PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hayato Kitaoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnica Conor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kitaoka
vs
Conor

182 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hayato Kitaoka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donnica Conor!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kitaoka tries to clinch up but Conor circles away and keeps his distance.
Conor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A choreographed right hand from Conor misses the target.
Hayato Kitaoka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kitaoka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kitaoka throws a big right hand that misses.
Kitaoka postures up and lands a big shot to Conor's brow.
Kitaoka trying to control the position from guard on top but Conor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Conor controlling Kitaoka's posture.
Conor throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kitaoka wants to control from the top but Conor keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Conor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kitaoka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitaoka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Conor pinned against the cage. Conor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kitaoka looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kitaoka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Conor trying to control but Kitaoka postures up.
Conor moves into full guard.

Kitaoka gets to his feet - Conor follows without any prompting.
Kitaoka is breathing heavily.
Conor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Conor stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayato Kitaoka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Conor scores with a takedown into Kitaoka's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conor is stalling in the full guard.
Conor pushes down on Kitaoka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Conor lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Conor is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Conor keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kitaoka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Conor.
Kitaoka wants to control but Conor is keeping busy.
Conor controlling the action here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Let's hope that Conor has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitaoka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Conor wants to free his trapped foot but Kitaoka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Well, if Conor is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Conor has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnica Conor just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A head kick misses from Conor.
Conor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kitaoka with a poor takedown

and Conor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kitaoka's guard.
Kitaoka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Conor wants to control from the top but Kitaoka keeps moving.
Conor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Conor's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Conor wants to stand but Kitaoka has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Conor wants to control from the top but Kitaoka keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnica Conor dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kitaoka closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kitaoka is looking to take a break and control but Conor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Conor is trying to stand back up but Kitaoka is controlling him

Kitaoka is looking for a kimura here.
Donnica Conor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Conor is looking to control Kitaoka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Conor avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Conor preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Conor wants to improve his position but Kitaoka is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitaoka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Conor keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Conor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kitaoka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Conor.
Conor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kitaoka is out of range and Conor settles back down.
Kitaoka tries for a takedown but Conor circles away easily

and Conor counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Conor.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kitaoka looking for a takedown.
Conor looking for a takedown.
Kitaoka blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Conor has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kitaoka regains guard immediately.
Conor trying to control the position from guard on top but Kitaoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitaoka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Conor.
Conor content to stall in guard here.
Conor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kitaoka is keeping the position for now.
Kitaoka is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Conor trying to control the position from guard on top but Kitaoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Conor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kitaoka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Conor controls Kitaoka momentarily but Kitaoka frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conor has control of Kitaoka's left arm, preventing Kitaoka from doing any damage.

Despite being in the dominant position, Donnica Conor just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
An inside leg kick from Conor misses.

Conor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Conor is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kitaoka trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitaoka wants to get back to his feet.
Kitaoka tries to get to full guard but Conor has control of the leg.
Kitaoka trying to hold on to Conor's head to control him but Conor postures up.
Conor wants to control but Kitaoka is keeping him busy.
Kitaoka is trying to maintain the position but Conor is very close to passing his half guard.
Kitaoka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Conor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Conor's back!
Kitaoka doesn't have the hooks in and Conor manages to turn into his guard.
Kitaoka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Conor is one step ahead there.
Conor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kitaoka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnica Conor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kitaoka tries for a takedown but Conor circles away easily

and Conor decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kitaoka's guard.
Kitaoka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Conor not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Conor trying to control the position from guard on top but Kitaoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Conor content to stall in guard here.
Kitaoka is looking to stand up but Conor isn't so interested in that idea.
Conor works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Conor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kitaoka is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kitaoka wants to improve his position but Conor is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conor tries to pass to full mount but Kitaoka defends it.
Kitaoka is pressing down on Conor's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Conor forces his way into half guard.
Conor controlling the action here.

Conor seems to be looking for submissions.
Conor wants to advance to full mount but Kitaoka doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Kitaoka working for a triangle but Conor defends it easily.
Kitaoka keeping moving, preventing Conor from controlling successfully.

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.
Conor forces his way into half guard.
Conor not doing much here.

Conor is trying to work for a kimura but Kitaoka is defending well.
Kitaoka tries to get to full guard but Conor has control of the leg.
Kitaoka trying to control but Conor postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conor slows the pace down in half guard.
Kitaoka is not content to let Conor control the position.
Kitaoka is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Conor's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Conor's back!
Kitaoka wants to control but Conor is keeping busy.
Kitaoka has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Conor.

Kitaoka is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Conor knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Conor for a finish.
Kitaoka tries to keep control of the position but Conor is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kitaoka connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Conor to escape the position.
I really don't envy Conor right now.
Kitaoka is riding his opponent, not letting Conor buck him off.
Conor trying to control the hands but Kitaoka breaks the grip.
Kitaoka doesn't have the hooks in and Conor manages to turn into his guard.
Conor seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Conor won't allow Kitaoka to sweep him here.
Kitaoka is working hard here to advance position.
Conor tries to stand but Kitaoka is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donnica Conor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Conor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnica Conor!