PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koji Kenjahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Ikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenjahara's entrance music is Roll wit Uz by Thai. A fine choice. The key to victory for Koji Kenjahara has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kenjahara
vs
Ikari

161 cm
19
135 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koji Kenjahara!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Ikari!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kenjahara drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kenjahara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kenjahara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ikari is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kenjahara has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ikari is proving hard to escape from.
Ikari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kenjahara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ikari is keeping the position for now.

Ikari is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ikari manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kenjahara tries to hold on but Ikari pushes him away.
Kenjahara tries to reverse the position but Ikari maintains control.
Kenjahara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ikari jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kenjahara manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kenjahara tries to buck Ikari off but Ikari is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ikari is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kenjahara knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ikari tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kenjahara regains half guard.
Kenjahara is looking for a sweep. Ikari is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kenjahara is pressing down on Ikari's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ikari slips nicely into half guard.
Ikari looks gassed!
Kenjahara manages to get to full guard.
Ikari pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kenjahara is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kenjahara throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ikari forces his way into half guard.

Ikari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kenjahara works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ikari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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

Ikari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Ikari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ikari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ikari is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kenjahara wants to stand but Ikari is controlling the position.
Kenjahara keeping full guard, as Ikari tries to pass.
Kenjahara lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ikari!
Ikari is trying to escape the mount.

Kenjahara is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ikari has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ikari is desperately trying to improve his position but Kenjahara has a good base and remains in mount.
Ikari bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikari looking to pass the guard.
Kenjahara tries to strike from the bottom.

Ikari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ikari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kenjahara throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kenjahara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ikari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kenjahara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ikari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kenjahara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ikari manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koji Kenjahara dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ikari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ikari stuffs the takedown.
Ikari stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown by Kenjahara or perhaps it was just good defense by Ikari which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koji Kenjahara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kenjahara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenjahara fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kenjahara fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kenjahara shoots in looking for a takedown. Ikari tries to sprawl out of it but Kenjahara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ikari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Koji Kenjahara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenjahara is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kenjahara misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ikari shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ikari showed some decent athleticism there.
Ikari trying to mount his opponent but Kenjahara defends it.

Kenjahara actively working from the bottom here.

Ikari seems to be working for a kimura but Kenjahara defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikari is thwarting Kenjahara's attempts to control the position.
Kenjahara regains full guard. Nicely done.
Koji Kenjahara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ikari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ikari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kenjahara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ikari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kenjahara trying to keep a closed guard but Ikari is proving a slippery customer.
Kenjahara 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.
Kenjahara is working hard here to advance position.

Kenjahara is looking for a triangle but Ikari pushes his legs off easily.
Kenjahara keeping full guard, as Ikari tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kenjahara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ikari works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kenjahara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kenjahara gets back to full guard.

Kenjahara looking for a guillotine here but Ikari defends easily.
Kenjahara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenjahara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ikari wants to improve his position but Kenjahara is controlling well.
Ikari is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Koji Kenjahara will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kenjahara is looking to clinch.

Kenjahara looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kenjahara trying to control the position from guard on top but Ikari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kenjahara slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ikari is not content to let Kenjahara control the position.
Ikari is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ikari is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kenjahara is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ikari has managed to free his arm - good work.

Ikari is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kenjahara pulls his head out easily.

Kenjahara wants to work for an arm triangle but Ikari is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ikari works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ikari looking for a sweep. Not yet Ikari, not yet.
Kenjahara sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ikari's guard.

Kenjahara is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ikari has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kenjahara passes to full mount!
Ikari is squirming around, avoiding Kenjahara's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenjahara working the ground and pound effectively.
Kenjahara landing strikes from the mount and Ikari is in trouble!
Kenjahara takes Ikari's back.
Kenjahara has Ikari flattened out and is raining down punches.

Kenjahara has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ikari has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
A lull in the action here.
Ikari breaks Kenjahara's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
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!
Kenjahara is trying to control the position but Ikari postures up.

Kenjahara is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ikari has his hands clasped together but Kenjahara extends an breaks Ikari's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kenjahara.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Koji Kenjahara!
Koji Kenjahara retains his bantamweight title!