PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kawaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alesandro Vandella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kawaguchi
vs
Vandella

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Kawaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alesandro Vandella!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vandella closes the distance and clinches.

Kawaguchi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Vandella is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kawaguchi to the mat. Kawaguchi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Vandella wants to control from the top but Kawaguchi keeps moving.
Kawaguchi wants to sweep here but Vandella controlling him for the moment.
Vandella trying to control the position from guard on top but Kawaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vandella trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kawaguchi's guard.

Kawaguchi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vandella defends well.
Kawaguchi looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawaguchi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vandella has passed into side control.
Kawaguchi is not content to let Vandella control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kawaguchi looks for a takedown but Vandella sprawls well.
Kawaguchi shoots in but no luck this time.

Kawaguchi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vandella napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vandella wants to control but Kawaguchi postures up.
Kawaguchi prevents Vandella from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi trying to control the action but Vandella is working from the bottom.
Vandella tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kawaguchi easily slips into full mount!
Vandella is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kawaguchi with shots to the head and body - Vandella looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi tries to control but Vandella wriggling away.
Kawaguchi with the ground and pound from mount.
Kawaguchi controlling from mount.
Vandella tries to hold on but Kawaguchi pushes him away.

Kawaguchi looking for a guillotine from mount but Vandella is having none of it.

Kawaguchi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Vandella has worked his arm free - good work by Vandella!
Kawaguchi is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kawaguchi stands up and beckons Vandella to his feet.

Vandella scores with a takedown into Kawaguchi's guard.
Vandella wants to control from the top but Kawaguchi keeps moving.
Kawaguchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vandella is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alesandro Vandella will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kawaguchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kawaguchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Vandella counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vandella trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kawaguchi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vandella has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kawaguchi is proving hard to escape from.
Kawaguchi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kawaguchi is working an open guard so Vandella takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kawaguchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Vandella.
Vandella fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kawaguchi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Kawaguchi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kawaguchi lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawaguchi lands a couple of digs.
Kawaguchi tries to stand but Vandella is controlling from the bottom.
Vandella looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vandella can't keep his opponent in guard - Kawaguchi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vandella wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kawaguchi stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Vandella to get to his feet.
Kawaguchi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Vandella counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Vandella stands up from Kawaguchi's guard - Vandella perhaps looking for a knockout.
Akira Kawaguchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Vandella pushes Kawaguchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Vandella drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kawaguchi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vandella shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Kawaguchi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Vandella looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vandella trying to control the position.
Vandella pulls Kawaguchi in close to his closed guard and prevents Kawaguchi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vandella wants to sweep here but Kawaguchi controlling him for the moment.
Kawaguchi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Alesandro Vandella has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Vandella wants to sweep but no luck.
Vandella is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kawaguchi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vandella is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kawaguchi postures up and lands a big shot to Vandella's brow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vandella is trying to hold Kawaguchi in close to prevent damage but Kawaguchi has managed to pass into half guard.

Kawaguchi stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Vandella to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alesandro Vandella will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vandella keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vandella misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Kawaguchi counters with a single leg into guard. Vandella didn't expect that.
Vandella not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kawaguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Vandella is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vandella keeping full guard, as Kawaguchi tries to pass.
Kawaguchi is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandella is looking to stand up but Kawaguchi isn't so interested in that idea.
Vandella keeping moving, preventing Kawaguchi from controlling successfully.
Vandella looking for a sweep. Not yet Vandella, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vandella gets caught flat footed, as Kawaguchi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kawaguchi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kawaguchi taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandella is looking to reverse the position.
Kawaguchi trying to control the action but Vandella is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawaguchi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Vandella tries to bench press Kawaguchi off him but Kawaguchi keeps the position.
Kawaguchi just content to control the position.

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.
Kawaguchi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Vandella's legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kawaguchi.
Vandella tries to clinch up but Kawaguchi circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vandella misses with a low kick.
Kawaguchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Akira Kawaguchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alesandro Vandella is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Kawaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kawaguchi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Vandella counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kawaguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vandella 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alesandro Vandella!