PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ichi Kakihara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotaro Fuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotaro Fuma has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ichi Kakihara's chin.

Kakihara
vs
Fuma

170 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
158 lbs
3 - 13 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Kakihara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakihara has his takedown stuffed

and Fuma counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fuma.
Fuma looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Fuma breaks the clinch.
Kakihara with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fuma counters with a three punch combo that has Kakihara backing up. Kakihara nods at Fuma to acknowledge the strikes.
Kakihara misses with a takedown
and Fuma counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichi Kakihara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kakihara shoots in for a takedown but Fuma shows good takedown defense.
Kakihara has a takedown stuffed.
Kakihara misses with a takedown attempt

and Fuma counters by clinching up.
Fuma scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kakihara is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fuma can't fight it off and eventually Kakihara manages to take the fight to the floor. Fuma looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kakihara trying to control but Fuma is working from the bottom.
Kakihara looking to sit in guard and control but Fuma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fuma being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ichi Kakihara wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kakihara shoots in and bounces Fuma off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kakihara gets to his feet - Fuma follows without any prompting.
Kakihara has his takedown stuffed
and Fuma counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakihara misses with a leg kick
and Fuma counters with a solid body kick.
Kakihara tries for a takedown but Fuma circles away easily

so Fuma counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kakihara keeping moving, preventing Fuma from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fuma preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kotaro Fuma has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Fuma looking to score a takedown here. Kakihara is defending well but Fuma drives through and ends up in Kakihara's guard.
Fuma must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fuma is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kotaro Fuma was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kakihara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fuma avoids it really well and circles away.

Fuma closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kakihara quickly recovers to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kakihara drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kakihara postures up in Fuma's guard and throws a big left but Fuma blocks it.

Kakihara has gone for a leg lock! Fuma slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kakihara's guard.
Kakihara controlling the position.
Fuma is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Ichi Kakihara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kakihara gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fuma counters with a solid body kick.

Kakihara shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Fuma manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fuma is adopting a defensive guard.
Fuma is trying to keep Kakihara in close.
Fuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kakihara. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kakihara is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kakihara tries to clinch there but Fuma circles away.
Kakihara fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fuma avoids it really well and circles away.

Kakihara closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fuma did well to prevent Kakihara getting side control.
Fuma wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kakihara seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Fuma is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ichi Kakihara!
Ichi Kakihara decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.