Minamino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Legend gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legend sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Minamino looking for a guillotine here but Legend defends easily.

Minamino working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Legend has passed into half guard!
Joe Legend is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Legend perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Minamino is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Minamino is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Legend pulls his head out easily.
Legend seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Minamino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Minamino looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Legend comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Legend 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Legend!