PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryo Kawamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manung Ginobili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kawamura
vs
Ginobili

166 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Kawamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manung Ginobili!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ginobili has managed to clinch.
Kawamura looking to slow down the pace here.
Ginobili is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kawamura pulls Ginobili into guard.
Kawamura thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ginobili stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kawamura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ginobili stopping the sweep attempt from Kawamura.
Kawamura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ginobili wants to control from the top but Kawamura keeps moving.
Kawamura looking to control.
Kawamura keeping moving, preventing Ginobili from controlling successfully.

Manung Ginobili has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kawamura defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ginobili.

Ginobili manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kawamura on his heels. He'll look to pass Kawamura's guard now, I'm sure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ginobili trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kawamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawamura is looking to stand up but Ginobili isn't so interested in that idea.
Kawamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Kawamura controls Ginobili momentarily but Ginobili frees himself.
Ginobili trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manung Ginobili was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ginobili wants to clinch.
Kawamura closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ginobili counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ginobili.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ginobili.
Kawamura looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kawamura misses with a punch on the inside.

Ginobili manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kawamura won't allow Ginobili to sweep him here.
Ginobili not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ginobili is on top in guard.

Ginobili stands and steps away. Kawamura gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ginobili is defended easily by Kawamura.
Ginobili changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kawamura tries to avoid it but Ginobili manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kawamura to the ground. Kawamura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manung Ginobili.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kawamura defends it nicely.
Ginobili shoots for a double leg takedown but Kawamura sprawls well. He's pushed Ginobili's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kawamura throws a shot from downtown. Ginobili moves away and avoids it.
Ginobili scores with a head kick. Kawamura tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kawamura works Ginobili's body with a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Ginobili.
Kawamura works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Ginobili feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura wants to stand and escape but Ginobili is having none of it.

Kawamura had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ginobili defends it easily.
Kawamura is breathing heavily.
Ginobili cracks Kawamura with a solid left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kawamura is working an open guard so Ginobili takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Ginobili. That snapped Kawamura's head back.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ginobili.
Ginobili lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kawamura circles away quickly and effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawamura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ginobili.
Kawamura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manung Ginobili dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kawamura looks to score with a jab to the body but Ginobili is just out of range.
Kawamura getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kawamura looks to throw the jab but Ginobili is out of range.
Ginobili looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kawamura blocks a head kick by Ginobili.
Ginobili looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Ginobili manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kawamura on his heels. He'll look to pass Kawamura's guard now, I'm sure.
Ginobili looking to pass the guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamura 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.

Kawamura is working an open guard so Ginobili takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ginobili tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kawamura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kawamura defending well as Ginobili loads up on a big left hand.

Ginobili looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ginobili trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura wants to stand and escape but Ginobili is having none of it.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Manung Ginobili hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ginobili has a takedown stuffed.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manung Ginobili.
Ginobili shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ginobili is defended easily by Kawamura.
Ginobili is breathing heavily.

Ginobili shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura is refusing to be controlled, as Ginobili sits in half guard.
Kawamura is looking for a sweep. Ginobili is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ginobili is keen to just control but Kawamura is a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Manung Ginobili.
Ginobili shoots for a takedown but Kawamura saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ginobili avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ginobili looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ginobili shoots in looking for a takedown. Kawamura tries to sprawl out of it but Ginobili keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kawamura manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ginobili throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kawamura's waist but Kawamura gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ginobili off to one side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab lands there for Kawamura.

Kawamura moves into range and clinches up with Ginobili.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manung Ginobili showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kawamura throws a hook to the side of Ginobili's head but Ginobili sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ginobili shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ginobili showed some decent athleticism there.
Kawamura is looking for a sweep. Ginobili is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kawamura is working hard here to advance position.
Kawamura trying to control here.
Kawamura is not content to let Ginobili control the position.
Ginobili working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawamura on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kawamura taking some punishment here, with Ginobili in his half guard.
Kawamura trying to hold on to Ginobili's head to control him but Ginobili postures up.
Ginobili scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ginobili is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kawamura doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ginobili.

Ginobili stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Kawamura to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ginobili scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili throws a head kick that misses.
Ginobili misses with a double jab.
Ryo Kawamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters circling - Kawamura throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ginobili throws a head kick but Kawamura moves out of range.
Kawamura cracks Ginobili with an open hand slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ginobili gets tackled into the cage by Kawamura. Kawamura maintains the clinch.
Kawamura fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Ginobili breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manung Ginobili is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ginobili tries a head kick but it misses.
Ginobili throws a right and a left that Kawamura avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ginobili shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kawamura defends it nicely.
Kawamura swats away the attempt to clinch by Ginobili.
Manung Ginobili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ginobili takes the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Ginobili.
Kawamura gets underhooks to prevent Ginobili's takedown attempt.
Kawamura is trying to pull guard but Ginobili has him pressed against the cage.
Ginobili tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawamura prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryo Kawamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manung Ginobili.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kawamura misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ginobili drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kawamura gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ginobili changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kawamura fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Manung Ginobili seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ginobili looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kawamura!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawamura tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manung Ginobili comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ginobili has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manung Ginobili!