PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masahiko Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Furious George (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lamb of God - Descending kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Masahiko Kimura has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kimura
vs
George

170 cm
28
160 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

177 cm
31
155 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Masahiko Kimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Furious George!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
George misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kimura.
Kimura just misses with a punch to the body.
Kimura shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with George but George pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kimura looks to score with a jab to the body but George is just out of range.
George misses with a wild combination.
George tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kimura swivels and escapes.
George throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kimura sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kimura takes one to the side of the head.
Kimura keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
George takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
George shoots in looking for a takedown but Kimura manages to keep the fight standing, pushing George's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
George misses with a body shot.
George throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

George shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kimura manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
George is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kimura working a defensive guard here.

Kimura had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. George defends it easily.
George stopping the sweep attempt from Kimura.

Kimura has his foot on George's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. George works his way back into a safe position though.
Kimura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in George's guard.
Kimura postures up.
Kimura trying to control the position from guard on top but George is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is pushing down on George's leg trying to pass to half guard. George is fighting to maintain full guard but Kimura has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kimura is thwarting George's attempts to control the position.
George tries to roll over but Kimura keeps him under control.
George felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

George looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

George is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kimura pulls his head out easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
George wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. George manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kimura wants to control from the top but George keeps moving.
Kimura is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because George is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
George keeping full guard, as Kimura tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimura trying to control but George is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

George has his foot on Kimura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kimura works his way back into a safe position though.
George trying to control the position.
Kimura is pushing down on George's leg trying to pass to half guard. George is fighting to maintain full guard but Kimura has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've been hearing good reports from Kimura's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kimura takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
George misses with some strikes from the bottom.

George actively working from the bottom here.
Kimura not doing much here.

George is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kimura pulls his head out easily.
Kimura looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura is keen to just control but George is a slippery customer.
George has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kimura is working away from the top position though.
George is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kimura is staying active.

George looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

George looking for submissions off his back.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

George looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kimura is looking to take a break and control but George is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Masahiko Kimura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

George getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kimura throws a hook but George blocks it.
George works Kimura's body with a nice hook.
Kimura slaps away a takedown attempt from George, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kimura takes a swing at George's ribcage but misses.
George tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kimura swivels and escapes.
George shoots for a double leg takedown but Kimura sprawls well. He's pushed George's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Masahiko Kimura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Furious George.
Sloppy strikes from George. Those never looked like landing.
Kimura misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kimura. George does a little dance to reset his feet.
George throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kimura counters with a takedown into side control.

Kimura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kimura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kimura wants to lay and pray for a moment but George keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kimura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kimura tries to advance to mount but George denies him.
Kimura working away.
George is looking for a sweep.
Kimura trying to control the position but George is working away.
George tries to improve position but can't.
Kimura throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George is not content to let Kimura control the position.
George tries to bench press Kimura off him but Kimura keeps the position.
George struggling a bit here.
Kimura trying to control the action but George is working from the bottom.
George is trying to improve his position.
Kimura is looking to take a break and control but George is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on George's face as Kimura controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kimura tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kimura has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kimura throws an elbow but George slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kimura trying to control the action but George is working from the bottom.

Kimura tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
George is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kimura's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
George wants to control but Kimura is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Masahiko Kimura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
George wants to get back to full guard.
George keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George is staying active underneath Kimura, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kimura is looking for a kimura but George is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kimura to get the leverage.
Kimura is trying to control. George wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
George flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
George wants to control but Kimura is keeping busy.
George wants to get back to full guard but Kimura has mounted him!
George bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
This has been an exciting period of action!
George wants to control from the top but Kimura keeps moving.

Kimura had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. George defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
George stands and throws Kimura's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kimura can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masahiko Kimura will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kimura throws a right and a left that George avoids nicely.
Kimura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from George.
Kimura throws a right and a left that George avoids nicely.
George changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kimura tries to avoid it but George manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kimura to the ground. Kimura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
George scores with a jab to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from George. Kimura does a little dance to reset his feet.
George is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kimura.
George bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kimura's head backwards.
Kimura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by George.
A big left from George misses.
George looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
George throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kimura's waist but Kimura gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing George off to one side.
George throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura doesn't manage to clinch there - George circles away.
Kimura misses with a body shot.

Kimura feints and as George raises his hands in defense, Kimura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kimura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kimura works a leg free and moves into half guard.
George is trying to get back to full guard.
Kimura is trying to control. George wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
George is in trouble now - Kimura has advanced to mount!
George bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kimura looking to hit a scissor sweep but George is one step ahead there.
Masahiko Kimura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
George slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
George pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kimura is keeping the position for now.
George trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kimura keeping moving, preventing George from controlling successfully.

Kimura is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
George wants to control from the top but Kimura keeps moving.
Kimura is trying to control the position but George postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George advances to half guard.

Kimura looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
George seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
George wants to take a breather but Kimura is having none of it.
Kimura wants to control but George is keeping busy.
Kimura is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kimura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
George passes into half guard.

George is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

George is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kimura has managed to free his arm - good work.

George is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kimura is just riding it out for now. George eventually gives up the hold.
George takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
George slips a nice elbow through Kimura's hands, connecting with Kimura's forehead.
Kimura wants to improve his position but George is controlling well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
George throwing shots but Kimura is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kimura is trying to get back to full guard.
George wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kimura keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Furious George.
I think Kimura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masahiko Kimura!
Post fight, an emotional Masahiko Kimura said 'I told you this would happen George, now get to the back of the line kid. Wilson while the "champ" is off fighting pussys I am right here. I AM THE REAL Heroic 145lb champion!!'.