PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Hiroya Kawabe (ranked 6323 p4p, 3879 weight class) and Hoshifumi Nagasa (ranked 464 p4p, 365 weight class). Hoshifumi Nagasa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kawabe
vs
Nagasa

168 cm
23
147
0 - 3 - 0

165 cm
20
145
1 - 3 - 0

Decent elbows
Good chin

Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroya Kawabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hoshifumi Nagasa!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagasa misses with a wild combination.
Kawabe scores with a head kick.
Kawabe tries to bum rush Nagasa with a series of wild strikes but Nagasa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nagasa counters with a body kick.
Nagasa misses with a two punch combination.

Kawabe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Nagasa as Kawabe tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nagasa.
Nagasa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kawabe is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nagasa avoiding damage as Kawabe throws knees to the body.
Kawabe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nagasa avoids it.

Kawabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nagasa 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.
Nagasa throws a one two combo.

Kawabe clinches with his opponent.

Kawabe breaks from the clinch.
Kawabe takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Kawabe moves into the clinch successfully.
Nagasa wants to stall.

Nagasa manages to break the clinch.
Nagasa throws a push kick but Kawabe slaps the foot to one side.
Nagasa takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nagasa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kawabe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nagasa, pushing him back against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kawabe misses with a knee to the head.

Kawabe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nagasa clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nagasa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kawabe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nagasa, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kawabe is trying to stall.

Kawabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kawabe moves into the clinch.

Nagasa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kawabe gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Nagasa manages to break the clinch.
Kawabe lands a high kick!

Kawabe instigates a clinch.
Kawabe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Nagasa is defending well for now.

Kawabe breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nagasa scores with a nice body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroya Kawabe dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nagasa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Kawabe has Nagasa up against the ropes in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kawabe lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kawabe wants to stall.
Kawabe is looking to control Nagasa's arms but Nagasa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kawabe has his back to the ropes.
Nagasa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kawabe's elbow.

Kawabe breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nagasa darts in and clinches Kawabe up against the ropes.

Nagasa breaks from the clinch.

Kawabe drives through and clinches with Nagasa against the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawabe can't find room to land a body shot as Nagasa controls the action.
Kawabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've been informed that Nagasa has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nagasa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kawabe in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Kawabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nagasa throws a sloppy head kick and Kawabe moves out of range easily.
Kawabe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nagasa manages to circle out of the way.
Kawabe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick misses from Kawabe.
Nagasa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nagasa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nagasa scores with a head kick. Kawabe tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Kawabe moves into the clinch successfully.
Nagasa takes a shot to the head.

Kawabe manages to break the clinch.
Nagasa is looking to land body kicks.
It looked like Kawabe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nagasa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Nagasa tries to keep at a distance but Kawabe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hiroya Kawabe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nagasa misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kawabe breaks from the clinch.
Nagasa checks a leg kick.

Kawabe rushes Nagasa and presses him up against the ropes.
Nagasa leaning his opponent against the ropes.

Nagasa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nagasa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kawabe.

Kawabe clinches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroya Kawabe dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kawabe has closed the distance and engaged Nagasa in a clinch.

Kawabe breaks the clinch.

Kawabe closes the distance and pushes Nagasa back into the ropes.
Kawabe scores with a nice hook to the head.

Nagasa breaks from the clinch.
Nagasa tries to bum rush Kawabe with a series of wild strikes but Kawabe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kawabe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Nagasa.
Nagasa throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Kawabe throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nagasa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kawabe lands with a cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kawabe moves into the clinch.

Nagasa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kawabe fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawabe instigates a clinch.

Kawabe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nagasa throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kawabe counters with a series of strikes. Nagasa will be more careful next time no doubt.

Kawabe gets a clinch.

Kawabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kawabe throws a head kick but Nagasa moves out of range.
Nagasa was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Kawabe pushes Nagasa up against the ropes in a clinch.
Nagasa avoiding damage.
Nagasa trying to land knees to the body.
Nagasa is trying to break free.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kawabe lands an elbow just above Nagasa 's eye.
Nagasa is trying to force a seperation but Kawabe has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawabe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Kawabe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nagasa misses with a head kick.

Kawabe rushes Nagasa and presses him up against the ropes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nagasa tries to stall but Kawabe uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Nagasa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nagasa misses with a low kick as Kawabe jumps back.
Kawabe seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nagasa wants to clinch.
Kawabe scores with a nice body kick.
Hoshifumi Nagasa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiroya Kawabe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nagasa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kawabe clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroya Kawabe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kawabe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroya Kawabe!