PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jin Kazama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and rum punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kazama
vs
punch

170 cm
18
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
20
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jin Kazama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, rum punch!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
punch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kazama moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kazama clinches up with punch and pushes him back against the ropes.
Kazama lands a damaging elbow.
Kazama prevents a takedown attempt there.
punch blocks an elbow strike.
Kazama will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning punch up against the ropes.

Kazama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
punch misses with a takedown attempt - Kazama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kazama closes the distance and clinches.
Kazama is trying to stall.
Kazama lands an elbow just above punch 's eye.
punch takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but punch blocks it.
punch is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Kazama gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jin Kazama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rum punch.
punch tries for a takedown. No joy.
punch wants a takedown.
Kazama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kazama is stalling here.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
punch shoots in but Kazama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kazama, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama misses with a wild combination.

Kazama clinches up with punch and pushes him back against the ropes.
Kazama presses punch against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
punch looks gassed!
Kazama lands an elbow inside that punch shrugs off.

It looks like rum punch has been cut.
Kazama lands a damaging elbow.
Kazama's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but punch blocks it with crossed arms.
punch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
punch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kazama just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but punch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
punch takes an elbow to the forehead.
punch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kazama pulls his leg out and moves away.
punch tries to clinch

and Kazama counters by moving into the clinch.
Kazama lands an elbow that stopped punch in his tracks for a moment.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kazama throws a combination that misses

and punch counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

punch working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kazama is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

punch thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

punch looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama tries to improve position but can't.

punch thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
punch working away.

punch is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kazama has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kazama is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
punch tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kazama is trying to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
punch closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kazama moves into the clinch.
punch tries to score a body lock takedown but Kazama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kazama misses with a knee strike.
Kazama lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kazama lands a knee to the head.
Kazama effectively controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Kazama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on rum punch's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kazama's corner calls for a 1-2. Kazama obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kazama looks to land a combination but punch avoids it well.

punch shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. punch showed some decent athleticism there.
punch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kazama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

punch is looking for a kimura here.
Kazama wants to get back to his feet.
punch is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
punch thows a huge punch but Kazama dodges it nicely.
Kazama pushes punch off looking to stand but punch dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
punch working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kazama's thigh. Kazama counters though and makes it back to full guard.
punch scoring with some ground and pound.
punch won't allow Kazama to get back to his feet.
punch pushes down on Kazama's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kazama is defending against the submission attempts here by punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

punch looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

punch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kazama defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
punch is keen to just control but Kazama is a slippery customer.

punch is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kazama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time punch.
Kazama looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

punch is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kazama avoiding damage under a succession of punches from punch.
punch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
punch dodges the punch combination from Kazama.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kazama goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Kazama instigates a clinch.
Kazama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
punch is trying to drag Kazama to the mat but Kazama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rum punch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on rum punch's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kazama clinches.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by punch or perhaps it was just good defense by Kazama which made him look bad.
Kazama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Kazama closes the distance and pushes punch back into the ropes.
punch avoids the elbow strike from Kazama, against the ropes.

Kazama breaks from the clinch.

Kazama rushes punch and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Kazama lands a nice elbow.
punch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but punch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Kazama.
Kazama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kazama creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A knee to the head by Kazama.
Kazama connects with a knee to the head.
punch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice elbow from Kazama.
Kazama tries to land knees in the clinch but punch avoids the damage to the body.

Kazama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
punch shoots and misses
and Kazama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Jin Kazama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of rum punch.
Kazama lands a nice looking body kick.
Kazama looks to land a combination but punch avoids it well.
Kazama lands a two punch combo.
punch wants to clinch

and Kazama counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kazama.
Kazama lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but punch blocks it.
Kazama lands an elbow inside.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but punch blocks it.
punch is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Kazama gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kazama is pushing punch up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kazama with a knee to the head.
Kazama using the Thai plumb to throw knees but punch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
punch tries for a takedown but Kazama manages to get underhooks.
Nice elbow from Kazama.
Kazama lands a nice elbow.
Kazama landing knees to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kazama connects with a knee to the head.
Kazama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but punch blocks it with crossed arms.
Kazama tries to stall but punch uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kazama lands a knee to the head.
punch changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kazama fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Kazama clinches with his opponent.
Kazama misses with an elbow over the top.
punch changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kazama fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kazama lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as punch backs up against the ropes.
punch clinches but Kazama breaks the clinch

and Kazama counters by clinching up.
Kazama misses with a knee to the head.
Kazama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kazama looking to stall.
punch tries to score a body lock takedown but Kazama shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kazama gets underhooks to prevent punch's takedown attempt.
punch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kazama prevents it.
Kazama lands with a right to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kazama just misses with a elbow thrown towards punch's brow.
Kazama lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kazama lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Kazama throws an elbow but misses.

Kazama manages to break the clinch.
punch takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
punch tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kazama counters by moving into the clinch.

Kazama manages to break the clinch.
punch listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
punch tries for a takedown but Kazama circles away easily
and Kazama counters with a series of strikes. punch will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazama fails to land with a series of punches.
punch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kazama counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
punch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jin Kazama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kazama throws a series of punches but punch avoids them all with ease.
Kazama scores with a one two! punch had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! punch crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kazama - the referee stops the clock and punch gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kazama. punch manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
punch moves forwards but Kazama connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kazama pushes punch away with a front kick.
punch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kazama fails to land with a series of punches.

Kazama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
A short left from Kazama.
Kazama throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kazama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jin Kazama is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

punch drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
punch is chipping away with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Kazama showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kazama has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Jin Kazama!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Jin Kazama!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Jin Kazama!

Jin Kazama wins by unanimous decision!