PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Kuznetsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tatsuya Kawajiri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuznetsov
vs
Kawajiri

182 cm
31
170 lbs
18 - 15 - 1

172 cm
39
155 lbs
27 - 17 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MayheM sportswear

Aspire Clothing

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 18 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Kuznetsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tatsuya Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawajiri lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kawajiri checks the leg kick.
Kuznetsov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kawajiri takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Kawajiri closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kawajiri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kawajiri lands a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kawajiri misses with some punches.
A short right from Kawajiri on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kuznetsov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kawajiri lands a hook to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kawajiri misses with a punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuznetsov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kawajiri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawajiri tries to work over Kuznetsov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kawajiri throws a head punch that misses.
Kawajiri lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kuznetsov blocking some punches.
Kawajiri softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kawajiri avoids a wild elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov stalling.
Kuznetsov missing with knees to the body.
Kawajiri can't find room to land a body shot as Kuznetsov controls the action.
Kawajiri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuznetsov's elbow.
Kuznetsov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kuznetsov working aggressively here.
Kuznetsov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kawajiri lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kuznetsov scores with a shot to the side of Kawajiri's head.
Kuznetsov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kuznetsov tries a body shot but Kawajiri blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri misses with some punches.
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!
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it misses.
Kawajiri blocks the elbow strike.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kawajiri misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kawajiri avoiding damage as Kuznetsov throws knees to the body.
Kawajiri lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but Kawajiri blocks with his arms.
Kuznetsov controlling the action here for a moment.
Kuznetsov tries to land knees in the clinch but Kawajiri avoids the damage to the body.
Kawajiri on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kawajiri lands with a light punch inside.
Kuznetsov lands a nice elbow.
Kawajiri misses with a body punch.
Kawajiri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov landing knees to the body.
Kawajiri digs a right hand underneath Kuznetsov's ribcage. Kuznetsov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kawajiri swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kuznetsov lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Tatsuya Kawajiri has been cut.
Kawajiri tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Kawajiri back against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kuznetsov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A bit of stalling here from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri throws a head punch that misses.
Kawajiri lands a shot to the body.
Kuznetsov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawajiri takes an elbow to the temple.
Kawajiri can't find room to land a body shot as Kuznetsov controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawajiri.
Kuznetsov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kawajiri's face.

Kuznetsov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexandr Kuznetsov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri drives through and clinches with Kuznetsov against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawajiri throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kawajiri tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kawajiri managing to block the knees to the body from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kawajiri softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kawajiri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kawajiri misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kawajiri fails to land.
Kawajiri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuznetsov blocks an uppercut.
Kawajiri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuznetsov missing with knees to the body.
Kuznetsov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kawajiri is defending well for now.
Kawajiri lands with a right to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tatsuya Kawajiri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Kawajiri's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kawajiri goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kawajiri throws a big shot that misses.
Kuznetsov lands with a nice combination. Kawajiri backs away looking to recover.

Kawajiri takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kuznetsov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kawajiri misses with some punches.
Kawajiri lands a shoulder strike.
Kuznetsov misses with a knee to the head.
Kawajiri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawajiri throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri pushes Kuznetsov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short left from Kuznetsov.

Kawajiri is rocked!
Kawajiri's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kawajiri is still on wobbly legs! Can Kuznetsov finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuznetsov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kawajiri backwards.
Kawajiri gets through Kuznetsov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kawajiri stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kawajiri pushes Kuznetsov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kawajiri pushes Kuznetsov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kawajiri seems to have recovered his senses.
Kawajiri avoiding damage as Kuznetsov throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuznetsov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kawajiri misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kuznetsov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kuznetsov has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kawajiri fails to land.
Kuznetsov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kawajiri misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Kawajiri back against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow inside.
Kuznetsov swings wildly with an uppercut but Kawajiri uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kuznetsov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuznetsov gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kuznetsov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A left and a right from Kawajiri both land. Nice combination.
Kawajiri lands the left hand.
Kawajiri tries to clinch but Kuznetsov moves out of range.

Kawajiri closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kawajiri lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Good body shot from Kawajiri.
Kuznetsov is trying to stall.
Kawajiri misses with a body punch.
Kawajiri lands with a light punch inside.
Kawajiri throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri throws a head punch that misses.
Kuznetsov scores with a knee to the head.
Kawajiri misses with some punches.
Tatsuya Kawajiri seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Kuznetsov breaks from the clinch.

Kuznetsov gets tackled into the cage by Kawajiri. Kawajiri maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov misses with the head strike.

Kuznetsov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuznetsov throws the kick towards the body but Kawajiri avoids it.
Kawajiri slips under a jab.
Kuznetsov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kawajiri scores with a jab.

Kawajiri moves into range and clinches up with Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kuznetsov fails to land.
Kawajiri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuznetsov's elbow.
Kawajiri letting Kuznetsov take a breather here.
Kuznetsov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kawajiri up against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Kuznetsov for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Kawajiri working aggressively here.
Kawajiri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kawajiri lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov with a knee to the head.
Kuznetsov misses with a knee strike.
Kawajiri misses with the head strike.
Kawajiri misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Kuznetsov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kuznetsov is trying to break the clinch but Kawajiri is controlling him.
A short body shot lands from Kawajiri as the two fighters clinch.
Kawajiri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuznetsov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kawajiri lands a left hand.
Kuznetsov just leaning against Kawajiri, taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kawajiri.
Kawajiri misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short uppercut from Kawajiri.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawajiri misses with a punch on the inside.
Kawajiri misses with a punch to the body.
Kawajiri lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Kuznetsov blocks an uppercut.
Kuznetsov crunches a lovely knee into Kawajiri's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tatsuya Kawajiri will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Kawajiri's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Kawajiri takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kawajiri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kuznetsov is out of range and Kawajiri settles back down.
Kawajiri wants to clinch.
Kawajiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kawajiri looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kawajiri looks to land a right hand but Kuznetsov moved out of range.
Kuznetsov connects with a high kick.
Kawajiri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kawajiri waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a nice looking combination but Kawajiri bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kawajiri throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kuznetsov lands a body shot.
Kuznetsov scores with a decent looking hook.
Kuznetsov misses with a kick to the body
and Kawajiri counters with a left and a right that stings Kuznetsov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawajiri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Kawajiri does no damage.
Kuznetsov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kawajiri scores with a leg kick.
Kuznetsov blocks a jab.
Kawajiri lands with a shot to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Kawajiri as he connects with a hook.
Kuznetsov misses with a leg kick
and Kawajiri counters with an inside leg kick.
Kuznetsov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kawajiri can pounce on him.
Kuznetsov throws a big shot that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kawajiri! But no joy.
Kuznetsov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kawajiri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri throws a nice looking combination but Kuznetsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuznetsov misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kawajiri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kawajiri misses with a double jab
and Kuznetsov counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuznetsov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuznetsov lands a nice shot that snaps Kawajiri's head back.
A lazy left from Kawajiri finds it's target.
Kawajiri on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Alexandr Kuznetsov is winning the standup battle so far.
Good work by Kuznetsov as he checks the leg kick.
Kawajiri lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kawajiri throws a nice looking combination but Kuznetsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuznetsov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuznetsov connects with a body shot that sends Kawajiri's belly button to the back.
Alexandr Kuznetsov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab from Kuznetsov finds it's way through Kawajiri's defenses.
The crowd cheers as Kawajiri lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kuznetsov doesn't seem phased though.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Kawajiri.
A low kick from Kuznetsov misses
and Kawajiri counters with a leg kick.
Kawajiri slips a straight right by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kawajiri is out of range.
Kuznetsov is looking to clinch.
Kawajiri throws a quick inside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kawajiri.
A jab from Kawajiri does it's job there.
Kawajiri connects with a leg kick. Kuznetsov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Kuznetsov gets a clinch.
Kawajiri misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kawajiri scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Kawajiri.

Kuznetsov is rocked!
A hook to the body from Kuznetsov.
Oh Kuznetsov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kuznetsov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kawajiri in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov misses with a knee to the head.
Kuznetsov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kawajiri's defenses.
Kuznetsov tries to throw a body punch but Kawajiri avoids it by throwing Kuznetsov back against the cage.
Kuznetsov seems to have got his legs back now.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov lands a nice uppercut.
Kuznetsov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A head punch on the inside from Kawajiri fails to land.
Kawajiri blocks a body shot from Kuznetsov.
Kawajiri working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kawajiri lands a shoulder strike.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Well Kawajiri 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!