PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saitama Ryuuji (ranked 6290 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dang Kwon (ranked 6047 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitama Ryuuji has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ryuuji
vs
Kwon

167 cm
20
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saitama Ryuuji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dang Kwon!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kwon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kwon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryuuji after a bit of a struggle.
Ryuuji wants a takedown.
Ryuuji could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ryuuji is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kwon gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryuuji tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saitama Ryuuji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ryuuji goes for a takedown attempt but Kwon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ryuuji goes for a double leg but Kwon avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kwon continues to drive forward.
Ryuuji tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kwon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kwon has Ryuuji up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kwon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ryuuji tries for a takedown but Kwon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwon looks for a takedown but Ryuuji sprawls well.
Ryuuji shoots in but Kwon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kwon tries to clinch up but Ryuuji circles away and keeps his distance.
Kwon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ryuuji is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ryuuji wants to clinch.
Kwon misses with a head kick.

Ryuuji gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kwon pulls guard.
Ryuuji might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ryuuji sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kwon throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ryuuji uses it to pass to side control.
Kwon is looking to reverse the position.
Ryuuji working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kwon tries to buck Ryuuji off but Ryuuji is having none of it.
Kwon bucks up and tries to throw Ryuuji off but instead Ryuuji has got his back!

Ryuuji working for a choke but Kwon is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwon trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Kwon might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ryuuji haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ryuuji controlling well, preventing Kwon from escaping the position.
Even with his hooks in, Ryuuji manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Ryuuji is riding his opponent, not letting Kwon buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kwon tries to roll but Ryuuji sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ryuuji has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kwon's body.
Kwon looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Ryuuji is hanging on to Kwon's back as he tries to escape.
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 Saitama Ryuuji will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ryuuji falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kwon counters with a nice body shot.

Ryuuji moves into the clinch successfully.
Ryuuji stalling.
Ryuuji tries to break the clinch but Kwon is controlling the position.
Ryuuji working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Ryuuji gets control of Kwon's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ryuuji will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kwon looking to pass the guard.

Ryuuji escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kwon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kwon trying to control but Ryuuji is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryuuji can't keep his opponent in guard - Kwon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ryuuji manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kwon wants to control from the top but Ryuuji keeps moving.
Kwon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kwon stands up over Ryuuji, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ryuuji pulls Kwon in close to prevent any damage.

That's two 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.
Kwon postures up in Ryuuji's guard and throws a big left but Ryuuji blocks it.
Kwon wants to get up but he can't break Ryuuji's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ryuuji has Kwon pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ryuuji circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ryuuji connects with a body shot.
Ryuuji looks to score with a jab to the body but Kwon is just out of range.

Kwon shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
It looks like Kwon is going to stand back up.

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

Kwon stands up out of the half guard.
Ryuuji misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kwon misses the shot to the body.
Kwon wants to clinch up but Ryuuji keeps it at a distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ryuuji or perhaps it was just good defense by Kwon, which made it look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ryuuji throws a series of punches but Kwon avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kwon rushes Ryuuji and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ryuuji is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kwon tries to pull guard but Ryuuji forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kwon drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saitama Ryuuji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dang Kwon.
Kwon is trying to pull guard but Ryuuji turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kwon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ryuuji uses from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ryuuji advances to half guard.
Kwon is trying to control but can't.
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 Saitama Ryuuji will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ryuuji dives in and grabs Kwon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kwon pushes down on Ryuuji's head and hops out.
Ryuuji throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ryuuji is defended easily by Kwon.
Ryuuji sets himself, and Kwon steps forward looking for the clinch! Ryuuji avoids it this time.
Ryuuji shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kwon sprawls well. Kwon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ryuuji gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saitama Ryuuji. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kwon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ryuuji.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kwon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ryuuji.
Kwon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ryuuji defends well and Kwon ends up having to push Ryuuji into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ryuuji is looking to clinch but Kwon is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwon scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ryuuji or perhaps it was just good defense by Kwon, which made it look bad.
Ryuuji looks for a takedown but Kwon sprawls well.
Kwon misses with a takedown attempt - Ryuuji sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ryuuji steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kwon. That one must have hurt.
Dang Kwon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kwon fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryuuji swats away the attempt to clinch by Kwon.
Kwon stuffs the takedown.
Ryuuji tries to clinch up but Kwon circles away and keeps his distance.

Ryuuji gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kwon to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Ryuuji uses the cage to get back to his feet.
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!
Kwon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwon tries to clinch up but Ryuuji circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryuuji shoots in looking for a takedown but Kwon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ryuuji's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ryuuji takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ryuuji is defended easily by Kwon.
Kwon darts in looking for a takedown but Ryuuji gets double underhooks and turns Kwon into the cage.
Ryuuji showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kwon.
Ryuuji fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kwon clinches up against the cage.

Ryuuji pulls guard.

Ryuuji is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kwon defends well.
Kwon trying to control but Ryuuji is working from the bottom.
Dang Kwon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saitama Ryuuji is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dang Kwon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ryuuji 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Saitama Ryuuji!