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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Stokes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanji Kagawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rufus Stokes had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business
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| 165 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0 |
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170 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening |
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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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rufus Stokes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kanji Kagawa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and James Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kagawa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stokes leaning against his opponent.
Stokes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kagawa to keep the fight standing.
Kagawa has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stokes regains guard immediately.
Kagawa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kagawa stands up from Stokes's guard - Kagawa perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kagawa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Stokes is trying to defend but Kagawa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Stokes throws a strike from the bottom but Kagawa passes into side control!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stokes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kagawa decides to stand back up. Kagawa steps back and let's Stokes get back to his feet.
Kagawa shoots in and gets a takedown into Stokes's guard.
Stokes tries to strike from the bottom.
Kagawa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stokes wants to sweep but no luck.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa wants to pass the guard but Stokes is keeping the position.
Stokes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kagawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Stokes is retaining full guard.
Stokes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kagawa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kagawa clinches.
Stokes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kagawa smiles and moves away.
Kagawa thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stokes if he has to take too many more of those.
Kanji Kagawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes tries to sprawl but Kagawa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kagawa prevents Stokes from standing back up.
Kagawa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Stokes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kagawa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stokes's head.
Stokes misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stokes is breathing heavily.
Kagawa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Stokes 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.
Stokes is refusing to be controlled, as Kagawa sits in half guard.
Kagawa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stokes!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stokes because Kagawa loaded up on that one.
Kagawa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kagawa throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stokes can't escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kagawa punching from mount but Stokes doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kagawa looking to control but Stokes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kagawa controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kanji Kagawa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Kagawa gets a clinch.
Kagawa has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Stokes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stokes is really stuck here.
Kagawa goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Stokes escapes and is now in half guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kagawa is trying to get back to full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stokes is working away from the top position though.
Kagawa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stokes blocks the strikes from Kagawa.
Stokes with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stokes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa pushes Stokes off looking to stand but Stokes dives back in and keeps control.
Stokes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kagawa sees it coming and defends easily.
Kagawa wants to control but Stokes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stokes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stokes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kagawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stokes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kagawa wants to control but Stokes is keeping busy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes is looking to take a break and control but Kagawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kagawa shoots in and gets a takedown into Stokes's guard.
Kagawa pushes down on Stokes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kagawa stands up and beckons Stokes to join him on the feet.
Stokes shoots in for a takedown but Kagawa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stokes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kagawa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa working a defensive guard here.
Stokes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kagawa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kagawa is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kanji Kagawa.
Kagawa closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kanji Kagawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Kagawa has managed to clinch.
Kagawa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Stokes trying to control but Kagawa is working from the bottom.
Kanji Kagawa has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stokes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kagawa is trying to control the position but Stokes postures up.
Stokes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stokes drops back looking for a leg! Kagawa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kagawa manages to kick Stokes off! Stokes jumps back into Kagawa's guard.
Kagawa is looking to sweep but instead, Stokes has passed into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagawa tries to roll over but Stokes keeps him under control.
Kagawa wants to get back to his feet.
Stokes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stokes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Stokes trying to control the action but Kagawa is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa is trying to stand up here but Stokes is controlling him well.
Kagawa tries to get to full guard but Stokes has control of the leg.
Stokes is looking to take a break and control but Kagawa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kagawa tries to get to full guard but Stokes has control of the leg.
Kagawa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kagawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stokes trying to control from half guard but Kagawa is working away.
Rufus Stokes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kagawa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stokes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kagawa is looking to work some ground and pound but Stokes has wrist control.
Stokes is striking but Kagawa is not phased and passes to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagawa wants to free his trapped foot but Stokes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stokes wants to get back to his feet.
Kagawa passes to full mount!
Kagawa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stokes swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kanji Kagawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kagawa 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kanji Kagawa!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
57% |
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