PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sugawara Ichirou (ranked 4766 p4p, 4494 weight class) and Nathan Fedorov (ranked 545 p4p, 527 weight class). Ichirou comes to the cage accompanied by The Milky Way. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ichirou
vs
Fedorov

189 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
16
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice
Mile High

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sugawara Ichirou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Fedorov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fedorov is looking to clinch but Ichirou is avoiding it.
An attempted straight right counter from Ichirou misses the target.
Fedorov lands a lovely overhand right.
Fedorov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ichirou counters with a stiff right hand.
A big left from Fedorov misses.
Fedorov scores with a jab to the head.
Fedorov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fedorov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ichirou throwing a counter right hand but Fedorov manages to avoid it.

Ichirou closes the distance and pushes Fedorov back into the cage.
Fedorov misses with a body punch.
Ichirou lands an elbow that stopped Fedorov in his tracks for a moment.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Fedorov.
Fedorov can't break the clinch.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fedorov missing with a left hand there. Ichirou was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ichirou looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A big right from Fedorov misses.
Fedorov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ichirou sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Ichirou closes the distance and pushes Fedorov back into the cage.
Nice body punch from Fedorov.
Fedorov trying to stall but Ichirou improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichirou stalling the fight.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ichirou moves into the clinch.
Ichirou lands an elbow that stopped Fedorov in his tracks for a moment.
Fedorov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ichirou scores with a shot to the side of Fedorov's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ichirou.

Ichirou breaks from the clinch.

Ichirou moves into the clinch.
Fedorov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ichirou backwards.
Fedorov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fedorov has had enough of the clinch but Ichirou keeps him there for the moment.
Ichirou stalling against the cage.
Fedorov misses with some punches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ichirou.
Fedorov trying to control the position but instead, Ichirou has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fedorov into the cage.
Ichirou creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Fedorov fails to land.
Ichirou scores with a shoulder strike.

Ichirou breaks the clinch.

Ichirou gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Ichirou as the two fighters clinch.
Ichirou working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ichirou throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fedorov is trying to stall.
Ichirou stalling against the cage.
Nice body punch from Ichirou - that landed with a thud.
Fedorov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fedorov lands an uppercut.
Ichirou landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ichirou stalling in the clinch.
Fedorov working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov blocks an elbow strike.
Ichirou blocks a body shot from Fedorov.
Ichirou holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ichirou blocks a body shot from Fedorov.
Ichirou with a knee to the head.

It looks like Nathan Fedorov has been cut.
Fedorov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Ichirou.
Ichirou lands with a left to the head.
Ichirou gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ichirou works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fedorov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ichirou lands with a right to the head.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ichirou leaning against his opponent.
Fedorov misses with the head strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ichirou scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou is struggling to control the position.
Fedorov working hard to break the clinch.
Ichirou lands with a right to the head.
Good body shot from Ichirou.
Ichirou tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ichirou is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ichirou lands a shoulder strike.
Ichirou stalling against the cage.
Ichirou scores with a knee to the head.
Ichirou pushes Fedorov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ichirou wants to clinch up but Fedorov keeps it at a distance.
Fedorov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fedorov scores with a nice right hand.
Fedorov lands a nice looking body shot.
Ichirou tries to clinch there but Fedorov circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sugawara Ichirou dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Fedorov's cut.
That's time! Ichirou's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ichirou darts in and clinches Fedorov up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Ichirou as the two fighters clinch.
Ichirou will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fedorov up against the cage.
Fedorov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The referee calls for Ichirou to work.
Fedorov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ichirou is pushing Fedorov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ichirou landing knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Ichirou.
Ichirou is struggling to control the position.
Ichirou stalling the fight.
Ichirou blocks an uppercut.
Fedorov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov tries to break the clinch but Ichirou is controlling the position.
Ichirou lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fedorov.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fedorov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fedorov blocks an elbow strike.
Ichirou just leaning against Fedorov, taking a breather.
Ichirou lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fedorov backwards.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ichirou blocking some punches.
Fedorov misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Ichirou - that landed with a thud.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ichirou.
Nice elbow from Ichirou.
Ichirou is leaning against Fedorov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ichirou effectively controlling the action here.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov throws a poor cross that misses
and Ichirou connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Fedorov tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Ichirou lands a left hand.
Ichirou scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fedorov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ichirou's elbow.
Ichirou blocks an uppercut.
Ichirou will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fedorov up against the cage.
Ichirou scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ichirou blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fedorov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fedorov misses with a punch to the body.
Ichirou stalling the fight.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fedorov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ichirou.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ichirou takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Ichirou - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ichirou seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Ichirou is working Fedorov over against the cage.
Fedorov tries to stall but Ichirou uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fedorov throws a punch but it's blocked by Ichirou.
Ichirou lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ichirou has Fedorov pushed against the cage.
Ichirou lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fedorov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ichirou is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fedorov can do to turn this around?
Fedorov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ichirou lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Fedorov trying to stall but Ichirou improves his position.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.
Ichirou ducks right into an uppercut from Fedorov.
Nathan Fedorov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fedorov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fedorov duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ichirou clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ichirou tries to land a knee to the head but Fedorov blocks with his arms.
Fedorov tries to stall but Ichirou uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fedorov working hard to break the clinch.
Ichirou stalling the fight.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ichirou takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.

Ichirou takes the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A short uppercut from Ichirou.
Ichirou keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fedorov's efforts to push away.
Fedorov trying to control the position but instead, Ichirou has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fedorov into the cage.
A short right from Ichirou on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sugawara Ichirou dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Fedorov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fedorov tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou taking a breather.

Ichirou breaks the clinch.
Fedorov throws a shot to the body.
Ichirou tries to close the distance and clinch but Fedorov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fedorov cracks Ichirou with an open hand slap.
Nice straight punches there by Ichirou. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ichirou.

Ichirou clinches up against the cage.
Fedorov struggles to land a body shot inside as Ichirou controls his hands.
Fedorov tries to break the clinch but Ichirou is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fedorov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ichirou keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fedorov's efforts to push away.
Sugawara Ichirou has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Fedorov fails to land.
Fedorov being controlled against the cage.
Fedorov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichirou avoiding damage.
Nathan Fedorov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ichirou scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Ichirou pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fedorov wants to clinch.
It looked like Ichirou was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Ichirou closes the distance and clinches.
Fedorov is trying to force a seperation but Ichirou has the dominant position.
Ichirou with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ichirou scores with a shot to the side of Fedorov's head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Fedorov is trying to push Ichirou away but Ichirou has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fedorov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ichirou has closed the distance and engaged Fedorov in a clinch.
Fedorov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fedorov tries to break the clinch but Ichirou is controlling the position.
Ichirou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ichirou displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fedorov up against the cage.
Fedorov tries to stall but Ichirou uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ichirou taking a breather.
Fedorov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fedorov letting Ichirou take a breather here.
Fedorov is trying to force a seperation but Ichirou has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou blocking some punches.
Ichirou blocking some punches.
Fedorov letting Ichirou take a breather here.
Ichirou slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Sugawara Ichirou.
Fedorov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ichirou.
Fedorov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ichirou looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nathan Fedorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ichirou darts in and clinches Fedorov up against the cage.

Ichirou escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A right-left combo lands from Ichirou.
A left lands for Ichirou.

Ichirou gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fedorov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ichirou's elbow.
Ichirou lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fedorov backwards.
Fedorov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ichirou lands a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fedorov is trying to break the clinch but Ichirou is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov looking to slow down the pace here.
Fedorov lands a nice uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ichirou.
Ichirou lands an elbow just above Fedorov 's eye.
A short uppercut from Fedorov.
Fedorov letting Ichirou take a breather here.
Ichirou makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ichirou lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fedorov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ichirou comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ichirou controlling the action here for a moment.
Ichirou blocking some punches.
Sugawara Ichirou is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fedorov looking to slow down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sugawara Ichirou showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ichirou, 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sugawara Ichirou!