PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benny Noksuklai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noksuklai is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Noksuklai
vs
Kawajiri

170 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

173 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benny Noksuklai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kawajiri shoots in and bounces Noksuklai off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Noksuklai is breathing heavily.
Kawajiri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Noksuklai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Noksuklai keeping full guard, as Kawajiri tries to pass.
Kawajiri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kawajiri decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kawajiri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Noksuklai doesn't manage to clinch there - Kawajiri circles away.
Noksuklai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kawajiri closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Kawajiri decides to stand back up.
Noksuklai takes one on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kawajiri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri tries to bum rush Noksuklai with a series of wild strikes but Noksuklai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Noksuklai throws a series of punches but Kawajiri avoids them all with ease.

Kawajiri gets a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Kawajiri.
Noksuklai throws an elbow but it misses.

Kawajiri jumps into guard, dragging Noksuklai to the mat.
Kawajiri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Noksuklai!
Kawajiri looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kawajiri landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kawajiri putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kawajiri with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawajiri landing strikes from the mount.
Kawajiri looking to control but Noksuklai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Noksuklai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri get's back to his feet.
Noksuklai closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kawajiri counters with a nice double leg into side control. Noksuklai won't be happy with that.
Kawajiri working the ground and pound but Noksuklai is defending the strikes.
Kawajiri postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kawajiri is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Noksuklai's shoulder. That is not cool.
Let's hope that Kawajiri has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Kawajiri looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Noksuklai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kawajiri connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Noksuklai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kawajiri asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Kawajiri is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Noksuklai is trying to escape and Kawajiri transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Noksuklai is forced to tap! Nice work there by Kawajiri! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Takanori Kawajiri!