PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raja Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taichi Kitano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kitano has chosen Angel of Doom - Shiro Sagisu as his entrance music. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Khan
vs
Kitano

184 cm
21
190 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raja Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taichi Kitano!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khan throws out a loose jab but Kitano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kitano takes a swing at Khan's ribcage but misses.
Raja Khan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khan connects with a body shot.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Kitano tries to clinch up.
Kitano throws a hook but Khan blocks it.
Khan connects with a body shot that sends Kitano's belly button to the back.
Khan throws a jab but it's blocked by Kitano.
Khan looks to score with a jab to the body but Kitano is just out of range.
Kitano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Khan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kitano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big right from Kitano misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Khan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kitanos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Khan cracks a nice hook into Kitano's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kitano misses with a hook.
Khan lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan throws a series of strikes that have Kitano backpedaling.
Kitano walks into a straight right hand from Khan.
Khan looks to score with a jab to the body but Kitano is just out of range.
Kitano wants to clinch up but Khan keeps it at a distance.
Kitano throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Khan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kitano.
Khan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Khan just misses with a punch to the body.
Khan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kitano.
Khan throws a lazy right hand but Kitano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Khan.
Khan throws a body punch but Kitano moves out of range.
Khan throws a hook to the side of Kitano's head but Kitano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kitano throws out a loose jab but Khan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kitano avoids the body shot from Khan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kitano moves out of range as Khan strikes.
Khan looks to land a right hand but Kitano moved out of range.
Kitano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khan misses with a wild body shot.
Khan is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kitano looks to land a right hand but Khan moved out of range.
Khan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kitano counters with a nice body shot.
Khan throws a jab when Kitano was well out of range.
Khan with a jab.
Kitano just misses with a punch to the body.
Kitano misses the shot to the body.
Kitano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kitano lands a really nice looking cross but Khan seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan misses with a straight left.
Khan misses with a body shot.
Khan just misses with a punch to the body.
Khan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kitano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Kitano misses.
Kitano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Khan.
Kitano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice uppercut there from Khan.
Kitano takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Khan slips under a jab.
Khan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kitano gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kitano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khan was well out of range. Poor timing from Kitano.
Kitano lands a slapping body shot.
Khan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kitano.
Khan throws out a loose jab but Kitano uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitano jabs Khan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kitano has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Khan throws a body punch but Kitano moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khan misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Kitano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kitano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kitano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Khan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kitano. Khan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kitano fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kitano on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Khan slips a straight right by Kitano.
Kitano cracks Khan with an open hand slap.
Kitano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khan throws out the jab.
Kitano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raja Khan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kitano lands with a nice body punch.
Kitano throws a lazy right hand but Khan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Khan throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Kitano counter with a right hand.
Khan lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Khan.
Kitano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kitano smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Khan misses with a body shot.
Khan lunges at Kitano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kitano's hand.
Khan digs a good hook to Kitano's body.
The crowd cheers as Khan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kitano doesn't seem phased though.

Kitano is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khan gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Khan throws a series of punches but Kitano avoids them all with ease.
Kitano dips to his left and cracks Khan with an uppercut!
Khan takes one on the button.

Khan is rocked!
Raja Khan is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Khan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kitano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kitano.
Oh Khan is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Khan seems to have got his legs back now.
Kitano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kitano blocks a jab.
Khan fails to land with a series of punches.
Kitano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Khan throws a body shot but no joy.
Khan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kitano can do to turn this around?
Kitano connects with a right hand. Khan shakes it off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khan. Kitano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kitano scores with a jab to the jaw.
A combination from Kitano does no damage.
Kitano swings for the body but Khan moves out of range.
It looked like Khan wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Khan misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan looks to score with a jab to the body but Kitano is just out of range.
Kitano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kitano looks to land a left hand but Khan moved out of range nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kitano just misses with a punch to the body.
Kitano walks into a straight right hand from Khan.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Kitano ducks under a wild hook from Khan.
Khan ducks under a wild hook from Kitano.
Khan cracks Kitano with a good jab.
A jab from Kitano finds it's way through Khan's defenses.
Kitano lands a really nice looking cross but Khan seems unphased.
Kitano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kitano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Khan's head.
Khan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan scores with a hook to the body. Kitano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kitano scores with a hook.
Kitano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Khan.
Kitano lands a right hook to the body.
Khan throws a poor cross that misses
and Kitano counters with a straight right hand.

Kitano pushes Khan up against the cage in a clinch.
Kitano misses with the head strike.
Kitano throws a head punch that misses.
Khan tries to break free but Kitano pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khan.
Kitano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kitano controlling the action here for a moment.
Kitano swings wildly with an uppercut but Khan uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
I was talking to Khan's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kitano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khan blocks an uppercut.
Kitano throws a punch but it's blocked by Khan.
Kitano lands a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kitano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Khan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kitano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kitano throws a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taichi Kitano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kitano slips a straight right by Khan.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kitano was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Kitano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Khan doesn't seem bothered though.
Khan swings widly with a right hand
and Kitano counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kitano takes a swing at Khan's ribcage but misses.
Kitano scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kitano throws an overhand right that lands on Khan's shoulder, as Khan tries to avoid the shot.
Khan lands a jab to Kitano's midsection.
Kitano cracks Khan with an open hand slap.
Khan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Khan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kitano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kitano digs a good body shot into Khan's ribs.
Khan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kitano scores with the left hand. Khan knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan avoids the body shot from Kitano.
Kitano takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Khan throws a hook to the side of Kitano's head but Kitano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kitano scores with a nice head shot.
Nice body punch from Kitano.
Kitano misses with a few strikes there.
A little feinted left hand from Khan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kitano punishes Khan's body with a nice straight punch.
Kitano throws a hook but Khan blocks it.
Khan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kitano.
Khan just misses with a punch to the body.
Kitano looks to throw the jab but Khan is out of range.
Khan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kitano.
Khan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitano digs a good hook to Khan's body.
Kitano misses with a series of wild punches.
Khan misses with a hook. Kitano ducked under it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice combination there by Khan.
Kitano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kitano throws a looping overhand right but Khan ducks down to avoid it.
Khan thuds his right hand into Kitano's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kitano blocks a jab.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kitano was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Khan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kitano thuds a left hand into Khan's body.
Kitano connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan slips a jab from Kitano.
Khan tests Kitano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kitano is still on wobbly legs! Can Khan finish him?
Kitano tries to clinch but Khan is having none of it.
Kitano ducks under a wild hook from Khan.
Kitano seems to have recovered his senses.
Kitano throws a lazy right hand but Khan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, jab by Kitano - just one landing.
Kitano misses with a looping right.
It looked like Khan was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kitano.
Kitano misses with a double jab.
Kitano lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Khan staying out of range there.
Kitano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khan moves away.
Khan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kitano manages to avoid it.
Kitano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Khan slips a jab from Kitano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan's corner calls for a 1-2. Khan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Kitano misses the target.
The fighters circling - Kitano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Khan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kitano wants to counter with a clinch but Khan pushes him away.
Kitano takes a swing at Khan's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kitano lands a really nice looking cross but Khan seems unphased.
Kitano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Khan loads up on a big right hand but Kitano slips the punch.
Kitano has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kitano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A punch lands to the side of Kitano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Khan moves out of range of the strikes.
Kitano on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab lands there for Khan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Taichi Kitano just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Khan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Khan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kitano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kitano misses with a hook.
Khan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kitano wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Khan misses with a series of wild punches.
Khan takes a swing at Kitano's ribcage but misses.
Kitano avoids the body shot from Khan.
Khan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan scores with a nice right hand.
Kitano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kitano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Khan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kitano tries to clinch but Khan moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitano ducks right into an uppercut from Khan.
Kitano avoids the body shot from Khan.
Kitano wants to counter the offense by Khan and move into the clinch position.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Kitano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khan.
Kitano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khan moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Khan misses the target.
Khan throws out a loose jab but Kitano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kitano.
Khan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Khan gets tackled into the cage by Kitano. Kitano maintains the clinch.
Kitano throws a head punch that misses.
Kitano misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Khan's elbow.
Khan wants to break free but Kitano has control.
Kitano holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Khan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khan loads up on a big right hand but Kitano slips the punch.
Khan scores with a hook to the body. Kitano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Khan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kitano throws out the jab.
Khan lands a body shot.
Khan misses the shot to the body.
Khan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kitano is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Khan with a body shot.

Kitano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Khan, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Khan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kitano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kitano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kitano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khan backwards.

Khan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kitano throws a lazy right hand but Khan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kitano lands a lovely overhand right.
Kitano throws a lazy right hand but Khan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kitano lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A punch lands to the side of Kitano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fighters circling - Kitano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kitano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kitano was well out of range. Poor timing from Khan.
Khan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Khan throws a looping overhand right but Kitano ducks down to avoid it.
Kitano throws out a counter right but Khan avoids it with no problem.
Kitano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A quick step to the side and Khan tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
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!
Kitano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khan manages to avoid it.
Khan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kitano.
Khan appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kitano takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khan. Kitano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kitano throws out a counter right but Khan avoids it with no problem.
Khan looks to land a left hand but Kitano moved out of range nicely.

Kitano gets a clinch.
A short uppercut from Kitano.
Kitano tries to work over Khan's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Raja Khan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Khan throws a body punch but Kitano moves out of range.
A slow jab from Khan misses its intended target.
Khan throws a lazy uppercut
and Kitano counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khan thinking.
Kitano takes one to the chin there.
Kitano takes one to the side of the head.
Khan moves forwards but Kitano connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kitano slips a straight right by Khan.
Kitano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kitano misses the body punch
and Khan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kitano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan throws a body shot but no joy.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kitano, as that shot connected.
Kitano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kitano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan misses the jab.
Khan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kitano moves away from the strike by Khan.
Khan throws a poor cross that misses
and Kitano counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circling - Khan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kitano looks to land a right hand but Khan moved out of range.
Kitano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khan moves away.
Kitano lands a head shot.
Kitano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Khan connects with a looping right hand.
Kitano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khan throws a hook but Kitano blocks it.
Khan misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Khan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khan rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kitano counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khan thinking.
Kitano moves out of range of the strikes.
Kitano steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Khan.
Kitano misses with a body shot.
Kitano scores with a punch to the head.
Kitano closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Khan! Kitano dives in looking to finish! Khan is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taichi Kitano!
Taichi Kitano is the new middleweight champion!
Post fight, Taichi Kitano took to the microphone: 'Two belts! This has been a wonderful journey, thank you big boss for letting me have this opportunity, and thank you Khan for the fight'.