PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koji Kenjahara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michio Suzuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenjahara comes into the arena with Roll wit Uz by Thai blaring out of the sound system. Suzuki has chosen Dragonball Z Theme as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kenjahara
vs
Suzuki

161 cm
20
135 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
24
146 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Takomo

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Koji Kenjahara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michio Suzuki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenjahara steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Suzuki.
Kenjahara will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kenjahara.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Suzuki regains half guard.

Kenjahara is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Suzuki sees it coming and defends easily.
Suzuki is not content to let Kenjahara control the position.
Kenjahara wants to pass to mount but Suzuki is defending the position.
Kenjahara thows a huge punch but Suzuki dodges it nicely.
Kenjahara working over Suzuki with some ground and pound. Suzuki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Kenjahara is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Suzuki has managed to free his arm - good work.
Suzuki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kenjahara passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenjahara trying to mount his opponent but Suzuki defends it.
Suzuki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Suzuki tries to roll over but Kenjahara keeps him under control.
Suzuki works his way to full guard. Good work.

Suzuki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Suzuki looking for a guillotine here but Kenjahara defends easily.

Kenjahara postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Suzuki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kenjahara, into his guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenjahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kenjahara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Suzuki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kenjahara is breathing heavily.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenjahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kenjahara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Suzuki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Suzuki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Suzuki works over Kenjahara with some ground and pound from guard.
Kenjahara keeping moving, preventing Suzuki from controlling successfully.
Suzuki pushes down on Kenjahara's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki is stalling here. Kenjahara is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Suzuki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kenjahara has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Suzuki tries to improve position but can't.
Suzuki wants to control but Kenjahara postures up.

Kenjahara wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Suzuki, who protects the arm well.

Kenjahara is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Suzuki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Suzuki regains half guard.
Suzuki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Suzuki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suzuki is nestled in close to Kenjahara, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Suzuki is pressing down on Kenjahara's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kenjahara is holding on for now.
Kenjahara is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Suzuki.
Suzuki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Suzuki is looking to take a break and control but Kenjahara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kenjahara is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Suzuki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Suzuki is keen to just control but Kenjahara is a slippery customer.

Kenjahara looking for submissions off his back.
Suzuki works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michio Suzuki dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Suzuki feints and as Kenjahara raises his hands in defense, Suzuki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Kenjahara had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Suzuki is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kenjahara Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Suzuki's back instead.
Suzuki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kenjahara's guard. Nice work there by Suzuki.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenjahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suzuki content to stall in guard here.
Kenjahara can't keep his opponent in guard - Suzuki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Suzuki working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Suzuki prevents Kenjahara from getting the reversal.
Suzuki has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kenjahara's face.
Suzuki controlling from the full mount.
Suzuki lands with some strikes.
Suzuki looking to finish Kenjahara with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kenjahara!
Suzuki lands with some strikes.
Suzuki controlling the position easily from mount.
Kenjahara regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenjahara is looking for a sweep. Suzuki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Suzuki tries to pass to full mount but Kenjahara defends it.
Suzuki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Suzuki is looking to take a break and control but Kenjahara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Suzuki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kenjahara manages to get to full guard.
Suzuki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kenjahara's guard.
Suzuki working Kenjahara over with strikes.

Kenjahara actively working from the bottom here.
Suzuki sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenjahara taking some punishment here, with Suzuki in his half guard.

Kenjahara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Suzuki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kenjahara won't allow Suzuki to pass to mount.
Kenjahara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Well, if Suzuki is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kenjahara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kenjahara is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Suzuki pulls his head out easily.
Suzuki passes to full mount!
Suzuki raining down shots from the mount!
Suzuki looking to finish Kenjahara with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kenjahara!
Kenjahara is bucking up trying to escape but Suzuki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kenjahara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kenjahara flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Suzuki scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kenjahara?
Kenjahara is trying desperately to improve position.
Suzuki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kenjahara is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michio Suzuki 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Suzuki lands a with a good body shot.
Koji Kenjahara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Suzuki.
Suzuki misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Suzuki does no damage.
Suzuki misses with a hook. Kenjahara ducked under it nicely.
Michio Suzuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Suzuki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Suzuki is trying to work for a kimura but Kenjahara is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kenjahara actively working from the bottom here.
Michio Suzuki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kenjahara gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Suzuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kenjahara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kenjahara preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Suzuki throws a big right hand that misses.
Kenjahara lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Suzuki!
Suzuki is looking to get to half guard.

Kenjahara has control of Suzuki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Suzuki regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kenjahara breaks from Suzuki's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Suzuki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kenjahara is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Suzuki is just riding it out for now. Kenjahara eventually gives up the hold.
Suzuki gets full guard.
Suzuki throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Kenjahara preventing the sweep.
Suzuki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenjahara is in a horrible position here. Suzuki smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Suzuki breaks from Kenjahara's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kenjahara tries to hold on but Suzuki pushes him away.
Michio Suzuki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kenjahara is trying to escape the mount.
Suzuki tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kenjahara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Suzuki scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Suzuki scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Suzuki avoids the attempt from Kenjahara to control.
Suzuki lands a big elbow.
Suzuki lands with some strikes.
Suzuki connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Suzuki looking to finish Kenjahara with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kenjahara!
Kenjahara is desperately trying to improve his position but Suzuki has a good base and remains in mount.
Suzuki scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kenjahara?
Kenjahara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Suzuki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Suzuki looking to control and managing it successfully.
Koji Kenjahara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Suzuki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michio Suzuki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Suzuki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michio Suzuki!