PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kalam Mekhar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taka Osatoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mekhar might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 80 Kidz - Alt A. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mekhar
vs
Osatoko

175 cm
21
164 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kalam Mekhar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taka Osatoko!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Osatoko lands a really nice looking cross but Mekhar seems unphased.
Mekhar looks to land a combination. Osatoko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mekhar throws a hook but Osatoko avoids it easily.
Mekhar looks to land a combination but Osatoko avoids it well.
Mekhar takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Osatoko 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.
Osatoko wants to get up but he can't break Mekhar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Osatoko wants to control from the top but Mekhar keeps moving.
Mekhar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Mekhar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Osatoko looking to pass the guard.
Mekhar keeping moving, preventing Osatoko from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko postures up and lands a big shot to Mekhar's brow.
Osatoko looking to sit in guard and control but Mekhar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mekhar trying to control the position from guard on top but Osatoko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Osatoko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Osatoko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mekhar is aware though and is defending well.

Osatoko working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mekhar has passed into half guard!

Osatoko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mekhar pulls his head out easily.
Osatoko looks gassed!
Mekhar is taking a breather. Osatoko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko is trying to maintain the position but Mekhar is very close to passing his half guard.
Osatoko is looking to improve his position.
Mekhar is trying to control. Osatoko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Osatoko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Osatoko.
Osatoko keeping moving, preventing Mekhar from controlling successfully.

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.

Mekhar stands and steps away. Osatoko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A shot to de liver by Mekhar. Beautiful body shot.
Mekhar has his takedown stuffed

and Osatoko counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Mekhar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Mekhar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Osatoko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Osatoko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mekhar thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mekhar throws a combination that misses
and Osatoko counters with a nice uppercut.
Mekhar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Osatoko counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mekhar thinking.
Osatoko throws out a powerful jab.
Osatoko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Osatoko scores with a hook.
Kalam Mekhar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Osatoko misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osatoko works Mekhar's body with a nice hook.

Osatoko shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Osatoko works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Osatoko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mekhar has escaped the position, nice work there.

Osatoko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mekhar knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mekhar is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Osatoko asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mekhar regains half guard there - taking advantage of Osatoko's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Osatoko wants to take a breather but Mekhar is having none of it.
Osatoko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Mekhar kicks off Osatoko and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mekhar swings away with a body shot that misses

so Osatoko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mekhar looking to control.
Mekhar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Osatoko is controlling him.
Mekhar keeping moving, preventing Osatoko from controlling successfully.
Mekhar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mekhar keeping moving, preventing Osatoko from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mekhar wants to stand and escape but Osatoko is having none of it.
Osatoko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Osatoko trying to control but Mekhar is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mekhar misses with a takedown
and Osatoko counters with a two punch combo.
Mekhar has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mekhar throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Osatoko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mekhar's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Osatoko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mekhar misses the body punch

and Osatoko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mekhar won't be happy with that.
Mekhar trying his best to control but Osatoko has mounted him.
Mekhar wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Osatoko.
Osatoko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Osatoko looking to finish with strikes here!
Taka Osatoko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mekhar is looking to improve his position but Osatoko isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mekhar is looking to escape.
Osatoko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Osatoko controlling the position easily from mount.
Osatoko prevents Mekhar from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mekhar bucks Osatoko off and manages to get back to his feet!
Mekhar shoots and misses

and Osatoko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mekhar wants to stand up but Osatoko is controlling him.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Mekhar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mekhar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mekhar working a defensive guard here.
Osatoko trying to control but Mekhar is working from the bottom.
Kalam Mekhar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mekhar is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Osatoko is trying to control the action in half guard but Mekhar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Osatoko passes into side control, despite Mekhar's attempt to control the position.

Osatoko is trying to get an arm triangle but Mekhar is defending well.

That's four 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.
Osatoko misses with the ground and pound.
Taka Osatoko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mekhar tries to escape but Osatoko is in control.
Mekhar is letting Osatoko control him for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mekhar is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Osatoko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Osatoko 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Osatoko!