PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Slater (ranked 1736 p4p, 1288 weight class) and Ikuma Arishima (ranked 243 p4p, 185 weight class). Arishima has chosen Fight Music as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Slater
vs
Arishima

183 cm
27
161
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
158
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ikuma Arishima!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arishima throws a hook but Slater avoids it easily.

Arishima gets caught napping as Slater dives in and scores a takedown. Arishima manages to retain guard.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Arishima is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arishima really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Slater. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Slater missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slater throwing strikes from guard but Arishima blocks nicely.
Slater engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Slater throws an elbow that misses. Arishima uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Slater's guard. Nice move by Arishima!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arishima tries to free his leg and advance position but Slater is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater looking to hit a scissor sweep but Arishima is one step ahead there.
Arishima sitting in guard here, content to control.
Slater pulls Arishima in close to his closed guard and prevents Arishima from doing any damage or advancing position.

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.
Arishima looking to pass the guard.
Arishima stopping the sweep attempt from Slater.
Slater controlling Arishima's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Slater wants to sweep here but Arishima controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arishima throws a hook but Slater blocks it.
A combination from Arishima does no damage.
Arishima throws a shot to the body.
Arishima defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Slater.
Arishima swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Slater pushes Arishima up against the cage in a clinch.

Arishima manages to break the clinch.
Slater dives in and grabs Arishima's left leg, looking for a takedown. Arishima pushes down on Slater's head and hops out.
Slater tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Arishima counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Slater shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Arishima sprawls well. Arishima wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slater gets slowly back to his feet.
Arishima doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Slater takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arishima leaning against his opponent.
Slater's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Arishima is pressed up against the cage. Slater has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arishima down to the mat. Arishima avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A nice combination there by Arishima.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice uppercut there from Arishima.
Slater gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Arishima cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Arishima misses with a straight left.
Arishima thuds a left hand into Slater's body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slater shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Arishima counters with a straight right hand.
Slater shoots in for a double leg but Arishima sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ikuma Arishima dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arishima punishes Slater's body with a nice straight punch.
Slater tries for a takedown but Arishima sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Arishima looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Slater closes the distance but Arishima moves to the side
and Arishima counters with a right hand to the body.
Slater moves forwards but Arishima connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Arishima throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Slater shoots in looking for a takedown. Arishima tries to sprawl out of it but Slater keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Arishima manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Slater does no damage.
Arishima scores with a decent looking hook.
Arishima keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnny Slater seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arishima scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slater throws a poor cross that misses
and Arishima counters with a three punch combo that has Slater backing up. Slater nods at Arishima to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Arishima both land. Nice combination.

Slater is rocked!
Arishima dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Slater misses with a takedown

and Arishima counters with a nice right hand that sends Slater toppling to the canvas! Slater scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Arishima finish him?!
Oh Slater is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Slater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Slater wants to clinch up but Arishima keeps it at a distance.
Arishima swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Slater seems to have got his legs back now.
Slater shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Arishima counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slater misses with a left hand
and Arishima counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Slater moves to clinch but Arishima breaks away
and Arishima counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Slater looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arishima is fending him off so far but Slater persists. Nope, Arishima circles away and we're back to standing.
Arishima is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Arishima scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Arishima counters with a nice right hand that sends Slater toppling to the canvas! Slater scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Arishima finish him?!
Arishima lands with a good body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Arishima.
Arishima lands a head shot.
Slater is sent reeling backwards by a solid uppercut. He barely regains his balance and Arishima moves in for the kill throwing a continuous barrage of punches that force the ref to step in.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ikuma Arishima!
Ikuma Arishima got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'