PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Robert Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Kawakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Kawakami will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Power
vs
Kawakami

178 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Freakin Supplements

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Power!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenji Kawakami!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawakami fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Power drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kawakami is not content to let Power control the position.
An elbow from Power crashes against the mat.

Power tries for a kimura but Kawakami is defending well.
Power gets to mount! Kawakami was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Power breaks from Kawakami's wrist control and lands an elbow.

It looks like Kenji Kawakami has been cut.
Power in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kawakami wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Power.
Power unloads with some shots from mount but Kawakami bucks and avoids them well.
Power punching from mount but Kawakami doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Power landing strikes from the mount and Kawakami is in trouble!

That has opened up Kenji Kawakami's cut even more.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kawakami is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kawakami is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawakami regains half guard.
Kawakami avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Power.
Power is tying to control. Kawakami wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kawakami looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Power looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Power wants to control but Kawakami is keeping him busy.
Kawakami is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Power is keen to just control but Kawakami is a slippery customer.
Kawakami is looking to improve his position.
Power has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Power throws out a loose jab but Kawakami uses good head movement to avoid it.
Power shoots for a takedown but Kawakami saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Kawakami. No joy for Power on that attempt.
Power dodges the punch combination from Kawakami.
Kawakami throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two 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.
Kawakami moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Power feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Kawakami looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Power sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kawakami wants to sweep but no luck.
Power postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kawakami tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Power works over Kawakami with some ground and pound from guard.
Kawakami looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Power thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawakami throws a series of punches but Power avoids them all with ease.

Kawakami gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Power thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Power is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Power postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kawakami is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Power, into his guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Power working for submissions but it's allowed Kawakami to get to half guard.

Kawakami is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Power moves into full guard.
Power wants to stand and escape but Kawakami is having none of it.
Kawakami must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Power pulls Kawakami in close to prevent any damage.
Kawakami trying to control the position from guard on top but Power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Power throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawakami won't allow Power to sweep him here.
Power controls Kawakami momentarily but Kawakami frees himself.
Kawakami passes Power's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kawakami lands with a punch from half guard.
Power throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kawakami passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kawakami landing punches.
Power can't escape the position.
Kawakami wants to control but instead Power manages to regain half guard.
Power manages to get to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Power looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Power has his hands on Kawakami's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Power dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenji Kawakami's cut.
That's time! Power's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kawakami clinches up against the cage.

Kawakami breaks the clinch.
Power misses with a double jab
and Kawakami counters with a one-two to the body.
Power tries for a takedown but Kawakami circles away easily
and Kawakami counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kawakami fails to land with a series of punches.
Power throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kawakami counters with a three punch combo that has Power backing up. Power nods at Kawakami to acknowledge the strikes.
Power misses with a few strikes there.
Kawakami looks to land a combination but Power avoids it well.
Kawakami slips a jab and a cross from Power.
Nice jab there from Kawakami.
Kawakami looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Power is fending him off so far but Kawakami persists. Nope, Power circles away and we're back to standing.

Power fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kawakami sprawls well initially but Power persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kawakami blocking the ground and pound attempt from Power.
Power seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kawakami does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Power seems to be looking for submissions.
Kawakami gets full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kawakami working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Power doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Power manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

Kawakami is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Robert Power overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Power is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kawakami bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Power's guard.
Kawakami tries to free his leg and advance position but Power is retaining full guard.
Kawakami lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kawakami cracks Power with a solid left hand.
Kawakami throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Power works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Power working a defensive guard here.
Kawakami wants to pass the guard but Power is keeping the position.
Kawakami stands up over Power, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawakami wants to pass the guard but Power is keeping the position.
Power tries to strike from the bottom.
Power is trying to keep Kawakami in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kawakami misses with the combination.
Power takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kawakami misses with a takedown attempt - Power sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Power drives through with a takedown into guard.
Power trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Power is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kawakami is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kawakami looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Power postures up.
Kawakami striking off his back but it's not causing Power any problems.
Power is pushing down on Kawakami's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kawakami is fighting to maintain full guard but Power has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawakami actively working from the bottom here.
Power throwing shots but Kawakami is blocking nicely.

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

Power scores with a takedown into Kawakami's guard.
Power throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Power is sitting in close to Kawakami's body. Kawakami has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Power is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Power is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Kawakami.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Kenji Kawakami!