PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ishmael Egyptian (ranked 933 p4p, 1411 weight class) and Kazuo Imanari (ranked 87 p4p, 140 weight class). Imanari has chosen 吉田兄弟 Rising as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Egyptian
vs
Imanari

175 cm
27
143
9 - 5 - 1

165 cm
37
145
18 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ishmael Egyptian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Imanari!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Egyptian fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Imanari sprawls well initially but Egyptian persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Imanari felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Egyptian trying to control the pace.
Egyptian seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Imanari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Egyptian not doing much here.
Egyptian is trying to control the action in half guard but Imanari is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Egyptian controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egyptian's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Egyptian takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Egyptian works his way into full mount!
Egyptian controlling his opponent.
Egyptian trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Egyptian lands a heavy elbow.
Imanari is in all sorts of trouble here.
We've been hearing good reports from Egyptian's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian controlling from the full mount.
Egyptian looking to ground and pound but Imanari is blocking nicely.
Egyptian controlling the position easily from mount.
Imanari has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Egyptian's lack of action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian wants to free his trapped foot but Imanari is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Egyptian seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Imanari does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Egyptian is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Egyptian sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Imanari blocking the ground and pound attempt from Egyptian.
Egyptian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Imanari keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Imanari desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Egyptian prevents Imanari from improving his position.
Egyptian controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imanari trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imanari shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Egyptian as he avoids it easily.
Egyptian throws a hook but Imanari avoids it easily.

Imanari drives through with a takedown into Egyptian's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ishmael Egyptian dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Imanari closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Egyptian lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Egyptian struggles to land a body shot inside as Imanari controls his hands.
Imanari is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Egyptian tries to circle away but Imanari has him pinned against the cage.
Egyptian is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Egyptian lands a shoulder strike.
Egyptian prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ishmael Egyptian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazuo Imanari.
Egyptian lands a hook that snaps the head of Imanari backwards.
Egyptian content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Egyptian lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Imanari goes for a takedown attempt but Egyptian pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Imanari has taken the fight to the clinch.
Egyptian prevents a takedown attempt there.
Egyptian misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Egyptian is defending well.
Egyptian lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Imanari drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Imanari has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Egyptian regains guard immediately.
Imanari won't allow Egyptian to sweep him here.
Egyptian keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
Imanari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Egyptian wants to sweep here but Imanari controlling him for the moment.
Imanari showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Egyptian is adopting a defensive guard.
Egyptian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Imanari can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is stalling in the full guard.
Imanari stopping the sweep attempt from Egyptian.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Egyptian bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Imanari's guard.

Egyptian controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian trying to control but Imanari is working from the bottom.
Egyptian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Egyptian is looking to advance position but Imanari has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Egyptian is squirming around, avoiding Imanari's attempts to control the action.
Imanari controlling from the full mount.
Egyptian really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian wants to control but Imanari is having none of it.
Egyptian is wriggling around trying to escape.
Imanari wants to control the pace but Egyptian is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Egyptian is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ishmael Egyptian will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Egyptian scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Imanari takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Imanari is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Egyptian's half guard.
Kazuo Imanari has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Egyptian manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Imanari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Egyptian keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imanari postures up.
Imanari is pushing down on Egyptian's leg trying to pass to half guard. Egyptian is fighting to maintain full guard but Imanari has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egyptian wants to control but Imanari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Egyptian wants to improve his position but Imanari is controlling well.
Egyptian trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Egyptian gets back to half guard.
Egyptian is trying to control but Imanari passes into side control!
Egyptian tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Imanari trying to control the action but Egyptian is working from the bottom.
Egyptian struggling a bit here.
Egyptian tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Imanari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Imanari tries to move to full mount but Egyptian actually manages to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari passes to side control.
Egyptian seems a little lost for a moment, as Imanari dominates the positioning.
Egyptian is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Egyptian sneaks back into half guard.
Ishmael Egyptian is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Egyptian is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Egyptian is controlling Imanari's trapped leg to prevent Imanari from advancing to side control.

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.
Egyptian gets back to full guard.
Imanari controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Egyptian keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Imanari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Egyptian.

Egyptian closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Egyptian controlling the pace.
Egyptian wants to pass the guard but Imanari is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ishmael Egyptian.
Well Egyptian has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ishmael Egyptian!
During a confident post fight interview, Ishmael Egyptian thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.