PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kimura has chosen Inner Light by Shocking Lemon as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belanger
vs
Kimura

187 cm
29
193 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

190 cm
27
196 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Belanger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuya Kimura!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belanger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Belanger looks for the body kick but Kimura saw that one coming.
Kimura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Belanger throws a head kick but Kimura moves out of range.
Kimura slips under a jab.
Kimura moves out of range of the body kick from Belanger.

Kimura takes the fight into the clinch.
Belanger misses with a knee strike.
Kimura takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kimura misses with a body punch.
Kimura landing knees to the body.
Belanger avoiding damage as Kimura throws knees to the body.
Belanger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Belanger lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot in the inside from Kimura.
Kimura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Belanger avoids it.
Kimura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Belanger avoids it.
Belanger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Belanger lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Belanger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura missing with knees to the body.
Kimura tries to throw a body punch but Belanger avoids it by throwing Kimura back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Kimura - that landed with a thud.
Belanger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Belanger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kimura throws a body kick that misses.
Belanger keeps Kimura at a distance using the push kick.
Kimura throws a leg kick but Belanger moved away.
Kimura throws a wild body kick that Belanger sees coming a mile off.
An inside leg kick from Kimura misses.
Belanger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A leg kick checked by Kimura.
Belanger wants to slow Kimura down by chopping away at his legs.
Belanger throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kimura fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Belanger missing with a left hand there. Kimura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good work by Kimura as he checks the leg kick.
Belanger throws out a loose jab but Kimura uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kimura feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Belanger's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belanger throws a head kick that misses.
Kimura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Belanger.
Belanger bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kimura's head.
Belanger takes a swing at Kimura's ribcage but misses.
Belanger misses with a low kick.
Kimura ducks under a wild hook from Belanger.
Belanger lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kimura checks a leg kick.
Kimura pushes Belanger away with a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura checks the leg kick.
Kimura throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Belanger tries a head kick but it misses.
Kimura takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Belanger cracks Kimura with a right hand to the side of the head.
Belanger moves out of range of the body kick.
Kimura throws a body kick that misses.
Kimura takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kimura scores with a leg kick.
Kimura is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Belanger.
Belanger throws a leg kick which misses Kimura's front leg but catches the back leg as Kimura tries to avoid it.
Belanger attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick from Belanger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Kimura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Belanger doesn't seem phased though.
Belanger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Belanger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kimura.
Kimura feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Belanger's calf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kimura pushes Belanger up against the cage in a clinch.
Kimura tries a body shot but Belanger blocks it.
Belanger's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kimura.

It looks like Joe Belanger has been cut.
Kimura trying to land knees to the body.
Kimura tries to land knees in the clinch but Belanger avoids the damage to the body.
Belanger landing knees to the head.
Belanger dodges an elbow strike from Kimura.
Belanger wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kimura has him pressed against the cage.
Kimura tries to land knees in the clinch but Belanger avoids the damage to the body.
Kimura swings wildly with an uppercut but Belanger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kimura throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kimura tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Belanger's elbow.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Belanger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Belanger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Belanger throws a head kick that half lands.
Belanger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Belanger lands with an uppercut that bounces Kimura off the cage and back into rage.
Kimura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Belanger.
Kimura scoring well with a low kick there.
Kimura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kimura swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kimura dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Belanger. That did some damage!
Belanger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kimura. Kimura obviously looking to wear him down.
Kimura moves away from the strike by Belanger.
Belanger pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kimura scoring well with a low kick there.
Kimura throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kimura looks for the body kick but Belanger saw that one coming.
Kimura thows a body shot but no joy.
Belanger throws a sloppy head kick and Kimura moves out of range easily.
Kimura takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kimura tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Belanger is able to avoid easily.
Belanger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Belanger scores with a leg kick.
Kimura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belanger.
Kimura lands a jab to the head.
Kimura checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kimura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Belanger.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kimura blocks the body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Kimura blocks the leg kick.
Belanger pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Belanger stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kimura.
Kimura blocks the body kick.
Belanger misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kimura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kimura takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kimura misses with a head kick.
Belanger takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kimura throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Belanger lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Belanger lands a head kick. Kimura smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a leg kick but Kimura sees it coming and moves out of range.
Belanger plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Belanger throws a push kick but Kimura slaps the foot to one side.
Belanger gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kimura counters with a thumping low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Belanger.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kimura is looking to slow Belanger down with leg kicks.
Belanger takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Belanger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kimura moves out of range as Belanger throws a body kick.
Belanger misses with a two punch combination.
Belanger is breathing heavily.
Belanger throws a looping overhand right but Kimura ducks down to avoid it.
Kimura throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Belanger shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Belanger throws a front kick aimed at Kimura's knee but Kimura avoids it well.
Kimura tries to clinch but Belanger moves out of range.
Joe Belanger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kimura shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A big left from Belanger misses.
Belanger throws a leg kick but Kimura sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Belanger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Belanger throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kimura throws a nice outside leg kick.
Belanger throws a right and a left that Kimura avoids nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kimura takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kimura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Belanger tries to land a leg kick but Kimura saw it coming and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Belanger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Belanger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Belanger attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger is looking to score with low kicks.
Kimura lunges at Belanger with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Belanger's hand.
Kimura misses with a straight right.
Belanger throws a head kick that Kimura semi-blocks.
Kimura connects with a leg kick. Belanger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kimura connects with a nice looking jab.
Kimura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Belanger.
Kimura throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Belanger throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kimura throws a body punch but Belanger moves out of range.
Kimura throws a leg kick but Belanger moved away.
Belanger misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kimura scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura wants to land a leg kick but Belanger is out of range.
Belanger checks a low kick from Kimura.
Belanger misses with a straight right.
Belanger looks to throw the jab but Kimura is out of range.
Belanger moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Belanger cracks Kimura with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kimura throws a leg kick that misses.
Belanger throws a low kick but Kimura avoids it.
Belanger pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick by Belanger misses
and Kimura counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kimura throws a low kick, looking for Belanger's leg but Belanger calmly moves out of range.
Kimura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kimura looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura avoids a kick to the body.
Kimura checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kimura takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Belanger misses with a leg kick.
Kimura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Belanger can pounce on him.
Joe Belanger is winning the standup battle so far.
Belanger tried to score with a low kick but Kimura checks it.
Kimura tries to clinch there but Belanger circles away.
Belanger feints and then cracks Kimura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kimura down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kimura throws out a powerful jab.
Belanger throws a hook but Kimura blocks it.
Belanger lands a glancing blow to the side of Kimura's head.

Kimura moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Belanger takes an elbow to the temple.

Belanger breaks the clinch.
Kimura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Belanger throws a body kick that misses.
Kimura moves out of range of the body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kimura is looking to clinch but Belanger is avoiding it.
Kimura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Belanger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kimura moves away.
Kimura's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Belanger scoring well with a low kick there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kimura trying to land knees to the body.
Kimura lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Belanger.
Belanger tries to break the clinch but Kimura is controlling the position.

Belanger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Belanger just misses with a punch to the body.
Kimura wants to slow Belanger down by chopping away at his legs.
Belanger throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Belanger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kimura momentarily.
Kimura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Belanger.
Kimura lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Belanger at a distance.
Belanger scores with a hook to the body. Kimura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kimura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Kimura.
Belanger tries to land a front kick but Kimura steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Belanger misses the jab.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kimura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Belanger swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kimura feints and then cracks Belanger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Belanger down.
Belanger thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kimura slips a jab from Belanger.
Belanger misses with a body kick.
Belanger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kimura. Kimura obviously looking to wear him down.
Belanger avoids the body shot from Kimura.
Belanger lands with a slapping head kick.
Belanger keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kimura wants to slow Belanger down by chopping away at his legs.
Kimura fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Belanger checks it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Belanger, right into the meat.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kimura just misses with a punch to the body.
Belanger thumps Kimura with a low kick.
Belanger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Belanger throws a lazy body kick
and Kimura counters with a good low kick that Belanger was not able to check.
Kimura throws the left hand but Belanger avoids the punch easily.
Kimura attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Belanger moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Belanger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kimura attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kimura works Belanger's body with a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Belanger.
Belanger lands a jab to Kimura's midsection.
Kimura is looking to clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Belanger thumps Kimura with a low kick.
Belanger connects with a leg kick. Kimura looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Belanger gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kimura makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kimura throws a head kick that half lands.
Kimura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Belanger rather than just go for the knockout.
Belanger throws a head kick that misses.
Kimura lands a nice looking body kick.
Belanger misses with a lunging right hand
and Kimura counters with a stiff right hand.
Belanger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Good work by Kimura as he checks the leg kick.
Kimura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kimura tries to work over Belanger's front leg with a kick but Belanger checks it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Belanger fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kimura.
Kimura throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kimura slips under a jab from Belanger.
Belanger shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kimura looks to throw the jab but Belanger is out of range.
Belanger lands a head kick!
Belanger on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kimura stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Belanger.
Belanger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Belanger moves out of range of the body kick.
Belanger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kimura scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kimura walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Belanger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kimura moves out of range of the leg kick from Belanger.
Kimura misses with a low kick.
Belanger wants to slow Kimura down by chopping away at his legs.
Belanger throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kimura makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Belanger really felt that one!
Kimura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Belanger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Belanger will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Kimura connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Belanger lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belanger throws a hook but Kimura blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Belanger.
A punch lands to the side of Belanger 's head but he takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe Belanger.
I think Belanger 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Joe Belanger!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Joe Belanger!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Joe Belanger!

Joe Belanger wins by unanimous decision!