PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Brooks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keizo Sawaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sawaki is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 'Kodo' by The Yoshida Brothers. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Brooks
vs
Sawaki

180 cm
25
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Hell's Kitchen Clothing

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Brooks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keizo Sawaki!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brooks displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sawaki with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses.
Sawaki avoids the head kick by Brooks.
Sawaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Brooks manages to avoid it.
Brooks moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Brooks doesn't manage to clinch there - Sawaki circles away.
Sawaki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Brooks motions for Sawaki to come forward. Brooks throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Brooks doesn't manage to clinch there - Sawaki circles away.
Brooks tries a head kick but it misses.

Sawaki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sawaki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sawaki misses with a head shot.

Sawaki is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Brooks has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawaki is trying to take his opponent's back.
Brooks wants to hold on but Sawaki pushes him away.
Brooks is desperately trying to improve his position but Sawaki has a good base and remains in mount.
Brooks holds of for dear life.
Sawaki lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sawaki thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Sawaki trying to control but Brooks is having none of it.
Brooks wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sawaki has got his arm under Brooks's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Brooks has spun round into Sawaki's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Sawaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sawaki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Brooks escapes and throws Sawaki's legs to the side, diving into side control!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Brooks stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki looks to score with a jab to the body but Brooks is just out of range.
Brooks fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sawaki is out of range.
Brooks throws a sloppy head kick and Sawaki moves out of range easily.
Brooks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Brooks misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Brooks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Sawaki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sawaki lands in his opponent's guard.
Brooks keeping full guard, as Sawaki tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keizo Sawaki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brooks looks to land a body kick but Sawaki moved away.
Sawaki misses with an uppercut. Brooks saw that one coming.
Kevin Brooks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sawaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
An inside leg kick lands from Brooks.
Brooks lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Brooks lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sawaki's sensitive parts.
Brooks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sawaki.

Sawaki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Brooks moves into full guard.
Brooks wants to sweep here but Sawaki controlling him for the moment.
Sawaki is breathing heavily.
Brooks trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sawaki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Brooks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Brooks has escaped and now he's on top!

Sawaki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brooks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.

Brooks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Brooks throws a leg kick
enabling Sawaki to counter with a crisp jab.
Brooks tries to bum rush Sawaki with a series of wild strikes but Sawaki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sawaki with a nice cross.
Brooks goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Brooks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sawaki checks a low kick from Brooks.
Brooks throws a body kick that misses.
Brooks throws the left hand but Sawaki avoids the punch easily.
Brooks throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brooks ducks under a wild hook from Sawaki.
Brooks tries to clinch up but Sawaki circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Brooks.
Brooks just misses with a punch to the body.
Brooks on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Brooks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Brooks misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Brooks misses the target.
Sawaki connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sawaki shoots in and drives through. Brooks sprawls well.
Brooks connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Brooks throws a head kick but Sawaki moves out of range.
Sawaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Brooks. Brooks obviously looking to wear him down.
A head kick misses from Brooks.
Sawaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Brooks throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brooks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Brooks on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawaki misses with a wild body shot.
Sawaki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Brooks.
A big right from Sawaki misses.
Brooks looks to throw a body kick
letting Sawaki counter with a right hand.
Brooks lands a high kick!
Brooks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Brooks's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Brooks duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Brooks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A low kick from Brooks misses
and Sawaki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brooks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Brooks is predictable there
and Sawaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sawaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kevin Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keizo Sawaki.
Brooks misses with a low kick as Sawaki jumps back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Brooks dominated that second round.
That's time! Brooks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Brooks misses with a looping right.
Brooks feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sawaki's calf.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses.
Sawaki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses
and Sawaki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brooks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Sawaki. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sawaki.
Sawaki lunges at Brooks with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Brooks's hand.
Brooks throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Sawaki counter with a right hand.
Sawaki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brooks pinned against the cage. Brooks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Brooks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sawaki throws out the jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A slow jab from Sawaki misses its intended target.
Sawaki scores with a body shot.
Brooks closes the distance but Sawaki moves to the side
and Sawaki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawaki cracks Brooks with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kevin Brooks is winning the standup battle so far.
Sawaki wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Brooks throws a head kick but Sawaki moves out of range.
Brooks stuffs the takedown.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sawaki misses with an uppercut. Brooks saw that one coming.
Sawaki throws a looping overhand right but Brooks ducks down to avoid it.
Brooks throws a head kick that misses
enabling Sawaki to counter with a crisp jab.
Brooks throws a head kick but Sawaki moves out of range.
Brooks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sawaki moves away.

Sawaki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sawaki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sawaki avoids the attempt from Brooks to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sawaki swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Brooks is now in Sawaki's guard. A big mistake from Sawaki there, giving up the dominant position!
Sawaki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sawaki wants to improve his position but instead Brooks has moved into half guard.

Sawaki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Brooks pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brooks tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sawaki tries to roll over but Brooks keeps him under control.
Brooks moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Sawaki.
Sawaki is not content to let Brooks control the position.

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.

Brooks stands up.
Sawaki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Brooks. Brooks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sawaki.
Kevin Brooks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keizo Sawaki.
A slow jab from Sawaki misses its intended target.
Brooks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Brooks misses the body punch

and Sawaki counters with a single leg into guard. Brooks didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keizo Sawaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sawaki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keizo Sawaki!