PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kento Kawamata (ranked 908 p4p, 1115 weight class) and Jun Liu (ranked 132 p4p, 154 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kawamata
vs
Liu

189 cm
33
207
19 - 10 - 0

192 cm
30
199
13 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Kento Kawamata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jun Liu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kawamata throws a leg kick that misses.
Kawamata moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Liu misses with a series of wild punches.
Kawamata tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Kawamata.
Kawamata moves out of range of the body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Kawamata misses the target.
Liu defending well as Kawamata loads up on a big left hand.
Liu is looking for the big counter here.
Liu throws a hook but Kawamata blocks it.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Liu throws a sloppy head kick and Kawamata moves out of range easily.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kawamata.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu throws out a loose jab but Kawamata uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawamata darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Liu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kawamata misses with a hook.
Kawamata bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Liu avoids the head kick by Kawamata.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawamata misses the jab.
As Kawamata backs off Liu throws a huge counter combo but Kawamata manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu avoids a kick to the body.
Liu looks to throw the jab but Kawamata is out of range.
Kawamata fires out a quick counter leg kick but Liu just manages to avoid it.
Liu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Liu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kawamata throws a predictable looking body shot
and Liu counters with a stiff right hand.
Liu misses with an uppercut. Kawamata saw that one coming.
Kawamata is looking to counter punch.
Liu throws the kick towards the body but Kawamata avoids it.
Kawamata swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A cross from Kawamata lands.
Kawamata tries to land a front kick but Liu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Good work by Liu as he checks the leg kick.
Kawamata stuns Liu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Liu is looking to land body kicks.
Kawamata is looking to chop away at Liu's legs.
Kawamata dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Liu. That did some damage!
Kawamata moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Kento Kawamata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawamata lands with a shot to the body.
Liu lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kawamata wants to clinch up but Liu keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Some wild striking there from Liu.
Liu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kawamata.
Kawamata tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Liu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kawamata looks to throw the jab but Liu is out of range.
Liu moves out of range of the leg kick from Kawamata.
Liu misses with a wild combination.
Kawamata throws a chopping leg kick but Liu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Liu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kawamata counters with a right hand to the body.
Liu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Liu misses with a few strikes there.
Kawamata scoring well with a low kick there.
Liu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kawamata lands a nice shot that snaps Liu's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Liu.
A counter left hand to the body from Kawamata misses its target.
Liu lands a nice looking body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Liu.
Liu throws out a powerful jab.
Liu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kawamata throws out the jab.
Liu keeps Kawamata at a distance using the push kick.
Kawamata tries to land a front kick but Liu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kawamata scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kawamata throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kawamata is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kawamata tests Liu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Liu works Kawamata's body with a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Liu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Liu blocks a low kick nicely.
Liu throws a shot from downtown. Kawamata moves away and avoids it.
Liu tries to land a front kick but Kawamata steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It looked like Kawamata wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liu moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liu lands with a shot to the body.
Kawamata displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kawamata changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kawamata is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Liu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kawamata.
Liu slips a straight right by Kawamata.
Kawamata throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu throws a push kick but Kawamata slaps the foot to one side.
Kawamata appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Liu lands with a nice body kick.
Kawamata misses with a looping right.
Kawamata moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kawamata connects with a jab.
Kawamata throws out a loose jab but Liu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawamata lands with a straight right. Liu didn't see that one coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawamata looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kawamata takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kawamata misses with a kick to the body.
Kawamata lands a jab to the nose.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kento Kawamata will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kawamata's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Liu lands with an uppercut that bounces Kawamata off the cage and back into range.
Kawamata misses with a kick to the body.
Kawamata slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A lazy left from Liu finds it's target.
Kawamata uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Liu.
Liu misses with a body shot.
Liu staying out of range there.
Kawamata avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kawamata connects with a solid leg kick.
Liu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Liu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kawamata tries to close the distance and clinch but Liu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawamata misses with a looping right.
Kawamata scores with a nice strike.
Kawamata moves out of range as Liu throws a body kick.
Kawamata moves out of range of the body kick from Liu.
Kawamata takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kawamata swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Liu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Liu misses with a body shot.
Kawamata is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kawamata throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Liu - that will leave a mark!
Good exchange - Liu coming out on top.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kawamata looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Liu avoids the body shot from Kawamata.
Kawamata lands with a slapping head kick.
Liu tries to land a front kick but Kawamata steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kawamata misses with a looping right.
Kawamata tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Liu was well out of range. Poor timing from Kawamata.
Kento Kawamata is winning the standup battle so far.
Kawamata lands a nice leg kick that just misses Liu's sensitive parts.
Kawamata lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kawamata looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata misses with a low kick as Liu jumps back.
A slow jab from Kawamata misses its intended target.
Kawamata avoids a kick to the body.
Kawamata just misses with a punch to the body.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Liu throws a series of punches but Kawamata moves out of range.
Liu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kawamata moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kawamata avoids a kick to the body.
Kawamata takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Liu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Liu throws a wild body kick that Kawamata sees coming a mile off.
Kawamata appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kawamata clobbers Liu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kawamata takes a swing at Liu's ribcage but misses.
Kawamata misses with a hook to the body
and Liu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Liu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kawamata.
Kawamata thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Liu if he has to take too many more of those.

Kawamata forces Liu back against the cage and clinches.
Kawamata keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Liu's efforts to push away.
Kawamata will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liu is trying to break the clinch but Kawamata has him pressed against the cage.
Liu lands with a left to the head.
Liu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice body punch from Kawamata - that landed with a thud.
Kawamata lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kawamata scores with a shot to the side of Liu's head.
Kawamata lands a shoulder strike.
Kawamata lands a left hand that snaps the head of Liu backwards.

Kawamata breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fighters circling - Kawamata throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kawamata is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Liu.
Kawamata lands a slapping body shot.
A leg kick checked by Liu.
Liu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Liu throws a body punch but Kawamata moves out of range.
Kawamata throws a jab but it's blocked by Liu.
Kawamata misses with a looping left.
Liu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kawamata throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kawamata jabs Liu right on the nose. Liu blinks but takes it well.
Kawamata listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Kawamata has managed to clinch.
Kawamata lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawamata lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Liu backwards.
Liu scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Liu breaks from the clinch.
A jab lands there for Kawamata.
Kawamata throws a leg kick which misses Liu's front leg but catches the back leg as Liu tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawamata jabs Liu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kawamata moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kawamata is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Liu can do to turn this around?
Liu misses the jab.
Kawamata throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kento Kawamata dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Liu blocks a leg kick.
Liu scores with a jab to the head.
Liu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kawamata's hands.

Kawamata has closed the distance and engaged Liu in a clinch.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawamata misses with some punches.
Kawamata working aggressively here.
Kawamata lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kawamata effectively controlling the action here.
Kawamata blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Kawamata.
Liu wants to get back to striking at distance but Kawamata won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Liu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liu tries to break free but Kawamata pushes him back against the cage.

Kawamata's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawamata connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kawamata swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kawamata throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamata gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kawamata rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Liu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kawamata sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kawamata loads up on a big right hand but Liu slips the punch.
Liu staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Liu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kawamata looks to land a left hand but Liu moved out of range nicely.
Liu is looking to land body kicks.
Kawamata throws a hook but Liu avoids it easily.
Kawamata swings for the body but Liu moves out of range.
Kawamata misses the jab.
Liu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kawamata misses with a looping right.
Jun Liu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Liu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kawamata throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kawamata on the side of the head.
Kento Kawamata is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kawamata avoids a kick to the body.
Liu pushes Kawamata away with a front kick.
Kawamata tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Liu is able to avoid easily.
Liu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Liu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kawamata tries to clinch up.
Kawamata with a hook.
Liu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kawamata.
Liu looks to land a left hand but Kawamata moved out of range nicely.
A lazy body kick from Kawamata
and Liu counters with a nice body shot.
Liu takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kawamata fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Liu looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kawamata looks to score with a jab to the body but Liu is just out of range.
Liu checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Liu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big right from Kawamata misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Liu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Liu unleashes a big counter combination but Kawamata bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Liu looks to land a right hand but Kawamata moved out of range.
Liu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kawamata throws a body punch but Liu moves out of range.
Liu throws a head kick that misses.
Liu has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kawamata with the inside leg kick.
Liu scores with a head kick. Kawamata tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A left lands for Kawamata.
Jab by Kawamata.
Nice uppercut there from Kawamata.
Liu just misses with a punch to the body.
Liu throws a big shot that misses.
Kawamata throws a jab when Liu was well out of range.
Liu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kawamata.
Liu cracks a nice hook into Kawamata's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kawamata keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kawamata blocks a jab.
It looked like Kawamata wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawamata avoids a kick to the body.
Liu throws a body punch but Kawamata moves out of range.
Kawamata slips under a jab.
Kawamata chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kawamata missing with a left hand there. Liu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kawamata throws a leg kick but Liu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Liu is looking to land body kicks.
Kawamata is looking to slow Liu down with leg kicks.
Liu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kawamata.
Liu checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Liu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liu throws out a counter right but Kawamata avoids it with no problem.
A left lands for Liu.
Liu swings for the body but Kawamata moves out of range.
Kawamata lands a really nice looking cross but Liu seems unphased.
Kawamata throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Jun Liu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Liu checks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kento Kawamata showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kawamata has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kento Kawamata!
Our winner, Kento Kawamata, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Jun Liu stepped up to the mic, saying 'I don't care if i'm not a durable woman, as long as im an adorable woman ;)'.