PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Enzo Inoue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Inoue
vs
Kazama

180 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Enzo Inoue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kazama closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kazama lands in his opponent's guard.
Inoue is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kazama stops Inoue from standing up.

Inoue working for a triangle but Kazama defends it easily.
Kazama passes into half guard.
Inoue is controlling Kazama's trapped leg to prevent Kazama from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Inoue wants to get back to his feet.
Kazama tries to stand but can't do so whilst Inoue controls his leg.
Kazama is nestled in close to Inoue, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Inoue blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kazama.
Inoue is trying to control but can't.
Kazama is keen to just control but Inoue is a slippery customer.

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.
Inoue desperately trying to maintain half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Inoue stuffs the takedown.
Kazama keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kazama.
Inoue avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Inoue shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kazama looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama wants to control from the top but Inoue keeps moving.

Inoue is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kazama is aware though and is defending well.
Kazama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Inoue trying to control the position.
Kazama trying to control the position from guard on top but Inoue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lee Kazama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kazama tries to clinch but Inoue moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kazama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Inoue manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Inoue tries to bum rush Kazama with a series of wild strikes but Kazama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Inoue throws a combination that misses

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Inoue looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Inoue wants to get back to his feet but Kazama is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Inoue kicks Kazama off and gets to his feet.
Inoue is breathing heavily.
Inoue cracks a nice hook into Kazama's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Inoue throws a sloppy head kick

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

Inoue breaks from the clinch.
Inoue circles away from the clinch attempt.
Inoue falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kazama counters with a takedown into side control.
Inoue is trying to control Kazama's posture but Kazama avoids it.

Kazama decides to stand back up.
Kazama looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Inoue is fending him off so far but Kazama persists. Nope, Inoue circles away and we're back to standing.

Kazama feints and as Inoue raises his hands in defense, Kazama changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Inoue is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Inoue keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.
Kazama is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Inoue escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kazama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kazama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Inoue can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kazama controls the pace.

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.
Inoue is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Inoue keeping moving, preventing Kazama from controlling successfully.

Kazama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kazama wants to control from the top but Inoue keeps moving.
Kazama throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Inoue pushes Kazama off and gets back to his feet.
Inoue scores with a decent looking hook.
A low kick from Inoue misses

and Kazama counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kazama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Inoue manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kazama is working Inoue over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Inoue is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kazama is aware though and is defending well.
Lee Kazama has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kazama drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kazama jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Inoue is on top in guard.
Inoue throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kazama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Inoue stopping the sweep attempt from Kazama.
Inoue works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Kazama 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! This is the final round!

Inoue displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Kazama drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Inoue wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Inoue trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Inoue is not content to let Kazama control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Inoue is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kazama off and has taken his back!
Kazama covers up after that shot from Inoue.
Inoue lands a shot to the body.
Kazama trying to control but not successfully.
What can Kazama do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Inoue is landing with strikes from the back.
I would not like to be Kazama right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inoue scores with punches to the body.
Inoue scores with punches to the body.
Kazama trying to control but not successfully.
Kazama is in bad spot here.

Inoue has managed to slip his arm under Kazama's chin. This could be all over... yep, Kazama is tapping out! Submission win for Inoue.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Enzo Inoue!