PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Karasawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richiko Renji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiroshi Karasawa looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Karasawa
vs
Renji

185 cm
20
184 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Karasawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Richiko Renji!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karasawa avoids the head kick by Renji.
A head kick misses from Renji.

Renji gets tackled into the cage by Karasawa. Karasawa maintains the clinch.
Karasawa blocks an elbow strike from Renji.
Karasawa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Renji fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Karasawa tries to clinch up.
Karasawa tries to clinch there but Renji circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Renji pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Renji.
Renji lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Karasawa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Renji lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karasawa is defending well for now.
Karasawa managing to block the knees to the body from Renji.
With the fighters up against the cage, Renji throws an elbow but misses.
Karasawa can't get the takedown.
Karasawa managing to block the knees to the body from Renji.

Karasawa jumps guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Karasawa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Renji doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Renji manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Karasawa wants to sweep here but Renji controlling him for the moment.

Karasawa pushes Renji off and gets back to his feet.
Renji fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renji leaves Karasawa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshi Karasawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karasawa is breathing heavily.
Renji throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Renji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karasawa blocks a head kick by Renji.
Richiko Renji is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karasawa blocks a head kick by Renji.

Renji gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Renji pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Renji comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Karasawa avoids the elbow strike from Renji, against the cage.
Renji tries to break the clinch but Karasawa is controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Renji lands a damaging elbow.
Karasawa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Renji pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Renji.
Karasawa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Renji sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Renji tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Renji takes the fight into the clinch.
Karasawa dodges an elbow strike from Renji.
Renji comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Renji lands an elbow that stopped Karasawa in his tracks for a moment.
Karasawa avoids a wild elbow strike from Renji.
Karasawa is trying to drag Renji to the mat but Renji just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa letting Renji take a breather here.
Renji tries to circle away but Karasawa has him pinned against the cage.
Nice elbow from Renji.
Renji tries to break the clinch but Karasawa is controlling the position.
Renji is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karasawa is defending well for now.
Renji looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Karasawa blocks the elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karasawa prevents Renji from breaking the clinch.
Karasawa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Renji up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richiko Renji dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karasawa avoids the head kick by Renji.
Richiko Renji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karasawa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Renji as he avoids it easily.
Renji keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Karasawa.
A head kick misses from Renji.
Nice takedown defense from Renji. No joy for Karasawa on that attempt.
Renji misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Renji gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Karasawa managing to block the knees to the body from Renji.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karasawa blocks an elbow strike from Renji.
Renji misses with an elbow strike.
Renji lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Renji lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renji lands an elbow that stopped Karasawa in his tracks for a moment.
Karasawa has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Renji after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshi Karasawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Renji lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Renji just misses with a elbow thrown towards Karasawa's brow.
Renji creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Karasawa's defenses.
Karasawa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Renji gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Renji looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Karasawa avoids a wild elbow strike from Renji.

Karasawa breaks the clinch.
Renji goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Renji tries to clinch there but Karasawa circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Karasawa is defended easily by Renji.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renji throws a head kick but Karasawa moves out of range.
Renji misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Karasawa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Renji as he jumps to the side.
Hiroshi Karasawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Renji displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Karasawa.
Karasawa avoids the head kick by Renji.

Karasawa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Renji's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karasawa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa postures up.
Renji is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Renji wants to get back to his feet but Karasawa passes into half guard.
Renji tries to kick Karasawa off but Karasawa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Karasawa decides to stand up.
Karasawa looks for a takedown but Renji sprawls well.
Renji pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Renji circles away.
Renji tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Karasawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Renji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Karasawa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Renji manages to avoid it.
Renji throws a sloppy head kick and Karasawa moves out of range easily.
Renji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Renji throws a sloppy head kick and Karasawa moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karasawa blocks a head kick by Renji.
Karasawa closes the distance and clinches up with Renji, looking for a takedown. Karasawa pushes Renji against the cage but Renji circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Renji throws a head kick but Karasawa moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richiko Renji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Renji moves into the clinch.
Renji lands an elbow inside.
Renji wants to break the clinch but can't.
Renji stalls.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Renji just misses with a elbow thrown towards Karasawa's brow.
Renji lands an elbow inside that Karasawa shrugs off.
Renji looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Renji.
Karasawa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Karasawa blocks an elbow strike from Renji.
With the fighters up against the cage, Renji throws an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Renji.
Renji takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karasawa pulls guard successfully.
Renji really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karasawa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Karasawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Renji being controlled here momentarily.
Karasawa is trying to control the position but Renji postures up.
Renji wants to control from the top but Karasawa keeps moving.
Renji wants to stand and escape but instead Karasawa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Renji keeping moving, preventing Karasawa from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karasawa passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa wants to control but Renji is keeping him busy.
Karasawa is staying tight to Renji's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Karasawa working the head and body with strikes.

Karasawa decides to stand back up. Karasawa steps back and let's Renji get back to his feet.
Karasawa keeps the fight on the outside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from Renji.
Renji tries to clinch but Karasawa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Karasawa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Karasawa lands in his opponent's guard.
Renji tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Karasawa drops back looking for a leg! Renji is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Renji manages to kick Karasawa off! Karasawa jumps back into Renji's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karasawa drops back looking for a leg! Renji is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Renji manages to kick Karasawa off! Karasawa jumps back into Renji's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karasawa wants to control from the top but Renji keeps moving.

Karasawa stands and steps away. Renji gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Renji forces Karasawa back against the cage and clinches.
Renji looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hiroshi Karasawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karasawa misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroshi Karasawa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Renji has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richiko Renji!