PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kaburagi (ranked 2958 p4p, 2869 weight class) and Kurou Nishiyama (ranked 311 p4p, 308 weight class). Kurou Nishiyama has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Akira Kaburagi's chin.

Kaburagi
vs
Nishiyama

172 cm
25
165
8 - 5 - 0

183 cm
26
167
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Kaburagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurou Nishiyama!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nishiyama shoots in looking for a takedown. Kaburagi tries to sprawl out of it but Nishiyama keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kaburagi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nishiyama tries for a takedown but Kaburagi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nishiyama closes the distance and clinches up with Kaburagi, looking for a takedown. Nishiyama pushes Kaburagi against the cage but Kaburagi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kaburagi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nishiyama sprawls and moves away.
Akira Kaburagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurou Nishiyama.
Nishiyama scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Akira Kaburagi has been cut.
Nishiyama with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kaburagi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kaburagi working the head and body with strikes.

Nishiyama looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kaburagi prevents Nishiyama from improving his position.
Kaburagi stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiyama is looking to improve his position.
We've been hearing that Kaburagi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Nishiyama wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Kaburagi working over Nishiyama with some ground and pound. Nishiyama looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nishiyama pushes Kaburagi off looking to stand but Kaburagi dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nishiyama gets back to full guard.

Nishiyama working for submissions but it's allowed Kaburagi to get to half guard.
Nishiyama is staying active underneath Kaburagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nishiyama is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kaburagi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nishiyama tries to roll over but Kaburagi keeps him under control.
Kaburagi works his way into full mount!
Kaburagi lands a couple of good shots and Nishiyama has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Kaburagi is looking for a choke. Nishiyama gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Nishiyama manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Nishiyama engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaburagi is on top in guard.

Nishiyama doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nishiyama keeping moving, preventing Kaburagi from controlling successfully.

Nishiyama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kaburagi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Akira Kaburagi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kaburagi with a hook.
Nishiyama scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kaburagi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nishiyama is fending him off so far but Kaburagi persists. Nope, Nishiyama circles away and we're back to standing.
Nishiyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaburagi has his takedown stuffed
and Nishiyama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nishiyama.

Kaburagi looking to score a takedown here. Nishiyama is defending well but Kaburagi drives through and ends up in Nishiyama's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nishiyama throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kaburagi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Nishiyama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nishiyama tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nishiyama has his feet on Kaburagi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nishiyama defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaburagi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Kaburagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nishiyama shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Nishiyama as Kaburagi shoots in.
Nishiyama digs a good hook to Kaburagi's body.
Kurou Nishiyama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nishiyama tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kaburagi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nishiyama throws a series of punches but Kaburagi avoids them all with ease.
Nishiyama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kaburagi as he avoids it easily.
Kaburagi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nishiyama sprawls and moves away.
Nishiyama is looking to clinch.
Nishiyama attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Nishiyama misses.

Kaburagi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaburagi trying to control but Nishiyama is working from the bottom.
Kaburagi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kaburagi wants to control from the top but Nishiyama keeps moving.
Nishiyama tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaburagi lands a couple of elbows.
Kaburagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Nishiyama has momentary wrist control but Kaburagi slips an elbow through the middle.
Kaburagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Nishiyama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaburagi 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi looking to pass the guard.
Akira Kaburagi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nishiyama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kaburagi 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 Nishiyama.
Kaburagi lands some shots froms side control.
Nishiyama is trying to improve his position.
Nishiyama takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama is looking to reverse the position.
Kaburagi has control of an arm but Nishiyama manages to advance to Kaburagi's back!
Kaburagi is keeping busy.
Nishiyama trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kaburagi doesn't escape.
Nishiyama trying to control momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kurou Nishiyama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Akira Kaburagi's cut.
That's time! Kaburagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nishiyama has his takedown stuffed

and Kaburagi counters with a takedown into side control.
Nishiyama throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Kaburagi working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nishiyama is trying to get back to his feet.
Nishiyama misses with a strike from the bottom.
Nishiyama wants to control but Kaburagi postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaburagi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nishiyama knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Nishiyama looks to move to half guard but instead Kaburagi has passed into mount! Damn!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaburagi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Nishiyama to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Nishiyama shrugs it off.
Nishiyama is looking to get to half guard.
Kaburagi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nishiyama wants to control but Kaburagi is having none of it.
Kaburagi lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kaburagi looking to control but Nishiyama is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kaburagi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kaburagi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nishiyama looks a forlorn figure.
Nishiyama bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Nishiyama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nishiyama is fighting to break Kaburagi's control of his arms but Kaburagi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama is looking to work some ground and pound but Kaburagi has wrist control.
Nishiyama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nishiyama trying to control but Kaburagi is working from the bottom.
Nishiyama slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nishiyama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nishiyama tries to stand but Kaburagi is controlling from the bottom.
Kaburagi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nishiyama controls the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kaburagi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kaburagi 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kaburagi!
A very excited looking Akira Kaburagi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.