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TWG 38 (135lbs, D1): Finals - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the bantamweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 9 wins and 7 losses; Distant Thunder! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 7 wins and 4 losses; Kazuo Imanari!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Dean Styles and Franklyn Lucas.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Thunder closes the distance and clinches.
Thunder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thunder is trying to pull guard but Imanari has him pressed against the cage.
Thunder successfully pulls guard.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thunder wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Imanari sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thunder wants to sweep here but Imanari controlling him for the moment.
Imanari looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder has an active guard here but Imanari has managed to pass into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to get back to full guard.
Imanari takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Thunder has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Imanari has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Imanari is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Imanari is pressing down on Thunder's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thunder is holding on for now.
Imanari is thwarting Thunder's attempts to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is trying to control. Thunder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thunder is controlling Imanari's trapped leg to prevent Imanari from advancing to side control.
Thunder is trying to maintain the position but Imanari is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thunder trying to hold on to Imanari's head to control him but Imanari postures up.
Imanari content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Imanari wants to free his trapped foot but Thunder is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari wants to take a breather but Thunder is having none of it.
Thunder wants to control the action here but instead Imanari manages to pass to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Thunder (0) vs (3) Imanari
Thunder wants to control but Imanari is having none of it.
Thunder has given up his back here.
Score +3 for taking back: Thunder (0) vs (6) Imanari
Imanari is controlling the position but Thunder somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Imanari is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Thunder reverses the position - he's now on top in Imanari's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thunder (2) vs (6) Imanari
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thunder showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thunder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Imanari is keeping the position for now.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Imanari is pulling down on Thunder's head to control his posture.
Imanari is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thunder defends well.
Thunder is pushing down on Imanari's leg trying to pass to half guard. Imanari is fighting to maintain full guard but Thunder has managed to sneak the leg through.
Imanari felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thunder sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Imanari tries to roll over but Thunder keeps him under control.
Thunder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Imanari keeps working.
Thunder looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Imanari manages to get to full guard.
Imanari keeping full guard, as Thunder tries to pass.
Thunder works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Imanari is trying to control but can't.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Imanari wants to improve his position but Thunder is controlling well.
Thunder looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thunder looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thunder wants to take a breather but Imanari is having none of it.
Thunder wants to pass the guard but Imanari is defending well.
Imanari is looking for a sweep. Thunder is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is still trying to improve position.
Thunder trying to control from Imanari's half guard. Imanari has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Imanari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Thunder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thunder slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Imanari looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thunder is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Imanari is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Imanari has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Thunder (2) vs (8) Imanari
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Thunder looking to control.
Imanari stopping the sweep attempt from Thunder.
Thunder can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Imanari controls the pace.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Thunder working a defensive guard but Imanari manages to pass into side control anyway.
Score +3 for passing guard: Thunder (2) vs (11) Imanari
Thunder is looking for a sweep.
Thunder is letting Imanari control him for a moment.
Thunder manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Imanari is looking to advance position but Thunder won't allow it.
Imanari is figuring out what he wants to do next.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Thunder trying to control but Imanari postures up.
Thunder is looking to improve his position.
Imanari tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thunder knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thunder is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imanari wants to free his trapped foot but Thunder is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that's the end of the fight!
Imanari wins on points by 11 to 2.
Kazuo Imanari thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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