PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randall Booth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takishi Hotinimaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Randall Booth had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Booth
vs
Hotinimaro

205 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Randall Booth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takishi Hotinimaro!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hotinimaro avoids the head kick by Booth.
Hotinimaro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Booth doesn't manage to clinch there - Hotinimaro circles away.
Hotinimaro closes the distance looking to clinch
and Booth counters with a three punch combo that has Hotinimaro backing up. Hotinimaro nods at Booth to acknowledge the strikes.
Hotinimaro fails with the takedown.
Booth shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hotinimaro but Hotinimaro pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Booth misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Booth throws a chopping leg kick but Hotinimaro manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Hotinimaro misses
and Booth counters with a nice body kick.

Hotinimaro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Booth's guard.
Hotinimaro is looking to stand up but Booth won't let him.
Booth is trying to control the position but Hotinimaro postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotinimaro wants to stand but Booth has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hotinimaro wants to stand and escape but instead Booth has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hotinimaro looks gassed!
Booth prevents Hotinimaro from getting back to his feet.
Booth trying to control the position from guard on top but Hotinimaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Booth is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Booth really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hotinimaro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Booth is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Booth slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

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.
Booth throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Booth will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hotinimaro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hotinimaro throws a head kick that misses
and Booth counters with a series of strikes. Hotinimaro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice takedown defense from Hotinimaro. No joy for Booth on that attempt.
Hotinimaro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Booth looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Booth lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hotinimaro throws a leg kick that is checked
and Booth counters with a nice uppercut.
Hotinimaro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hotinimaro throws a sloppy head kick
and Booth counters with a head kick. That will keep Hotinimaro thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Takishi Hotinimaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hotinimaro misses with a takedown attempt
and Booth counters with a leg kick.
Booth rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hotinimaro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Booth scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Hotinimaro closes the distance and clinches.
A left hand lands to the body for Hotinimaro.
Booth goes for a takedown attempt but Hotinimaro pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hotinimaro wants to clinch
and Booth counters with a solid body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from Hotinimaro.

Hotinimaro drives through and clinches with Booth against the cage.
Hotinimaro tries to land knees in the clinch but Booth avoids the damage to the body.
A knee to the head by Hotinimaro.
Hotinimaro lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Randall Booth has been cut.

Hotinimaro breaks from the clinch.
Hotinimaro misses with a left hand
and Booth counters with a head kick.
Hotinimaro tries to clinch up but Booth circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice body kick there by Booth.
No joy there for Booth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hotinimaro tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Booth connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hotinimaro slips a jab and a cross from Booth.
A combination from Hotinimaro does no damage.
Hotinimaro pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hotinimaro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hotinimaro clinches but Booth breaks the clinch
and Booth counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Booth.
Booth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hotinimaro is fending him off so far but Booth persists. Nope, Hotinimaro circles away and we're back to standing.
Booth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hotinimaro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Booth makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Hotinimaro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Booth!
Hotinimaro is looking to stand but Hotinimaro has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Hotinimaro tries to control but Booth wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takishi Hotinimaro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Randall Booth's cut.
That's time! Booth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hotinimaro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A clash of legs there as Booth blocks the low kick.
Hotinimaro takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hotinimaro moves in looking to clinch but Booth pushes him off.
Hotinimaro misses the jab.
Booth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hotinimaro is fending him off so far but Booth persists. Nope, Hotinimaro circles away and we're back to standing.
Hotinimaro has a takedown stuffed.
Booth throws a leg kick which misses Hotinimaro's front leg but catches the back leg as Hotinimaro tries to avoid it.
Booth throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hotinimaro.
Booth fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hotinimaro.
Booth throws a sloppy head kick and Hotinimaro moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Booth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hotinimaro should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hotinimaro throws a lazy head kick
and Booth counters with a left and a right that stings Hotinimaro.
Hotinimaro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Booth is fending him off so far but Hotinimaro persists. Nope, Booth circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotinimaro misses with a double jab
and Hotinimaro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hotinimaro throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hotinimaro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hotinimaro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Booth or perhaps it was just good defense by Hotinimaro which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Randall Booth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Booth gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hotinimaro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hotinimaro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Booth counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hotinimaro is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hotinimaro.
Booth tries to clinch up but Hotinimaro circles away and keeps his distance.
Booth throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hotinimaro's waist but Hotinimaro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Booth off to one side.
Hotinimaro wants to clinch up but Booth keeps it at a distance.
Hotinimaro tries to clinch up but Booth circles away and keeps his distance.

Hotinimaro has Booth up against the cage in a clinch.
Hotinimaro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hotinimaro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Booth loads up on a big right hand but Hotinimaro slips the punch.
Hotinimaro blocks the body kick.
Hotinimaro shoots in and drives through. Booth sprawls well.
Hotinimaro tries to clinch but Booth moves out of range.
Hotinimaro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hotinimaro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hotinimaro has closed the distance and engaged Booth in a clinch.
Hotinimaro has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Booth.
Hotinimaro landing knees to the head.
Hotinimaro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hotinimaro trying to land knees to the body.

Hotinimaro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hotinimaro is looking to clinch.
Hotinimaro swinging wilding here.
Hotinimaro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Booth fails with an attempt to clinch.
Booth is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booth keeps the fight on the outside.
Booth with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hotinimaro counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hotinimaro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hotinimaro changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Booth fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hotinimaro is looking to clinch.
Booth misses with a straight left.
Booth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hotinimaro tries to clinch but Booth moves away

and Booth counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hotinimaro is trying to stand.
Hotinimaro landing small, sideways elbows.
Hotinimaro wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hotinimaro makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hotinimaro lands with a nice combination. Booth backs away looking to recover.
Booth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Booth closes the distance and clinches up with Hotinimaro, looking for a takedown. Booth pushes Hotinimaro against the cage but Hotinimaro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Booth bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Booth lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hotinimaro is looking to clinch.
Hotinimaro gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hotinimaro looks to score with a jab to the body but Booth is just out of range.
Booth swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Booth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hotinimaro closes the distance looking to clinch
and Booth cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Booth fails with a takedown attempt.
Hotinimaro stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Randall Booth will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Randall Booth's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Hotinimaro lands a high kick!
Nice sprawl there from Booth as Hotinimaro shoots in.
Hotinimaro tries to clinch but Booth moves away
and Booth counters with a leg kick.
Hotinimaro is looking to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Booth!
Booth throws a wild body kick that Hotinimaro sees coming a mile off.
Booth throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hotinimaro throws a sloppy head kick
and Booth counters with a nice body kick.
Hotinimaro has his takedown stuffed

and Booth counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Booth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hotinimaro is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Booth dives into side control.
Booth working the ground and pound.
Booth wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hotinimaro keeps working.
Hotinimaro bucks up and tries to throw Booth off but instead Booth has got his back!
Hotinimaro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotinimaro is trying to get back to his feet but Booth has full control of the position and if anything, Hotinimaro has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booth trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Hotinimaro rolls, trying to escape but Booth keeps control of the position.
Hotinimaro looking very determined here, making life difficult for Booth.
Hotinimaro is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Booth lands a shot to the head.
Hotinimaro is trying to get back to his feet but Booth has full control of the position and if anything, Hotinimaro has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Booth.
Hotinimaro controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Booth avoiding Hotinimaro 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotinimaro tries to escape the position.
Hotinimaro has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hotinimaro is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Booth is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Booth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hotinimaro is trying to stand back up.
Hotinimaro rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Hotinimaro has one foot on Booth's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hotinimaro wants to clinch but Booth slips to the side
and Hotinimaro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Randall Booth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hotinimaro fails with a takedown attempt.
Randall Booth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takishi Hotinimaro.
Nice takedown defense from Booth. No joy for Hotinimaro on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randall Booth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Booth has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Takishi Hotinimaro!