PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Moneybags (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kawajiri has chosen Water Pow as his entrance music. Tatsuya Kawajiri has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John Moneybags's chin.

Moneybags
vs
Kawajiri

150 cm
34
144 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

171 cm
32
146 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Valhalla Fight Wear
Dissolution Fight Wear

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Moneybags!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tatsuya Kawajiri!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Moneybags as Kawajiri shoots in.
Moneybags lands a jab to Kawajiri's midsection.
Kawajiri misses with a combination
and Kawajiri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kawajiri was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
An elbow from Kawajiri crashes against the mat.
Kawajiri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moneybags keeps working.
Moneybags might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moneybags sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Moneybags makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moneybags.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kawajiri working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Kawajiri trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kawajiri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moneybags looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kawajiri trying to control but Moneybags is working from the bottom.
Kawajiri is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Kawajiri has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Moneybags keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tatsuya Kawajiri hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kawajiri fails to land the takedown.
Moneybags displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Moneybags looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Moneybags is not content to let Kawajiri control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawajiri creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Moneybags sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kawajiri is looking to take a break and control but Moneybags is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kawajiri sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Moneybags is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Moneybags is trying to control Kawajiri's posture but Kawajiri avoids it.
Moneybags is looking to regain half guard here but Kawajiri keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kawajiri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kawajiri trying to control the position but Moneybags is working away.
Kawajiri takes a little break here. Moneybags wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kawajiri tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moneybags takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kawajiri in side control, throwing shots but Moneybags defends.
Kawajiri tries to advance to mount but can't.
Moneybags is trying to control Kawajiri's posture but Kawajiri avoids it.
Kawajiri trying to control the action but Moneybags is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moneybags tries to buck Kawajiri off but Kawajiri is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Kawajiri dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Moneybags sprawls well. Moneybags wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kawajiri gets slowly back to his feet.
Moneybags misses with the combination.
Kawajiri avoids a kick to the body.
Kawajiri throws a right and a left that Moneybags avoids nicely.
Moneybags changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kawajiri fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Moneybags tests Kawajiri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kawajiri gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moneybags misses with a kick to the body.
Kawajiri blocks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Moneybags. Kawajiri does a little dance to reset his feet.
Moneybags is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Moneybags slaps away a takedown attempt from Kawajiri, before circling back to the center of the mat.
John Moneybags has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Moneybags slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Kawajiri.
Kawajiri tries for a takedown but Moneybags circles away easily
letting Moneybags counter with a right hand.
Kawajiri shoots in and drives through. Moneybags sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Moneybags.
Kawajiri uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Moneybags.
John Moneybags is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Moneybags cracks Kawajiri with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A bone on bone clash there as Moneybags blocks the leg kick.
Kawajiri takes one to the side of the head.
Moneybags throws a head kick that misses.
John Moneybags is winning the standup battle so far.
Kawajiri moves out of range of the body kick from Moneybags.
Moneybags throws a lazy uppercut
and Kawajiri makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kawajiri takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Moneybags tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kawajiri manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Moneybags lands a head kick!
Moneybags fails in his attempt to clinch.
John Moneybags seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kawajiri.
Moneybags is looking to clinch but Kawajiri is avoiding it.
Kawajiri is looking to clinch but Moneybags is avoiding it.
A swing and a miss from Moneybags.
Kawajiri takes one on the button.
Moneybags stuffs the takedown.
Kawajiri closes the distance and clinches up with Moneybags, looking for a takedown. Kawajiri pushes Moneybags against the cage but Moneybags circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown but Moneybags shows good takedown defense.
Moneybags lands with an overhand left.
Moneybags lands with an uppercut that bounces Kawajiri off the cage and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri connects with a nice looking jab.
Kawajiri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Moneybags.
Moneybags scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kawajiri doesn't seem bothered though.
Kawajiri looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Moneybags is fending him off so far but Kawajiri persists. Nope, Moneybags circles away and we're back to standing.
Moneybags ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Moneybags tests Kawajiri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Moneybags throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kawajiri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Moneybags.
Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice straight punches there by Moneybags. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Moneybags.
Kawajiri goes for a double leg but Moneybags avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Moneybags continues to drive forward.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Moneybags.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Moneybags dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Moneybags lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kawajiri doesn't seem phased though.
Kawajiri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Moneybags tries to bum rush Kawajiri with a series of wild strikes but Kawajiri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kawajiri dives in for a single leg takedown but Moneybags sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kawajiri has hold of one of Moneybags's legs. Moneybags is fighting the takedown attempt but Kawajiri gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kawajiri is looking to pass into half guard but Moneybags pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Moneybags is in guard.
Moneybags throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kawajiri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Moneybags throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kawajiri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tatsuya Kawajiri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Moneybags postures up in Kawajiri's guard and throws a big left but Kawajiri blocks it.
Moneybags won't allow Kawajiri to sweep him here.
Kawajiri is pulling down on Moneybags's head. It's preventing any offense from Moneybags, at least for the moment.
Kawajiri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moneybags wants to stand but Kawajiri has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Moneybags sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kawajiri controls Moneybags momentarily but Moneybags frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Moneybags lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kawajiri circles away quickly and effectively.
Moneybags throws a hook but Kawajiri avoids it easily.
Kawajiri needs to keep his hands up - Moneybags had a free shot at his head there.

Kawajiri clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moneybags lands a body shot.
Moneybags is stalling here.
Kawajiri drops down looking for an ankle pick but Moneybags pulls his leg out and moves away.
John Moneybags has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatsuya Kawajiri.

Moneybags gets caught flat footed, as Kawajiri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kawajiri distracts Moneybags with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Moneybags keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kawajiri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moneybags swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moneybags is pulling down on Kawajiri's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kawajiri wants to control from the top but Moneybags keeps moving.
Kawajiri is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Kawajiri takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Kawajiri shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Moneybags tries to roll over but Kawajiri keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moneybags is not content to let Kawajiri control the position.
Moneybags is trying to get back to full guard.
Moneybags controlling the position well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kawajiri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatsuya Kawajiri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kawajiri 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatsuya Kawajiri!
After the big win, Tatsuya Kawajiri made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Sinister Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.