PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahiko Mahitato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahitato has chosen tokyo drift - teriyaki boys as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Mahitato

170 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mahiko Mahitato!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mahitato circles away.
Mahitato tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mahitato fails with an attempt to clinch.
James wants to clinch
and Mahitato counters with a right hand to the body.
James blocks the body kick.
James moves in looking to clinch but Mahitato pushes him off.
Mahiko Mahitato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mahitato keeps the fight on the outside.
Mahitato fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mahitato throws a half hearted mid kick.
James moves in looking to clinch but Mahitato pushes him off.
Mahitato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mahitato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mahitato moves into the clinch.
Mahitato is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mahitato down to the mat. Mahitato avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Mahitato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says James as he avoids it easily.
Mahitato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahitato shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Mahitato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mahitato looks gassed!

James shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mahitato is trying to defend but James finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
James wants to pass to mount but Mahitato is defending the position.
James trying to control from half guard but Mahitato is working away.
Mahitato is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
James trying to pass the guard but Mahitato defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to control. Mahitato wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is really struggling to control Mahitato but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James tries to clinch

and Mahitato counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, James just misses with a elbow thrown towards Mahitato's brow.
Mahitato tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mahitato misses with a knee strike.

Mahitato successfully pulls guard.
James wants to control from the top but Mahitato keeps moving.
Mahitato seems keen to control James's posture.
James controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahitato wants to stand up but James is controlling him.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mahitato is keeping the position for now.
James wants to control from the top but Mahitato keeps moving.
James being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mahitato not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mahitato is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
James sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mahitato's guard.
James trying to mount his opponent but Mahitato defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James wants to take a breather but Mahitato is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mahiko Mahitato will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mahitato wants to clinch but James slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rick James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

James moves into the clinch.
Mahitato wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.
Mahitato working hard to break the clinch.
Mahitato is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but James is keeping busy.
James tries for a takedown but Mahitato manages to get underhooks.
Mahitato content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mahitato fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James tries a knee to the head but Mahitato blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mahitato can't break the clinch.
Mahitato drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mahitato wants to stall.
Mahitato is breathing heavily.
James avoiding damage as Mahitato throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahitato tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
Rick James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahiko Mahitato.
Mahitato throws a head kick that misses

and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mahitato's guard now.
Mahitato keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James passes Mahitato's left leg - he's now in half guard.

James stands up and beckons Mahitato to join him on the feet.
James lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mahitato's sensitive parts.
Mahitato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahitato stuffs the takedown.
Mahitato changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. James tries to avoid it but Mahitato manages to keep hold of a leg and drag James to the ground. James escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mahitato leaning against his opponent.
Mahitato continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
James lands a knee to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James can't get the takedown.
Mahitato displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
Mahitato dodges an elbow strike from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahitato tries to break free but James pushes him back against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
James stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mahitato has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
Mahitato has James pressed against the cage.
James is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mahitato is keeping busy.
Mahitato is stalling here.
James stalling in the clinch.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mahitato fights it off and pushes away nicely.

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.
Mahitato looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
Mahitato closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.
Mahitato tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James shoots in for a takedown but Mahitato shows good takedown defense.
Mahitato throws a sloppy head kick
and James finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Mahitato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mahitato as he avoids it easily.
Mahitato throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
James blocks a head kick by Mahitato.
A head kick by Mahitato misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Mahitato closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick James dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mahitato circles away.
Mahitato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
Mahitato throws a sloppy head kick
and James counters with a nice body kick.
Mahitato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mahitato is looking to clinch.
Mahitato swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
Mahitato tries to clinch up

and James holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mahitato has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James tries to stall but Mahitato uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James tries to pull guard but Mahitato won't allow it.
Mahitato wants a takedown.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahitato tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The is referee keeping an eye on James - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knees to the body from James.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mahitato trying to stall but James improves his position.
Mahitato doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
James taking a breather.
Mahitato tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James looking to stall.
James can't get the takedown.

Mahitato jumps guard and drags James to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mahitato pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mahitato looking for a sweep. Not yet Mahitato, not yet.
Mahitato can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.
Jamesis looking to pass into half guard but Mahitato pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Mahitato is in guard.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
James wants to sweep here but Mahitato controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is working hard here to advance position.
Mahitato controlling from the top position.

Mahitato decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

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.
Mahitato tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mahitato somewhat.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mahitato is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Mahitato keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mahitato wants to clinch.
James wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahiko Mahitato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mahitato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahiko Mahitato!