PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Santana Blaze (ranked 1774 p4p, 85 weight class) and Daichi Kishimoto (ranked 469 p4p, 18 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blaze
vs
Kishimoto

177 cm
38
138 lbs
20 - 13 - 2

170 cm
23
145 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 20 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Santana Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daichi Kishimoto!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaze displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kishimoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blaze swivels and escapes.
Kishimoto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kishimoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Blaze scores with a leg kick.
Kishimoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Blaze throws a big counter combination but Kishimoto scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Santana Blaze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Kishimoto.
Kishimoto shoots in looking for a takedown. Blaze tries to sprawl out of it but Kishimoto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Blaze manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blaze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kishimoto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half 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!
Blaze wants to get back to his feet.
Blaze definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Kishimoto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blaze is looking for a sweep. Kishimoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kishimoto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blaze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kishimoto.
Kishimoto is looking to advance position but Blaze won't allow it.

Blaze manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Blaze missing with a left hand there. Kishimoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A clash of legs there as Kishimoto blocks the low kick.
Kishimoto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blaze defends it well.
Kishimoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blaze's waist but Blaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kishimoto off to one side.
Kishimoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blaze pinned against the cage. Blaze gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kishimoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Blaze sprawls well. He's pushed Kishimoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Blaze throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kishimoto is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kishimoto fails with the takedown
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Santana Blaze is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blaze will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kishimoto with the counter takedown but Blaze avoids it easily.
Blaze stuffs the takedown attempt from Kishimoto. Kishimoto gets slowly back to his feet.
Blaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kishimoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blaze as he jumps to the side.
Blaze connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Blaze misses.
Kishimoto looks for a takedown but Blaze sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kishimoto darts in looking for a takedown but Blaze gets double underhooks and turns Kishimoto into the cage.
Blaze displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kishimoto.
Kishimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blaze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Blaze goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Blaze lands a glancing blow to the side of Kishimoto's head.
Blaze lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kishimoto.
Blaze was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blaze keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blaze will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Blaze slaps away a takedown attempt from Kishimoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Blaze was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Blaze lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Blaze connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Kishimoto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Blaze is trying to control but can't.

Kishimoto wants to work for an arm triangle but Blaze is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kishimoto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blaze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kishimoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Blaze scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kishimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Blaze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Blaze is looking to counter punch.
Kishimoto misses with a takedown attempt
and Blaze counters with a stiff right hand.
Blaze lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kishimoto backs up against the cage.
Kishimoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blaze's waist but Blaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kishimoto off to one side.
Santana Blaze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Kishimoto.
Kishimoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Blaze's waist but Blaze gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kishimoto off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kishimoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blaze.
Kishimoto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blaze cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Santana Blaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blaze looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kishimoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blaze pinned against the cage. Blaze gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kishimoto fails with the takedown.
Kishimoto fails with the takedown
and Blaze counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blaze is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kishimoto is breathing heavily.
Blaze connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Daichi Kishimoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kishimoto shoots in and gets a takedown into Blaze's guard.
Kishimoto trying to control but Blaze is working from the bottom.
Blaze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kishimoto is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blaze scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Kishimoto manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Blaze on his heels. He'll look to pass Blaze's guard now, I'm sure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kishimoto controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Blaze has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kishimoto wants to control from the top but Blaze keeps moving.
Daichi Kishimoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kishimoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kishimoto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Blaze's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kishimoto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Blaze is trying to get back to full guard.
Blaze is trying to stand.
Kishimoto trying to control from half guard but Blaze is working away.
Blaze is looking to improve his position.
Blaze looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blaze tries to roll over but Kishimoto keeps him under control.
Blaze is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kishimoto shoots for a takedown but Blaze saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Blaze appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kishimoto takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Blaze stuffs the takedown.
Decent striking displayed by Blaze there.
Kishimoto looks for a takedown but Blaze sprawls well.
A jab from Blaze finds it's way through Kishimoto's defenses.
A nice combination there by Blaze.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santana Blaze dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kishimoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Blaze is looking to counter punch.
Nice takedown defense from Blaze. No joy for Kishimoto on that attempt.
Blaze connects with a looping right hand.
Kishimoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blaze pinned against the cage. Blaze gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Santana Blaze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Kishimoto.
Blaze lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blaze displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kishimoto.
It looked like Blaze was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kishimoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Blaze.

Kishimoto looking to score a takedown here. Blaze is defending well but Kishimoto drives through and ends up in Blaze's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze working a defensive guard here.
Kishimoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Blaze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blaze 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.
Blaze manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kishimoto manages to get himself to full guard.

Kishimoto trying to keep a closed guard but Blaze is proving a slippery customer.
Blaze pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kishimoto is keeping the position for now.
Blaze sitting in guard here, content to control.

Blaze gets to his feet. Kishimoto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Blaze as Kishimoto shoots in.
Santana Blaze is winning the standup battle so far.
Kishimoto fails with the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Blaze. Those never looked like landing.
And Kishimoto tries to counter it with a takedown but Blaze pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kishimoto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blaze counters with a straight right hand.
Blaze lands a slapping body shot.
Kishimoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blaze defends it nicely.
Kishimoto takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Blaze. No joy for Kishimoto on that attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Blaze. Those never looked like landing.
Kishimoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blaze lands a jab to the head.
Blaze misses with a two punch combination.
Kishimoto moves forwards but Blaze connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kishimoto shoots in but Blaze avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kishimoto fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaze misses with a two punch combination.
Kishimoto lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Blaze scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kishimoto in his tracks.
Kishimoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blaze digs a good hook to Kishimoto's body.
Kishimoto looks for a takedown but Blaze sprawls well.
Kishimoto has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab by Blaze.
Daichi Kishimoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blaze throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kishimoto stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A punch combination from Blaze misses.
Santana Blaze is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blaze works over Kishimoto's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santana Blaze showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blaze, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santana Blaze!
Santana Blaze decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
In defeat, Daichi Kishimoto stepped up to the mic, saying 'Forgot to cancell my auto flight, now I faught on low energy'.