PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ibushi Kota (ranked 5286 p4p, 6225 weight class) and Ryuji Mato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kota might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Just Close Your Eyes. Ibushi Kota is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kota
vs
Mato

183 cm
23
200
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
205
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ibushi Kota!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryuji Mato!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kota closes the distance and clinches.
Mato is trying to drag Kota to the mat but Kota just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mato blocks the elbow strike.

Mato manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mato wants to sweep here but Kota controlling him for the moment.

Mato is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kota defends well.
Mato wants to sweep here but Kota controlling him for the moment.
Kota looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mato holds on and takes a little breather.
Kota is looking to stand up but Mato won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mato looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kota is one step ahead there.
Kota trying to control but Mato is working from the bottom.
Mato seems keen to control Kota's posture.
Kota trying to control but Mato is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kota won't allow Mato to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kota clinches.
Mato is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kota gets underhooks to prevent Mato's takedown attempt.
Mato goes for a takedown attempt but Kota pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ibushi Kota has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuji Mato.

Kota clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kota with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Mato lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mato is thwarting Kota's attempts to control the position.
Mato is pressing down on Kota's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kota is holding on for now.
Mato looks winded!
Mato working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kota's thigh. Kota counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Kota has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Mato is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kota misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mato looking for a takedown.
Mato is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kota is keeping busy.
Kota is trying to break the clinch but Mato is controlling him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kota scores with a knee to the head.
Kota looking to stall.

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

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kota clinches.
Kota is looking to control Mato's arms but Mato gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kota has his back to the cage.
Mato tries to throw a body punch but Kota avoids it by throwing Mato back against the cage.
Kota doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mato has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kota is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kota throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mato tries to score a body lock takedown but Kota shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kota trying to stall but Mato improves his position.
Mato has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kota seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Mato can turn it around.
Kota scores with a knee to the head.

Kota ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kota no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kota is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mato is controlling him.
Mato won't allow Kota to sweep him here.
Mato controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kota moves into the clinch successfully.
Kota scores with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kota taking a breather.
Kota tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mato goes for a takedown attempt but Kota pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mato avoids the body shot from Kota.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kota clinches with his opponent.
Mato is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kota jumps guard and drags Mato to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kota keeping moving, preventing Mato from controlling successfully.
Mato controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kota is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mato is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mato throws an elbow that misses. Kota uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mato's guard. Nice move by Kota!

We've been hearing that Kota has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kota trying to control but Mato is working from the bottom.
Kota has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mato is proving hard to escape from.
Mato wants to sweep here but Kota controlling him for the moment.
Ibushi Kota overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kota is pushing down on Mato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mato is fighting to maintain full guard but Kota has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mato moves into full guard.
Mato is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kota would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mato is looking to sweep but instead, Kota has passed into half guard.
Mato preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Kota is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mato can do to turn this around?
Mato is refusing to be controlled, as Kota sits in half guard.
Mato wants to improve his position but Kota is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mato looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mato wants to improve his position but Kota is controlling well.
Kota wants to stand up but Mato is controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mato wants to improve his position but Kota is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mato is refusing to be controlled, as Kota sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kota moves into range and clinches up with Mato.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ibushi Kota dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kota moves into the clinch.
Mato is struggling to control the position.

Mato gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Kota has one foot on Mato's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Kota has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kota misses with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kota.
Mato has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kota after a bit of a struggle.
Kota scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kota tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kota is trying to break free.
Mato is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kota gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kota lands an elbow that stopped Mato in his tracks for a moment.
Kota is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mato is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota wants to stall.

Kota jumps guard and drags Mato to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Mato stands and steps away. Kota gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kota instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Mato to work.

Mato successfully pulls guard.
Mato tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mato has his feet on Kota's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mato manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kota moves into range and clinches up with Mato.
Kota lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Mato has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kota is trying to keep an underhook but Mato manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Mato seems to be working for a kimura but Kota defends the submission attempt.
Kota is looking to control Mato's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kota avoid being mounted?
Mato wants to pass the guard but Kota is defending well.
Mato trying to control the action but Kota is working from the bottom.
Mato throws a strike but Kota avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mato is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Kota has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mato off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Kota forces Mato back against the cage and clinches.
Kota trying to land knees to the body.
Ibushi Kota has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Mato has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kota regains guard immediately.
Mato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mato trying to control the position from guard on top but Kota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kota looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mato content to stall in guard here.

Kota has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Mato is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Ibushi Kota is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kota misses with some punches.
Kota tries to land a knee to the head but Mato blocks with his arms.
Mato drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryuji Mato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ibushi Kota has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuji Mato.
Mato drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kota gets the underhooks and prevents it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ibushi Kota showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kota 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ibushi Kota!
A relieved looking Ibushi Kota thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.