PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Popoy Kenjutsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wright has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. 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.

Kenjutsu
vs
Wright

165 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

169 cm
18
155 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Popoy Kenjutsu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Wright!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenjutsu shoots in but Wright avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kenjutsu.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wright as he avoids it easily.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Popoy Kenjutsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kenjutsu is breathing heavily.
Kenjutsu throws a combination. Wright tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice takedown defense from Wright. No joy for Kenjutsu on that attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Wright.
Wright throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kenjutsu counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kenjutsu blocks a head kick by Wright.
Wright dodges the punch combination from Kenjutsu.
Wright fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kenjutsu checks it well.
Wright looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kenjutsu throws a head kick that half lands.

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.
Kenjutsu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Wright scores with a takedown into Kenjutsu's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wright wants to stand but Kenjutsu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wright being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenjutsu wants to hit a switch here but Wright passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kenjutsu there!
Kenjutsu is looking to improve his position but Wright isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kenjutsu stops Wright from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Wright looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenjutsu in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Wright dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kenjutsu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a double leg but Wright sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wright misses with a looping left.
Kenjutsu avoids a kick to the body.
Kenjutsu is looking to slow Wright down with leg kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenjutsu tries to clinch up but Wright circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kenjutsu scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wright throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kenjutsu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kenjutsu.
Kenjutsu won't allow Wright to get back to his feet.

Wright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kenjutsu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenjutsuis looking to pass into half guard but Wright pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Wright is in guard.
Wright tries to stand but Kenjutsu is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kenjutsu is on top in guard.
Kenjutsu stays in close to Wright's body and controls the position.
Kenjutsu trying to control the position from guard on top but Wright is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenjutsu wants to pass the guard but Wright is keeping the position.
Wright trying to keep a closed guard but Kenjutsu is proving a slippery customer.
Kenjutsu prevents Wright from getting back to his feet.
Kenjutsu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.
Kenjutsu looking to sit in guard and control but Wright gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kenjutsu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenjutsu keeping moving, preventing Wright from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kenjutsu has his takedown stuffed
and Wright counters with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Popoy Kenjutsu dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kenjutsu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kenjutsu looks to land a combination but Wright avoids it well.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a double leg but Wright sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kenjutsu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wright throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Kenjutsu counters with a single leg into guard. Wright didn't expect that.
Wright working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wright looking for a guillotine here but Kenjutsu defends easily.
Kenjutsu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wright is keeping the position for now.
Kenjutsu looking to sit in guard and control but Wright gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kenjutsu trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Wright showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kenjutsu working a defensive guard here.
Kenjutsu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wright is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kenjutsu looking for a guillotine here but Wright defends easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kenjutsu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kenjutsu shoots in looking for a takedown. Wright tries to sprawl out of it but Kenjutsu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wright manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kenjutsu misses with a shot to the body
and Wright connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kenjutsu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wright paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kenjutsu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wright is fending him off so far but Kenjutsu persists. Nope, Wright circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Popoy Kenjutsu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kenjutsu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wright but Wright pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Popoy Kenjutsu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kenjutsu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Popoy Kenjutsu!