PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Ferreira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichirai Hoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ferreira
vs
Hoshi

175 cm
19
168 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raphael Ferreira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichirai Hoshi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoshi feints and as Ferreira raises his hands in defense, Hoshi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferreira wants to stand and escape but Hoshi is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Ferreira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hoshi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hoshi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ferreira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ferreira keeping moving, preventing Hoshi from controlling successfully.

Hoshi stands up and waves to Ferreira to follow him.
Ferreira has his takedown stuffed

so Hoshi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Ferreira working for a triangle but Hoshi defends it easily.

Ferreira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ferreira is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hoshi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ferreira wants to sweep but no luck.
Ferreira can't keep his opponent in guard - Hoshi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hoshi controlling the action here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hoshi throwing shots but Ferreira is blocking nicely.

That's two 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.
Hoshi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hoshi works his way into full mount!
Hoshi content just to control the position here.
Ferreira's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Hoshi breaks from Ferreira's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hoshi cracks Ferreira with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
BOOM! Hoshi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ferreira tries to improve his position but instead Hoshi has taken his back!
Hoshi is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Hoshi throwing damaging strikes from the back! Ferreira could be in trouble here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshi lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Hoshi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hoshi trying to control.
Ferreira rolls, trying to escape but Hoshi keeps control of the position.
Hoshi is looking to control Ferreira but Ferreira is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Hoshi looking for the RNC.
Hoshi trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Ferreira doesn't escape.

Hoshi looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira wants to control his opponent's hands but Hoshi gets his hands free.
Hoshi keeps control of the position as Ferreira tries to break free.
Hoshi really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Ferreira.
Hoshi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Hoshi has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Ferreira.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hoshi looking for the RNC.
Ferreira trying to control the action but Hoshi just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichirai Hoshi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ferreira tries for a takedown but Hoshi circles away easily

and Hoshi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hoshi.
Ferreira is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ferreira looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hoshi is one step ahead there.
Ferreira being controlled here, momentarily.
Ferreira avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferreira is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hoshi is looking to work some ground and pound but Ferreira has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshi wants to control from the top but Ferreira keeps moving.
Hoshi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ferreira shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hoshi pinned against the cage. Hoshi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Hoshi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hoshi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ferreira wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hoshi manages to pass to side control.
Ferreira wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshi is controlling the pace.

Ferreira is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hoshi pulls his head out easily.

Ferreira has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Hoshi escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Hoshi!
Hoshi working the body and head with strikes.
Hoshi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ferreira will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ferreira takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshi works to advance to full mount. Ferreira defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hoshi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hoshi looking to control but Ferreira is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ferreira looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Ferreira defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hoshi's arms.
Hoshi is working the ground and pound. Can Ferreira escape?
Well, with Hoshi on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ferreira is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Ferreira trying to control the hands but Hoshi breaks the grip.
Ferreira is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hoshi.
Hoshi tries to get the hooks in deep but Ferreira pushed the leg off.
Ferreira might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hoshi is trying to control but Ferreira is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Ferreira knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hoshi on the ground.
Hoshi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ferreira is looking to escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ichirai Hoshi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoshi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichirai Hoshi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hoshi looks for a takedown but Ferreira sprawls well.
Ferreira shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hoshi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ferreira's guard now.
Hoshi wants to control from the top but Ferreira keeps moving.
Hoshi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Ferreira is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ferreira keeping moving, preventing Hoshi from controlling successfully.
Ferreira looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferreira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hoshi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ferreira has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hoshi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ferreira.
Hoshi working the body and head with strikes.
Hoshi takes a little break here. Ferreira wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ferreira is trying to get back to his feet.
Hoshi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ferreira will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hoshi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ferreira has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hoshi is looking to take a break and control but Ferreira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hoshi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ferreira, who protects the arm well.
Ferreira is not content to let Hoshi control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferreira wants to control but Hoshi postures up.
Hoshi is putting a hurting on Ferreira here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hoshi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ferreira some visible discomfort.
Ferreira looking for a sweep but Hoshi has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Ferreira can't escape the position.
Hoshi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ferreira hang on?
Hoshi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ferreira is looking to escape.

Hoshi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ichirai Hoshi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hoshi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ferreira is working to get back to half guard.
Hoshi trying to control but Ferreira is having none of it.

Hoshi has hold of Ferreira's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ferreira manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichirai Hoshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hoshi 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichirai Hoshi!