PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kunitskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tatsuya Kawajiri enters the cage!

Kunitskiy
vs
Kawajiri

173 cm
22
146 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Kunitskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tatsuya Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kawajiri.
Kawajiri moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kunitskiy moves forwards but Kawajiri connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kawajiri drops his hands momentarily and Kunitskiy takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kunitskiy moves out of range as Kawajiri strikes.
Kawajiri scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kawajiri stuns Kunitskiy with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kunitskiy dodges the punch combination from Kawajiri.
Vladimir Kunitskiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kawajiri throws a lazy uppercut
and Kunitskiy counters with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kunitskiy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kunitskiy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kunitskiy cracks Kawajiri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kunitskiy scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kawajiri has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kunitskiy finds it's way round the side to connect with Kawajiri's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunitskiy tries a head kick but it misses.
Kunitskiy looks to score with a jab to the body but Kawajiri is just out of range.
Kunitskiy misses with a straight right.
Kunitskiy misses with a double jab
and Kawajiri counters with a nice uppercut.
Kawajiri scores with a jab to the head.

Kunitskiy has closed the distance and engaged Kawajiri in a clinch.
Kawajiri misses with a body punch.
Our sources have told us that Kunitskiy has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Kunitskiy digs a right hand into Kawajiri's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kawajiri's gas tank.
Kunitskiy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kunitskiy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kawajiri is trying to force a seperation but Kunitskiy has the dominant position.
Kunitskiy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kawajiri has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kawajiri managing to block the knees to the body from Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy trying to land knees to the body.
Kunitskiy with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kawajiri breaks the clinch.
Kawajiri circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kunitskiy tries a low kick but Kawajiri avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kawajiri throws an overhand right that lands on Kunitskiy's shoulder, as Kunitskiy tries to avoid the shot.
Kunitskiy misses with a low kick.
Kawajiri keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kunitskiy.
Kawajiri throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kunitskiy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kawajiri chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kunitskiy can pounce on him.
Kunitskiy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kawajiri was well out of range. Poor timing from Kunitskiy.
Kawajiri circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kawajiri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kawajiri circles away.
Kunitskiy swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kawajiri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kawajiri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kawajiri lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kunitskiy scores with a jab. Kawajiri acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kawajiri misses with a hook. Kunitskiy ducked under it nicely.
Kunitskiy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kunitskiy looks to throw a body kick
and Kawajiri counters with a left to the body.
Kunitskiy bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kunitskiy wants to slow Kawajiri down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice defenses there by Kunitskiy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy tries to clinch up.
Kunitskiy tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kawajiri walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kunitskiy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kawajiri is out of range.
Kawajiri lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kunitskiy backs up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick
and Kawajiri makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kunitskiy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kawajiri on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A cross from Kunitskiy lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kunitskiy has closed the distance and engaged Kawajiri in a clinch.

Kawajiri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kunitskiy cracks Kawajiri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kunitskiy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kunitskiy dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kawajiri avoids the body shot from Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kawajiri in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kunitskiy thows a body shot but no joy.
Kawajiri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kunitskiy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kunitskiy takes one to the side of the head.
Kunitskiy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kawajiri moves out of range as Kunitskiy throws a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kunitskiy. Kawajiri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kawajiri throws out a loose jab but Kunitskiy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawajiri throws out a loose jab but Kunitskiy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kunitskiy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kunitskiy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kawajiri moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunitskiy misses with a leg kick
and Kawajiri counters with a thumping low kick.
Kunitskiy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kunitskiy misses with a double jab
letting Kawajiri counter with a right hand.
Kunitskiy wants to clinch up but Kawajiri keeps it at a distance.
Kunitskiy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kawajiri throws a poor cross that misses
and Kunitskiy connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Kawajiri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kawajiri lands with a cross.
Kunitskiy thuds a left hand into Kawajiri's body.
Kunitskiy tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick but Kawajiri checks it.
Kawajiri takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri works the jab nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kunitskiy wants to clinch.
Kawajiri connects with an inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kunitskiy.
Kawajiri takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kunitskiy misses with a looping right.
Kunitskiy scores with a jab. Kawajiri acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kawajiri has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kunitskiy.
Kawajiri cracks Kunitskiy with a good jab.
Kunitskiy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Kawajiri circles away.
Kunitskiy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kunitskiy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kawajiri was well out of range. Poor timing from Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy misses with a two punch combination.
Kawajiri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kunitskiy.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kunitskiy!
Kunitskiy avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kawajiri takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vladimir Kunitskiy is winning the standup battle so far.
Kunitskiy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kawajiri checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Kunitskiy darts in and clinches Kawajiri up against the cage.
Kawajiri managing to block the knees to the body from Kunitskiy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawajiri.
Kawajiri is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kawajiri's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kawajiri is trying to break the clinch but Kunitskiy is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kawajiri holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kawajiri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kawajiri throws a solid leg kick but Kunitskiy takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kawajiri.
Kawajiri lunges at Kunitskiy with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kunitskiy's hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawajiri takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kawajiri smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kunitskiy misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kunitskiy dominated that second round.
That's time! Kunitskiy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kunitskiy bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kawajiri's head.
Kunitskiy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kawajiri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fighters circling - Kawajiri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kawajiri ducks under a wild hook from Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy defending well as Kawajiri loads up on a big left hand.
Kunitskiy looks to score with a jab to the body but Kawajiri is just out of range.
Kawajiri checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Kunitskiy closes the distance and pushes Kawajiri back into the cage.
Kunitskiy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kawajiri blocks it with crossed arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri is trying to push Kunitskiy away but Kunitskiy has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kunitskiy throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kunitskiy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kawajiri blocks it with crossed arms.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kunitskiy just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kawajiri's brow.
Kunitskiy putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kawajiri in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Kawajiri breaks the clinch.
Kunitskiy lands the left hand.
Kunitskiy with a hook.
Kawajiri misses the jab.
Kawajiri throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Kawajiri misses.
Kawajiri fails to land with a series of punches.
Kunitskiy throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kawajiri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tatsuya Kawajiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy misses with a body shot.
Kunitskiy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kawajiri.
Kunitskiy takes a swing at Kawajiri's ribcage but misses.
Kunitskiy scores with a sloppy right hand. Kawajiri should have avoided that one.
Crunch! Kunitskiy slams his shin into Kawajiri's torso.
A big right from Kawajiri misses.
Kawajiri swats away the attempt to clinch by Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy is looking to clinch but Kawajiri is avoiding it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kunitskiy lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The fighters circling - Kawajiri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick but Kawajiri moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri misses the jab.
Kunitskiy pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Kawajiri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kunitskiy dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kawajiri. That did some damage!
Kunitskiy throws a leg kick which misses Kawajiri's front leg but catches the back leg as Kawajiri tries to avoid it.

Kunitskiy clinches up against the cage.
Kawajiri working hard to break the clinch.
Kawajiri gets through Kunitskiy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kunitskiy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Kunitskiy.
Kunitskiy lands an elbow just above Kawajiri 's eye.
Kawajiri blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kawajiri scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kunitskiy creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kunitskiy tries to land a knee to the head but Kawajiri blocks with his arms.
Kawajiri has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kunitskiy throws an elbow but misses.
Kunitskiy throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kunitskiy avoiding damage.
Kunitskiy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kawajiri's elbow.
Kawajiri blocks an uppercut.
Kunitskiy is trying to maintain a safe position but Kawajiri gets an underhook and turns Kunitskiy into the cage.

Kawajiri's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawajiri misses with a hook. Kunitskiy ducked under it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kawajiri connects with a right hand. Kunitskiy shakes it off.
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!
Kawajiri buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vladimir Kunitskiy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kawajiri pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Kunitskiy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kunitskiy has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Kunitskiy!
Vladimir Kunitskiy decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.