PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kwame Nti (ranked 447 p4p, 427 weight class) and Kazuma Kiryu (ranked 75 p4p, 70 weight class). Kwame Nti had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nti
vs
Kiryu

172 cm
35
220
28 - 18 - 1

184 cm
32
194
15 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
NARCOS

Conviction
Conquer

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 28 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kwame Nti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuma Kiryu!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiryu goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Kwame Nti has been cut.
Kiryu is looking to land body kicks.
Nti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kiryu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Nti counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nti chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kiryu can pounce on him.
Nti looks to land a right hand but Kiryu moved out of range.
Kiryu connects with a single shot there.
Kiryu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nti on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A swing and a miss from Nti.
Nti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiryu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nti sets himself, and Kiryu steps forward looking for the clinch! Nti avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nti counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hammer House of Horror in the buildup to the fight.
Nti shoots in but Kiryu avoids the takedown attempt easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kiryu misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nti.
Kiryu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Nti misses with the head strike.
Nti is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nti is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kwame Nti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still in the clinch, Kiryu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kiryu has a couple of punches blocked by Nti.
Kiryu lands a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kiryu.
Nti misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiryu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nti's elbow.
Nti wants a takedown.
Kiryu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Kiryu.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nti.
Kiryu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Nti backwards.
Nti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Nti fails to land.
Kiryu has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Nti seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kiryu can turn it around.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nti.
Kiryu is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nti presses Kiryu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Nti misses with a body punch.
Kiryu throws a head punch that misses.

Kiryu manages to break the clinch.
Kiryu motions for Nti to come forward. Kiryu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Kiryu.
Nti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kiryu throws out the jab.
Nti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kiryu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kiryu misses with a hook.
Kiryu tries to work over Nti's front leg with a kick but Nti checks it.
Nti checks a leg kick nicely.
Kazuma Kiryu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a chopping leg kick but Nti manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nti misses with a takedown attempt - Kiryu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nti looks for a takedown but Kiryu sprawls well.

Nti shoots in and bounces Kiryu off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nti tries to free his leg and advance position but Kiryu is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuma Kiryu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kwame Nti's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kiryu as he avoids it easily.
Kiryu misses with a low kick as Nti jumps back.
Kiryu looks to throw the jab but Nti is out of range.
Kiryu tries to clinch
and Kiryu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Nti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nti lands in his opponent's guard.
Nti preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nti tries to free his leg and advance position but Kiryu is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nti is one step ahead there.
Kiryu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nti's guard.

Nti tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nti managing to control the position.
Nti continues to stall.

That's two 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.
Nti can't keep his opponent in guard - Kiryu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nti tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kiryu has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kiryu controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nti tries to hold on but Kiryu pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kiryu sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nti tries to lock up and control but Kiryu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kiryu trying to control but Nti is having none of it.
Nti tries to lock up and control but Kiryu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuma Kiryu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kwame Nti's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nti fails to land the takedown.
Kwame Nti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiryu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kazuma Kiryu seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kiryu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nti to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kiryu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nti puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiryu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kiryu wants to sweep here but Nti controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu seems keen to control Nti's posture.
Nti sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kiryu 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiryu has control of Nti's left arm, preventing Nti from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

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.
Kiryu throws an off balance right hand
and Nti counters with a straight right hand.
Nti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kiryu counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kiryu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters circling - Kiryu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kiryu lands the left hand.
Kiryu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nti.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kwame Nti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nti misses with a takedown attempt
and Kiryu counters with a nice uppercut.
Nti throws a shot to the body.
Nti scores with a nice strike.
Nti shoots in for a takedown but Kiryu shows good takedown defense.
Nti dives in for a single leg takedown but Kiryu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nti goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kiryu prevents it.

Nti has hold of one of Kiryu's legs. Kiryu is fighting the takedown attempt but Nti gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kiryu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kiryu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu is still trying to improve position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kiryu holds on and takes a little breather.
Nti trying to control but Kiryu is working from the bottom.
Kazuma Kiryu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nti postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kwame Nti.
I think Kiryu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuma Kiryu!
A relieved looking Kazuma Kiryu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.