PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naomichi Kobashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulie Saint (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kobashi
vs
Saint

172 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Naomichi Kobashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paulie Saint!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kobashi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kobashi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Saint!
Kobashi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saint because Kobashi loaded up on that one.
Saint is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kobashi is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Saint is surviving well by controlling Kobashi's body position as best he can.
Saint tries to lock up and control but Kobashi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saint is in all sorts of trouble here.

Saint defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kobashi.
Kobashi wants to take his opponent's back but Saint doesn't allow it.
Kobashi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saint is looking to escape.

Kobashi goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Saint turns into him and now he's in Kobashi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobashi wants to sweep but no luck.
Saint wants to control from the top but Kobashi keeps moving.
Kobashi working a defensive guard here.

Kobashi has his foot on Saint's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Saint works his way back into a safe position though.
Kobashi is breathing heavily.
Saint wants to control from the top but Kobashi keeps moving.
Saint is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Saint trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saint wants to stand but Kobashi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Saint doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kobashi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kobashi wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
Saint looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kobashi trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kobashi drops back looking for a leg! Saint is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Saint manages to kick Kobashi off! Kobashi jumps back into Saint's guard.
Kobashi wants to control from the top but Saint keeps moving.
Saint manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint looking to secure an arm triangle but Kobashi defends it well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Saint fails to move to back control.
Kobashi tries to hold on but Saint postures up.
Saint looking to control but Kobashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kobashi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kobashi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Saint scoring with strikes but Kobashi is staying in there.
Kobashi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

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.
Kobashi tries to lock up and control but Saint gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kobashi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kobashi wants to hold on but Saint pushes him away.
Kobashi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Saint looking to control but Kobashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kobashi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kobashi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naomichi Kobashi dominated that round.
That's time! Kobashi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kobashi clinches with his opponent.

Saint escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kobashi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Saint really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kobashi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saint is looking for a sweep. Kobashi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kobashi is trying to work for a kimura but Saint is defending well.

Kobashi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Saint doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kobashi.
Kobashi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Saint tries to roll over but Kobashi keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kobashi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saint is staying active underneath Kobashi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kobashi is pressing down on Saint's thigh, looking to free his foot. Saint is holding on for now.
Saint looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kobashi is looking to take a break and control but Saint is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Saint shoots and misses

and Kobashi counters with a shoot takedown. Saint fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kobashi postures up.
Saint doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kobashi slips nicely into half guard.

Kobashi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Saint is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Naomichi Kobashi!