PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zach Leduc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TAKA Michinoku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Leduc might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Spirit Never Dies. Michinoku has chosen Yamato Suite Pt. 4 as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Leduc
vs
Michinoku

180 cm
21
146 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

178 cm
24
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zach Leduc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, TAKA Michinoku!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leduc on the wrong end of a nice hook.
No luck for Leduc with that takedown attempt.
Michinoku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Leduc shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Michinoku manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Leduc stands up and waves to Michinoku to follow him.
Michinoku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leduc circles away quickly and effectively.
Leduc walks into a left hand.
Leduc takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Leduc walks into a stiff left hand from Michinoku.
Michinoku cracks Leduc with a right hand to the side of the head.
Leduc swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leduc shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Michinoku but Michinoku pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Leduc misses with a takedown attempt - Michinoku sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Leduc. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Leduc takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Michinoku scores with a body shot.
Leduc moves away from the strike by Michinoku.
Leduc swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Michinoku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leduc fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Michinoku avoids it really well and circles away.
Leduc tries for a takedown but Michinoku sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Leduc throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Michinoku was covering up waiting for the punch and Leduc finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Leduc drops back looking for a leg! Michinoku is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Michinoku manages to kick Leduc off! Leduc jumps back into Michinoku's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michinoku pulls Leduc in close to prevent any damage.
Leduc not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Leduc postures up in Michinoku's guard and throws a big left but Michinoku blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michinoku trying to keep a closed guard but Leduc is proving a slippery customer.
Leduc trying to control the position from guard on top but Michinoku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leduc controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Michinoku keeping full guard, as Leduc tries to pass.
Michinoku keeping moving, preventing Leduc from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Leduc closes the distance looking to clinch
and Michinoku counters with a nice uppercut.
Leduc misses with a low kick.
Michinoku looks to land a left hand but Leduc moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zach Leduc will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Michinoku lands a nice hook to Leduc's body. Leduc takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Leduc changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Michinoku tries to avoid it but Leduc manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Michinoku to the ground. Michinoku escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michinoku throws a predictable looking body shot

and Leduc counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michinoku has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leduc is working away from the top position though.
Leduc is keen to just control but Michinoku is a slippery customer.
Leduc tries to stand but can't do so whilst Michinoku controls his leg.
Leduc is looking to stall here but Michinoku recovers full guard.
Leduc trying to control but Michinoku is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michinoku is trying to control the position but Leduc postures up.
Leduc trying to control but Michinoku is working from the bottom.
Leduc is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Michinoku misses with a body punch

and Leduc counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Leduc.
Michinoku trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leduc wants to control from the top but Michinoku keeps moving.
Michinoku is trying to keep Leduc in close.
Leduc controls from within his opponent's guard.
Leduc really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Leduc prevents Michinoku from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leduc trying to control the position from guard on top but Michinoku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leduc is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Michinoku keeping moving, preventing Leduc from controlling successfully.
Leduc cracks Michinoku with a solid left hand.

Leduc drops back looking for a leg! Michinoku is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Michinoku manages to kick Leduc off! Leduc jumps back into Michinoku's guard.

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.
Michinoku keeping moving, preventing Leduc from controlling successfully.
Michinoku looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leduc throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Leduc misses with a takedown attempt - Michinoku sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Michinoku works Leduc's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Leduc dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Leduc fails with a takedown attempt.
Michinoku thows a body shot but no joy.
Michinoku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zach Leduc is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leduc throws a looping overhand right but Michinoku ducks down to avoid it.
Michinoku misses with a looping left.
Michinoku misses with a wild body shot.
Michinoku misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Leduc counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leduc dodges the punch combination from Michinoku.
Michinoku lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Leduc shoots in for a takedown but Michinoku shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Leduc shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leduc accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Michinoku is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Leduc showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Michinoku keeping moving, preventing Leduc from controlling successfully.
Leduc looking to pass the guard.
Michinoku really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Leduc. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Michinoku pulls Leduc in close to his closed guard and prevents Leduc from doing any damage or advancing position.

Michinoku is working an open guard so Leduc takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Michinoku lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Michinoku throws out a loose jab but Leduc uses good head movement to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Leduc checks a leg kick.
Leduc tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Michinoku swivels and escapes.
TAKA Michinoku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zach Leduc. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leduc uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michinoku.
Michinoku punishes Leduc's body with a nice straight punch.
Leduc is looking to clinch but Michinoku is avoiding it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Michinoku.
A big right from Michinoku misses.

Leduc shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zach Leduc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leduc not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leduc looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leduc stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Michinoku throws a hook to the side of Leduc's head but Leduc sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leduc is defended easily by Michinoku.
Michinoku scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Michinoku stuffs the takedown attempt from Leduc. Leduc gets slowly back to his feet.
Leduc moves out of range of the strikes.
Leduc fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach Leduc showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Leduc, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zach Leduc!