PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nakagome Kakuzo (ranked 896 p4p, 742 weight class) and Olivier Dujardin (ranked 123 p4p, 102 weight class). Dujardin has chosen Sosa by Leto & Guy2bezbar as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kakuzo
vs
Dujardin

185 cm
26
180
16 - 11 - 0

179 cm
23
179
8 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Northern Zombie

Hoarse Pills

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nakagome Kakuzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Olivier Dujardin!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dujardin.
The fighters circling - Kakuzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kakuzo throws a low kick but Dujardin moves out of range easily.
Dujardin with the counter takedown but Kakuzo avoids it easily.
A combination from Kakuzo does no damage.
Dujardin feints the counter takedown.
The crowd cheers as Dujardin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kakuzo doesn't seem phased though.
Dujardin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dujardin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kakuzo manages to avoid it.
No luck for Kakuzo with that takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Dujardin on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kakuzo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kakuzo wants to slow Dujardin down by chopping away at his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kakuzo misses with a left hand
and Kakuzo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kakuzo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dujardin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kakuzo misses with a two punch combination.
A lazy left from Dujardin finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kakuzo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kakuzo misses with a lunging right hand
and Dujardin counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dujardin lands with a hook. Kakuzo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kakuzo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dujardin counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nakagome Kakuzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dujardin catches Kakuzo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nice straight punches there by Kakuzo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kakuzo.
Jab from Dujardin.

Kakuzo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dujardin quickly recovers to half guard.
Dujardin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kakuzo.
Dujardin is concentrating on defense, preventing Kakuzo from advancing position.
Kakuzo winds up and cracks Dujardin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kakuzo prevents Dujardin from improving his position.

Kakuzo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dujardin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kakuzo.
Kakuzo thows a huge punch but Dujardin dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dujardin manages to get to full guard.

Kakuzo 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.
Kakuzo is fighting to break Dujardin's control of his arms but Dujardin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kakuzo throws a big right hand that misses.
Kakuzo 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.
Dujardin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo works over Dujardin with some ground and pound from guard.
Kakuzo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dujardin wants to sweep but no luck.
Dujardin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kakuzo throws a strike but Dujardin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kakuzo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dujardin defends it easily.
Dujardin scoring with some ground and pound.
Kakuzo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kakuzo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dujardin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kakuzo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dujardin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dujardin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kakuzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dujardin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dujardin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dujardin wants to control from the top but Kakuzo keeps moving.
Dujardin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kakuzo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dujardin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kakuzo.
Dujardin is looking to improve his position.
Kakuzo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Dujardin is looking for a sweep. Kakuzo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Olivier Dujardin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dujardin checks a low kick from Kakuzo.
Dujardin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Dujardin missing with a left hand there. Kakuzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kakuzo throwing a counter right hand but Dujardin manages to avoid it.
Kakuzo throws a body shot but no joy.
Dujardin has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kakuzo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Dujardin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Kakuzo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kakuzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Dujardin has wrist control.
Dujardin is pulling down on Kakuzo's head. It's preventing any offense from Kakuzo, at least for the moment.
Dujardin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dujardin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Dujardin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kakuzo's guard.

Dujardin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakuzo is looking for a triangle but Dujardin pushes his legs off easily.

Dujardin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kakuzo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dujardin has managed to get both his arms back between Kakuzo's legs - danger averted.

Kakuzo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dujardin is aware though and is defending well.

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

Kakuzo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dujardin passes into side control.
Dujardin working the ground and pound.
The referee asks Dujardin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Dujardin prefers to stall for the moment though.
Dujardin trying to control the position but Kakuzo is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kakuzo is trying to improve his position.
Kakuzo is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo wants to control but Dujardin postures up.
Dujardin lands some shots froms side control.
Nakagome Kakuzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kakuzo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Dujardin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Dujardin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kakuzo is looking for a sweep. Dujardin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dujardin slips a nice elbow through Kakuzo's hands, connecting with Kakuzo's forehead.
Dujardin lands strikes from half guard.

Kakuzo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dujardin working the head and body with strikes.
Dujardin lands with a punch from half guard.
Dujardin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kakuzo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakuzo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dujardin controlling the action here.
Kakuzo is trying to get back to full guard.
Dujardin is nestled in close to Kakuzo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dujardin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kakuzo trying to control but Dujardin postures up.
Dujardin wants to take a breather but Kakuzo is having none of it.

That's four 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.
Kakuzo moves into full guard.
Kakuzo keeping moving, preventing Dujardin from controlling successfully.
Dujardin is in close to Kakuzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dujardin is in close to Kakuzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dujardin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kakuzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dujardin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dujardin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dujardin looking to pass the guard.
Kakuzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kakuzo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dujardin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kakuzo keeping moving, preventing Dujardin from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Olivier Dujardin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice shot by Dujardin.
Dujardin swings for the body but Kakuzo moves out of range.
Dujardin blocks a leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Dujardin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kakuzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dujardin moves out of range of the leg kick from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo needs to keep his hands up - Dujardin had a free shot at his head there.
Kakuzo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dujardin lands with an overhand left.
Kakuzo misses with a takedown attempt
and Dujardin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kakuzo ducks under a wild hook from Dujardin.
Dujardin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kakuzo manages to avoid it.
Dujardin scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dujardin stuns Kakuzo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Kakuzo gets a double leg takedown into Dujardin's guard.
Kakuzo postures up in Dujardin's guard and throws a big left but Dujardin blocks it.
Kakuzo preventing the sweep.
Dujardin is pulling down on Kakuzo's head. It's preventing any offense from Kakuzo, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kakuzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kakuzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dujardin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kakuzo is really struggling to control Dujardin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dujardin controlling Kakuzo's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dujardin trying to control the position here.
Kakuzo stopping the sweep attempt from Dujardin.
Dujardin seems keen to control Kakuzo's posture.
Kakuzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Dujardin has wrist control.
Dujardin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kakuzo manages to get himself to full guard.

Dujardin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dujardin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakuzo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dujardin connects with a couple of short punches.
Kakuzo keeping moving, preventing Dujardin from controlling successfully.
Dujardin stopping the sweep attempt from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo has momentary wrist control but Dujardin slips an elbow through the middle.

Dujardin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dujardin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dujardin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kakuzo's head.

Kakuzo looking for a guillotine here but Dujardin defends easily.
Dujardin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dujardin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Kakuzo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dujardin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kakuzo.
Dujardin staying calm.
Kakuzo struggling a bit here.
Dujardin lands a nice forearm strike.
Dujardin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dujardin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Dujardin scoring with punches from side control.
Nakagome Kakuzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dujardin trying to control the action but Kakuzo is working from the bottom.
Kakuzo gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olivier Dujardin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dujardin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olivier Dujardin!
Olivier Dujardin thanked the fans post fight for their support.