PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kelemi Kakuno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kakuno
vs
Sanchez

181 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kelemi Kakuno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cain Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kakuno. Sanchez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kakuno pinned against the cage. Kakuno gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sanchez is looking to clinch but Kakuno is avoiding it.
Sanchez misses with a kick to the body.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Kakuno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanchez lands a really nice looking cross but Kakuno seems unphased.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Kakuno sprawls well.
A big left from Kakuno misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez shoots in looking for a takedown. Kakuno tries to sprawl out of it but Sanchez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kakuno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kelemi Kakuno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a slapping body shot.
Kakuno throws a sloppy body shot
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kakuno tries to land a front kick but Sanchez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kakuno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kakuno closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchez prevents a body shot from Kakuno.
Kakuno slows down the pace here.
Sanchez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kakuno has him pressed against the cage.
Sanchez is looking to control Kakuno's arms but Kakuno gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sanchez has his back to the cage.

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.
Kakuno tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sanchez avoids it.
Kakuno stalling.

Kakuno has Sanchez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kakuno pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sanchez tumbling to the mat - Kakuno dives into Sanchez's guard.
Kakuno postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sanchez working a defensive guard here.
Kakuno 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.
Kakuno slips nicely into half guard.
Sanchez is trying to maintain the position but Kakuno is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakuno is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kakuno can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Sanchez holds on, trying desperately to control.
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kakuno tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four 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.
Kakuno tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kakuno sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kakuno seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sanchez for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelemi Kakuno dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kakuno misses with a shot to the body
and Sanchez counters with a series of strikes. Kakuno will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kakuno has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Kakuno moves away

and Kakuno holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sanchez jumps guard but Kakuno stands there with Sanchez around his waist. Sanchez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanchez blocks an elbow strike.
Kakuno leaning his opponent against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Sanchez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kakuno leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kelemi Kakuno.
Sanchez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kakuno counters by clinching up.
Kakuno tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanchez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanchez can't break the clinch.
Sanchez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Kakuno won't allow it.
Kelemi Kakuno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Sanchez.
Sanchez looking to slow down the pace here.
Kakuno has Sanchez pressed against the cage.
Kakuno misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Kakuno is controlling him.
Kakuno drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sanchez prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanchez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kakuno fights it off and pushes away nicely.

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.
Sanchez with a poor takedown

and Kakuno counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kakuno.
Kakuno is stalling here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Kakuno for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kakuno dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kakuno with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The referee calls for Kakuno to work.
Kakuno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kakuno slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kelemi Kakuno.
Sanchez clinches but Kakuno breaks the clinch

and Kakuno counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kakuno.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakuno has Sanchez pressed against the cage.
Kakuno keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanchez's efforts to push away.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but Kakuno has him pressed against the cage.
Kakuno missing with knees to the body.

Kakuno has picked Sanchez up - he's going for a ride! Kakuno dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kakuno content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sanchez trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sanchez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kakuno tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kakuno wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Sanchez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kakuno looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez wants to control but Kakuno is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelemi Kakuno dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sanchez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kakuno counters by clinching up.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kakuno just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sanchez's brow.
Kakuno throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sanchez lands with a light punch inside.
Kakuno goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sanchez looks to clinch

and Kakuno counters by clinching up.
Kakuno has Sanchez pushed against the cage.

Kakuno turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kakuno manages to end up in side control.
Kakuno wants to control but Sanchez is keeping him busy.
Sanchez is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez struggling a bit here.
Sanchez is trying to work for a sweep but Kakuno has mounted him!
Kakuno unloads with some shots from mount but Sanchez bucks and avoids them well.
Kakuno throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sanchez tries to reverse the position but Kakuno maintains control.
Kakuno trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kakuno content just to control the position here.
Kakuno trying to control but Sanchez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakuno blocks Sanchez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kakuno avoids the attempt from Sanchez to control.
Kakuno punching from mount but Sanchez doing a good job of avoiding damage.

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.
Sanchez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sanchez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kakuno.
Kakuno wants to control the pace but Sanchez is squirming around nicely.
Kakuno looking to finish with strikes here!
Cain Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kelemi Kakuno is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanchez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kelemi Kakuno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kakuno, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kelemi Kakuno!