PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kaiji Inoue (ranked 2222 p4p, 2205 weight class) and Theodore Nouveau (ranked 0 p4p, 128 weight class). Inoue comes to the cage accompanied by Ladies and Gentlemen (Saliva). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Inoue
vs
Nouveau

175 cm
29
147
13 - 8 - 0

168 cm
33
148
17 - 25 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Conviction

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kaiji Inoue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Theodore Nouveau!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nouveau moves into range and connects with a jab.
Inoue lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nouveau is looking to clinch.
Inoue seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Jab by Inoue.
Nice sprawl there from Inoue as Nouveau shoots in.
Nouveau has his takedown stuffed
and Inoue counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters circling a little - Inoue finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nouveau fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kaiji Inoue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Nouveau.
Inoue misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nouveau.
Nouveau with a poor takedown
and Inoue connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nouveau goes for a double leg but Inoue avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Inoue continues to drive forward.
Nouveau moves forwards but Inoue connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Nouveau is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Inoue connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nouveau momentarily.
Nouveau is still on wobbly legs! Can Inoue finish him?
Kaiji Inoue seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue throws a series of punches but Nouveau moves out of range.
Inoue works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nouveau has a takedown stuffed.
Nouveau takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nouveau fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nouveau is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nouveau seems to have recovered his senses.
Inoue misses with the body kick

and Nouveau counters with a shoot takedown. Inoue fights it but they end up in guard.
Nouveau lands a couple of elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nouveau slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nouveau wants to control from the top but Inoue keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nouveau wants to control from the top but Inoue keeps moving.
Nouveau lands a couple of elbows.

Inoue had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nouveau defends it easily.
Nouveau looking to sit in guard and control but Inoue gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nouveau working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoue trying to control the position from guard on top but Nouveau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nouveau is trying to control the position but Inoue postures up.
Nouveau pulls Inoue in to control the position.

Nouveau is looking for a triangle but Inoue pushes his legs off easily.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Nouveau keeps moving.
Inoue looking to pass the guard.
Inoue trying to control the position from guard on top but Nouveau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nouveau lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Inoue has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Nouveau has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nouveau looking to slow down the pace here.
Nouveau blocks an elbow strike from Inoue.
Inoue landing knees to the head.
Nouveau wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Inoue has him pressed against the cage.
Nouveau is looking to take this one to the mat.
Inoue scores a nice knee to the body.
A short uppercut from Inoue.
Nouveau takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nouveau is trying to push Inoue away but Inoue has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Inoue with a knee to the head.
Nouveau is trying to break the clinch but Inoue is controlling him.
Inoue lands an elbow inside.
Inoue connects with a knee to the head.
Inoue landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Inoue.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiji Inoue 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.

Inoue throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Inoue throws a leg kick which misses Nouveau's front leg but catches the back leg as Nouveau tries to avoid it.
Nouveau fails to land the takedown.
Inoue's jab looks to have found its range, popping Nouveau under the eye.
Inoue stuffs the takedown.
Inoue connects with a looping right hand.
Inoue throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Inoue as Nouveau shoots in.
Kaiji Inoue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Nouveau.

Nouveau is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Inoue's half guard.

Inoue manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Inoue is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Inoue has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Inoue pushes Nouveau up against the cage in a clinch.
Nouveau wants to get back to striking at distance but Inoue won't allow it.
Nouveau drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Inoue gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Nouveau is trying to trip Inoue. He has hold of a leg but Inoue is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Nouveau persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Nouveau looking to pass the guard.
Inoue keeping moving, preventing Nouveau from controlling successfully.
Inoue is trying to keep Nouveau in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Inoue looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nouveau is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Inoue has his foot on Nouveau's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nouveau works his way back into a safe position though.

Inoue is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Nouveau has his hands clasped together but Inoue extends and breaks Nouveau's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Inoue.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kaiji Inoue!
Our winner, Kaiji Inoue, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Theodore Nouveau stepped up to the mic, saying 'what a mess...'.