PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and kurt pike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Makunouchi
vs
pike

165 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, kurt pike!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but pike avoids them all with ease.
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but pike moves out of range.
Makunouchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but pike moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Makunouchi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Makunouchi wants it to stay on the feet.

Makunouchi tries to keep at a distance but pike has taken the fight into the clinch.

pike breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
pike dodges the punch combination from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.
Makunouchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but pike circles away quickly and effectively.
pike closes this distance looking for a takedown but Makunouchi circles away.
Makunouchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Makunouchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by pike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Makunouchi. pike does a little dance to reset his feet.
Makunouchi connects with a good right hand that stumbles pike. pike circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Makunouchi thows a left - swing and a miss!
pike closes this distance looking for a takedown but Makunouchi circles away.
Ippo Makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of kurt pike.
Makunouchi connects with the punch.
pike is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice body punch from pike.
pike has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi is trying to break free.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch but pike keeps him there for the moment.
pike's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

pike gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet but pike is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Makunouchi keeping moving, preventing pike from controlling successfully.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet but pike is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
pike throwing strikes from guard but Makunouchi blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makunouchi wants to stand and escape but pike is having none of it.
Makunouchi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Makunouchi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
pike slips a jab and a cross from Makunouchi.

pike moves into the clinch successfully.
pike has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
pike has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Makunouchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to get back to striking at distance but pike won't allow it.
Makunouchi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Makunouchi is trying to break the clinch but pike is controlling him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Makunouchi stops a takedown attempt from pike.
pike has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Makunouchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but pike has him pressed against the cage.
pike drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Makunouchi tries to circle away but pike has him pinned against the cage.
pike has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Makunouchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
pike looks gassed!
Makunouchi wants to get back to striking at distance but pike won't allow it.
pike can't get the takedown.

pike escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
pike shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Makunouchi sprawls well. Makunouchi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. pike gets slowly back to his feet.
Makunouchi misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
pike lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by pike.
A left and a right from Makunouchi both land. Nice combination.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses

and pike counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
pike with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
pike trying to control from half guard but Makunouchi is working away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makunouchi is trying to stand up here but pike is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pike trying to control from half guard but Makunouchi is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
pike shoots in looking for a takedown. Makunouchi tries to sprawl out of it but pike keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Makunouchi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Makunouchi lands a head shot.
pike lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Makunouchi with a hook.
Makunouchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but pike circles away quickly and effectively.

pike drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet but pike is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

kurt pike dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses

and pike counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by pike.
pike's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
pike has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Makunouchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to break the clinch but pike has him pressed against the cage.
pike lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Makunouchi.
pike wants a takedown but no success here.
Makunouchi is trying to break free.
Makunouchi stops a takedown attempt from pike.
Ippo Makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of kurt pike.
Makunouchi is pressed up against the cage. pike has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Makunouchi down to the mat. Makunouchi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Makunouchi looks to land a right hand but pike moved out of range.
Makunouchi misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makunouchi looks to land a combination but pike avoids it well.
pike is breathing heavily.
pike ducks right into an uppercut from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses

and pike counters by clinching up.
Makunouchi is trying to break free.
pike has Makunouchi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Makunouchi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi tries to break the clinch but pike is controlling the position.
Makunouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Makunouchi is trying to force a seperation but pike has the dominant position.
pike drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Makunouchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Makunouchi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Makunouchi tries to break the clinch but pike is controlling the position.
Makunouchi working hard to break the clinch.
Makunouchi can't break the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to break the clinch but can't.
pike has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Makunouchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but pike has double underhooks.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch but pike keeps him there for the moment.
pike is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Makunouchi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to break free but pike has control.
Makunouchi wants to break free but pike has control.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but pike has double underhooks.
Makunouchi gets underhooks to prevent pike's takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
pike prevents Makunouchi from breaking the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to force a seperation but pike has the dominant position.
Makunouchi wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two 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.
pike dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from pike fails to land.
Makunouchi wants to break free but pike has control.
Makunouchi can't break the clinch.
Makunouchi tries to break the clinch but pike is controlling the position.
pike is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Makunouchi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
pike has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

pike's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Makunouchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Makunouchi throws a left and a right that both miss
and pike counters with a lovely straight right hand!

pike has managed to clinch.
Makunouchi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

pike breaks from the clinch.
Makunouchi swings away with a body shot that misses

and pike decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Makunouchi's guard.
pike trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
pike trying to control but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.
Makunouchi wants to stand but pike is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pike wants to control from the top but Makunouchi keeps moving.
pike stops Makunouchi from standing up.
pike sitting in guard, not really doing much.
pike won't allow Makunouchi to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
pike misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Makunouchi throws a left and a right that both miss

and pike counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Makunouchi's guard now.
Makunouchi keeping moving, preventing pike from controlling successfully.
pike pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makunouchi is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pike wants to control from the top but Makunouchi keeps moving.
pike won't allow Makunouchi to get back to his feet.
Makunouchi keeping moving, preventing pike from controlling successfully.
Makunouchi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as pike accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
pike trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
pike shoots in for a takedown but Makunouchi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
pike doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses

and pike counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
pike loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
pike won't allow Makunouchi to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

kurt pike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

pike walks into a left hand.
pike with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Makunouchi to score with a decent uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
pike prevents Makunouchi from breaking the clinch.

pike turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Makunouchi is letting pike control him for a moment.
Makunouchi tries to escape but pike is in control.
Makunouchi is looking to get back to his feet here but pike is keeping cool and he's managed to take Makunouchi's back.
pike connects with a big shot to the side of Makunouchi's head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makunouchi holding both pike 's hands and preventing any damage.
pike punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
kurt pike has got the better of the ground game so far.
Can Makunouchi hold on?! pike is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Makunouchi covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Makunouchi trying to get back to his feet but pike is in full control for now.
Makunouchi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
pike throwing damaging strikes from the back! Makunouchi could be in trouble here!
pike scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
pike has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Makunouchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
pike scores with punches and elbows.
Oooh a big shot gets through from pike. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
pike slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Makunouchi has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
pike lands strikes to the head.
Makunouchi has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
pike landing with strikes.
pike landing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi trying to get back to his feet but pike is in full control for now.
pike lands a shot to the body.
pike scores with punches and elbows.
Makunouchi controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
pike scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Makunouchi is looking for a way out.
Makunouchi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
pike lands shots from the back.
Makunouchi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

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.
pike is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
pike cracks Makunouchi with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Makunouchi from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
pike trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Makunouchi doesn't escape.
Makunouchi is trying to get back to his feet but pike has full control of the position and if anything, Makunouchi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
pike lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Makunouchi is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good control from pike.
Makunouchi is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
kurt pike comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got pike 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... kurt pike!