PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jigoro Kano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulama Aru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kano
vs
Aru

180 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jigoro Kano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ulama Aru!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kano misses with a wild body shot.
Aru tries to clinch up.
Good work by Kano as he checks the leg kick.
Kano connects with an inside leg kick.
Kano moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Aru shoots for a double leg takedown but Kano sprawls well. He's pushed Aru's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aru shoots in for a double leg but Kano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kano avoids the head kick by Aru.
A head kick misses from Kano.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Aru!
Kano throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ulama Aru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aru fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Kano. No joy for Aru on that attempt.
Jigoro Kano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulama Aru.

Kano closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kano avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kano blocks a body shot from Aru.
Aru is looking to break free of the clinch but Kano has double underhooks.
Aru fails to pull guard.
Come on Kano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Aru is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kano to keep the fight standing.
A body shot lands from Kano.
Kano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aru.
Kano really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aru goes for a takedown attempt but Kano pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kano looks to score with a jab to the body but Aru is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aru tries to clinch but Kano is having none of it.
Kano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Aru looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kano is fending him off so far but Aru persists. Nope, Kano circles away and we're back to standing.
Kano throws a head kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Kano checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kano throws a push kick but Aru slaps the foot to one side.
Kano tries a head kick but it misses.
Aru avoids the head kick by Kano.
Kano jabs Aru right on the nose. Aru blinks but takes it well.
Aru fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano throws a jab when Aru was well out of range.
Aru dives in for a single leg takedown but Kano sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kano.
Aru is trying to push Kano away but Kano has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kano lands a left hand.
Kano swings wildly with an uppercut but Aru uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kano working aggressively here.
Kano scores with a shoulder strike.
Kano manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Aru effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kano lands a left hand.

Kano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kano scores with a jab.
Both fighters circling a little - Kano finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kano lands a nice looking kick to the body. Aru takes a step back to recover.
Kano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aru tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aru somewhat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aru chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kano can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jigoro Kano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Aru tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aru somewhat.
Kano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Aru.
Kano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kano swings for the body but Aru moves out of range.
Ulama Aru is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Kano. No joy for Aru on that attempt.
Jigoro Kano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulama Aru.
Aru shoots in looking for a takedown. Kano tries to sprawl out of it but Aru keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kano throws a lazy uppercut
and Aru counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kano thinking.
Kano thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Aru if he has to take too many more of those.
Aru fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aru is breathing heavily.
Kano throws a series of strikes that have Aru backpedaling.
Aru moves out of range as Kano throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aru is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kano tries a head kick but it misses.
Aru closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kano counters with a body kick.
Aru avoids the head kick by Kano.
Kano throws a front kick that sends Aru stumbling back into the cage.
Kano keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Aru looks to clinch
and Kano counters with a big head kick but Aru shrugs it off.
Aru fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kano throws a head kick that misses.

Kano moves into the clinch.
Aru wants a takedown.

Kano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aru blocks the body kick.
Kano misses with a head kick.
Kano throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Kano tries to keep at a distance but Aru has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Aru's elbow.
Kano prevents Aru from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kano - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kano lands an uppercut.
Kano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aru takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kano tries a body shot but Aru blocks it.

Aru has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kano uses from the top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Aru manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kano throws a hook to the side of Aru's head but Aru sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kano misses with a left hand
and Aru counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aru tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aru shoots in for a takedown but Kano shows good takedown defense.
Aru blocks a head kick by Kano.
Aru shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kano defends it nicely.
Aru is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Aru has a takedown stuffed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kano connects with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jigoro Kano dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Aru shoots for a takedown but Kano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kano throws a head kick but Aru moves out of range.
Aru misses with a low kick as Kano jumps back.
Aru shoots in but no luck this time.
Kano throws a hook to the side of Aru's head but Aru sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aru is looking to clinch but Kano is avoiding it.
Aru tries a head kick but it misses.
Aru on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kano. Kano obviously looking to wear him down.
A lazy body kick from Aru
and Kano counters with a big head kick but Aru shrugs it off.
Aru shoots in and drives through. Kano sprawls well.
Jigoro Kano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulama Aru.
Aru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aru blocks a head kick by Kano.
Aru throws a shot from downtown. Kano moves away and avoids it.
Aru has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kano.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aru looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aru throws a head kick that misses
and Kano counters with a flying knee. Nice.
An inside leg kick lands from Kano.
Kano swings for the body but Aru moves out of range.
Aru shoots in for a double leg but Kano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kano looks to score with a jab to the body but Aru is just out of range.
Kano throws a head kick that misses.
Aru shoots in for a takedown but Kano shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aru will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aru.
Jigoro Kano is winning the standup battle so far.
Aru looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kano is fending him off so far but Aru persists. Nope, Kano circles away and we're back to standing.
Kano dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aru. That did some damage!
Aru on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Aru blocks a head kick by Kano.
Kano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aru fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kano throws a sloppy head kick and Aru moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kano takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Aru ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aru doesn't manage to clinch there - Kano circles away.
Kano avoids a kick to the body.
Aru has a takedown stuffed.
Crunch! Kano slams his shin into Aru's torso.
Kano throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aru.
Jigoro Kano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kano stuffs the takedown attempt from Aru. Aru gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kano lands with a slapping head kick.
Kano cracks the inside of Aru's front leg.
Aru gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kano.
Nice sprawl there from Kano as Aru shoots in.
Aru ducks under a wild hook from Kano.
Kano connects with a high kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kano takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kano connects with a high kick.
Ulama Aru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aru closes the distance but Kano moves to the side
and Kano counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jigoro Kano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tew scores the fight for Jigoro Kano!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Jigoro Kano!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Jigoro Kano!

Jigoro Kano wins by unanimous decision!