PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marko Ilecic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricky Ho has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Marko Ilecic's chin.

Ilecic
vs
Ho

180 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Shamanic Labs
Shamanic Labs

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marko Ilecic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Ho!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho slaps away a takedown attempt from Ilecic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ilecic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ho.
Ho takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Marko Ilecic has been cut.
Nice sprawl there from Ho as Ilecic shoots in.
Ho looks to land a combination. Ilecic sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Ilecic is rocked!
Ilecic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Ilecic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ho is looking to clinch but Ilecic is avoiding it.

Ho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Ilecic has managed to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ho manages to pull guard.
Ho looking for a sweep. Not yet Ho, not yet.
Ho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ilecic manages to get himself to full guard.
Ho wants to pass the guard but Ilecic is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho wants to stand and escape but instead Ilecic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ho wants to stand and escape but Ilecic is having none of it.
Ho wants to sweep but no luck.
Ho keeping full guard, as Ilecic tries to pass.
Ho throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Ho uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Ho darts in and clinches Ilecic up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ho pulls guard successfully.
Ho seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ilecic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ho is keeping the position for now.
Ho wants to sweep but no luck.
Ho keeping moving, preventing Ilecic from controlling successfully.
Ilecic is breathing heavily.
Ho wants to get back to his feet but Ilecic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho is controlling Ilecic's posture.
Ilecic preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ho will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ho shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ilecic but Ilecic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ho fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ilecic on the side of the head.
Ho shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ilecic but Ilecic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ilecic clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilecic is trying to force a seperation but Ho has the dominant position.
Ilecic tries for a takedown but Ho manages to get underhooks.
Ilecic is pressed up against the cage. Ho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ilecic down to the mat. Ilecic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ho throws a wild body kick that Ilecic sees coming a mile off.
Ho lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ho.
Ho wants to clinch.
Ho tries for a takedown but Ilecic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ho tries to clinch up but Ilecic circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ilecic wants to clinch.
Ho lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marko Ilecic's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ilecic pushes Ho up against the cage in a clinch.
Ilecic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ho walks away with a smile on his face. Ilecic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ho shoots for a takedown but Ilecic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Ho as Ilecic shoots in.
Ho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ilecic is fending him off so far but Ho persists. Nope, Ilecic circles away and we're back to standing.
Marko Ilecic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Ho.
Nice takedown defense from Ho. No joy for Ilecic on that attempt.

Ho closes the distance and clinches.
Ho is working for takedown but Ilecic is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ho tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ilecic smiles and moves away.
Ilecic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ho as he avoids it easily.

Ho pushes Ilecic up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho wants a takedown.
Ho is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ilecic pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ilecic is pressed up against the cage. Ho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ilecic down to the mat. Ilecic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ho fails to land the takedown.
Ho goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ho throws a leg kick but Ilecic moved away.
Ho tries for a takedown but Ilecic sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ho goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ilecic's waist but Ilecic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ho off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ho.
Ilecic shoots for a takedown but Ho saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ho rushes Ilecic and presses him up against the cage.
Good body shot from Ho.

Ho pulls guard.
Ho wants to stand and escape but Ilecic is having none of it.
Ho has control of Ilecic's left arm, preventing Ilecic from doing any damage.
Ilecic wants to control from the top but Ho keeps moving.
Ho tries to strike from the bottom.

Ho has his foot on Ilecic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ilecic works his way back into a safe position though.
Ho 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho pulls Ilecic in close to his closed guard and prevents Ilecic from doing any damage or advancing position.

Ilecic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ho had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ilecic defends it easily.

Ho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ilecic manages to get himself to full guard.

Ilecic is working an open guard so Ho takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ho shoots in for a takedown but Ilecic shows good takedown defense.
Ho lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ho looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marko Ilecic's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ho looks to land a combination. Ilecic sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ho scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ho tries to clinch up but Ilecic circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilecic fails with the takedown.
Ho closes the distance and clinches up with Ilecic, looking for a takedown. Ho pushes Ilecic against the cage but Ilecic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ho darts in and clinches Ilecic up against the cage.
Ilecic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ho as Ilecic tries to tie him up.
Ilecic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ho is trying to drag Ilecic to the mat but Ilecic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ho tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ilecic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Marko Ilecic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Ho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho taking a breather.

Ho is trying to trip Ilecic. He has hold of a leg but Ilecic is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ho persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ilecic trying to keep a closed guard but Ho is proving a slippery customer.
Ilecic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ho pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ilecic is keeping the position for now.

Ho gets to his feet - Ilecic follows without any prompting.
Ho shoots in for a takedown but Ilecic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Ilecic. No joy for Ho on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ilecic has a takedown stuffed.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Ilecic. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Ho misses with a takedown
and Ilecic counters with a low kick, right behind Ho 's knee.
Ho displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ilecic.
Ho lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Marko Ilecic's cut is getting worse.
Ho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ilecic swivels and escapes.
Ho misses with a few strikes there.
Ho fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ilecic moves out of range of the body kick from Ho.
Ho misses with a takedown attempt - Ilecic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ilecic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ho misses with a head kick.
Ho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ilecic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ho counters with a right hand to the body.
Ilecic tries to clinch but Ho is having none of it.

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.
Ho fails with a takedown attempt.
Ilecic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Ilecic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ho is trying to force a seperation but Ilecic has the dominant position.
Ho jumps guard but Ilecic stands there with Ho around his waist. Ho gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ho tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ilecic smiles and moves away.
Ho gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ilecic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ho has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Marko Ilecic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricky Ho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricky Ho.
I've got Ho winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Ho!