PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JT Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doug Wallaby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spirit's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nujabes - Feather. Wallaby has chosen Europe - The Final Countdown as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spirit
vs
Wallaby

164 cm
23
132 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
142 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JT Spirit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Doug Wallaby!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spirit avoids a punch combination nicely.
Spirit scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wallaby blocks a low kick nicely.
Wallaby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wallaby is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spirit sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spirit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wallaby moves away.
Spirit throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Wallaby counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Wallaby stopping the sweep attempt from Spirit.
Wallaby not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spirit is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wallaby defends well.

Spirit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wallaby trying to control the position from guard on top but Spirit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wallaby stands up and waves to Spirit to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Spirit backs up against the cage.

It looks like JT Spirit has been cut.
Spirit throws a quick inside leg kick.
Spirit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice defenses there by Spirit.
Spirit tries to move into range but Wallaby moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Spirit.
Spirit scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wallaby to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Wallaby is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Spirit misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wallaby is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Spirit asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Wallaby taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wallaby is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Spirit asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Spirit lands a decent elbow from side control.

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.
Spirit working the ground and pound.
Wallaby is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Spirit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wallaby is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Wallaby is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wallaby regains half guard, as Spirit was trying to land strikes.
Spirit stops Wallaby from getting back to his feet.
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 JT Spirit will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spirit scores with a jab to the body.
Spirit looks to score with a jab to the body but Wallaby is just out of range.
Spirit slips a jab and a cross from Wallaby.
A looping hook to the body misses from Spirit. Wallaby does a little dance to reset his feet.
Spirit looks to land a body kick but Wallaby moved away.
Spirit throws a body kick that misses.
Wallaby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wallaby throws a combination that misses
and Wallaby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallaby takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Spirit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wallaby was well out of range. Poor timing from Spirit.

Spirit looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wallaby!
Spirit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Spirit lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wallaby hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallaby blocking the ground and pound.
Spirit lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Wallaby hang on?
Spirit working the ground and pound effectively.
Spirit misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Spirit lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wallaby's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Wallaby can do anything to dispel that myth.
Spirit lands with some strikes.
Spirit raining down shots from the mount!
Spirit dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Spirit.
You get the feeling that Wallaby really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Spirit raining down shots from the mount!
Spirit scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spirit thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Spirit lands a nice shot to the head.
Spirit with shots to the head and body - Wallaby looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit landing strikes from the mount.
Spirit breaks from Wallaby's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Spirit throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Spirit with shots to the head and body - Wallaby looks very uncomfortable down there.
Spirit in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Wallaby tries to buck Spirit off but he can't manage it.
Spirit fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Spirit in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Wallaby squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Wallaby is breathing heavily.
Spirit thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Spirit working Wallaby over with strikes here.
Wallaby wants to try and get back to his feet.
Spirit misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
BOOM! Spirit connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Spirit.
Spirit landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wallaby has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Spirit finds it's way round the side to connect with Wallaby's head.
Wallaby throws a right hand that Spirit ducks under and follows up with a left that Spirit also avoids with ease.
Wallaby lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wallaby doesn't manage to clinch there - Spirit circles away.
Spirit slips a jab and a cross from Wallaby.
Spirit throws out a loose jab but Wallaby uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wallaby swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doug Wallaby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spirit misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallaby avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Spirit moves out of range as Wallaby strikes.
Wallaby looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit lands a nice shot to the body.
Spirit lands with a shot to the body.
Wallaby takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spirit throws an overhand right that lands on Wallaby's shoulder, as Wallaby tries to avoid the shot.
Wallaby ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wallaby chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Spirit can pounce on him.
Wallaby throws a left and a right that both miss
and Spirit counters with a nice body kick.
Spirit throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wallaby walks forward, straight into a front kick from Spirit.
Horrible takedown by Spirit or perhaps it was just good defense by Wallaby which made him look bad.
Spirit's corner calls for a 1-2. Spirit obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Spirit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wallaby throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wallaby drops his hands momentarily and Spirit takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Spirit cracks Wallaby with a right hand to the side of the head.
Spirit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wallaby was well out of range. Poor timing from Spirit.
Wallaby fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
JT Spirit is winning the standup battle so far.
Wallaby throws an overhand right that lands on Spirit's shoulder, as Spirit tries to avoid the shot.
Wallaby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wallaby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Spirit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wallaby misses with a wild combination.
Spirit loads up on a big right hand but Wallaby slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby swings for the body but Spirit moves out of range.
Wallaby fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spirit dodges the punch combination from Wallaby.
A left lands for Spirit.
Spirit misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wallaby throws a combination that misses
and Spirit makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Spirit bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Spirit is trying to get an arm triangle but Wallaby is defending well.
Spirit in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Spirit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wallaby can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Wallaby works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Spirit is pressing down on Wallaby's thigh, looking to free his foot. Wallaby is holding on for now.
Spirit is nestled in close to Wallaby, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wallaby on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wallaby takes a swing at Spirit's ribcage but misses.
Wallaby fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Wallaby.
Spirit buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wallaby throws a left and a right that both miss
and Spirit counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from Wallaby misses.
Spirit misses with a straight right.
Wallaby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wallaby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Spirit throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wallaby looks to land a combination but Spirit avoids it well.
A combination from Wallaby does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallaby misses with a double jab
and Spirit counters with a stiff right hand.
Spirit ducks right into an uppercut from Wallaby.
Spirit misses with a hook. Wallaby ducked under it nicely.
A punch combination from Wallaby misses.
Wallaby throws a nice looking combination but Spirit bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Spirit slips a jab and a cross from Wallaby.
Spirit throws an overhand right that lands on Wallaby's shoulder, as Wallaby tries to avoid the shot.
Wallaby takes one to the chin there.
Wallaby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Spirit counters with an inside leg kick.
Wallaby is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Spirit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wallaby avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit moves out of range as Wallaby strikes.
Spirit showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wallaby.
Spirit jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wallaby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spirit throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Spirit.
Spirit scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby clinches but Spirit breaks the clinch
and Spirit counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Wallaby tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Spirit counters with a nice body shot.
Wallaby misses with a double jab.
Wallaby tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wallaby misses with a jab to the body
and Spirit finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Spirit swings away with a body shot that misses
and Wallaby counters with a two punch combo.
Spirit lets loose with a powerful body kick. Wallaby will feel that in the morning.
Spirit lands with a cross.
No joy there for Spirit, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spirit connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Wallaby momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit scores with a leg kick.
Wallaby moves out of range of the body kick from Spirit.
Spirit lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wallaby slips a jab from Spirit.
Wallaby lands a right hook to the body.
No joy there for Wallaby, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spirit throws a sloppy head kick and Wallaby moves out of range easily.
Spirit loads up on a big right hand but Wallaby slips the punch.
Wallaby's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A thudding body kick lands there by Spirit!
Wallaby has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Spirit.
Spirit shoots for a takedown but Wallaby saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit had his way with Doug Wallaby in that round.
The cut man is working on JT Spirit's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wallaby misses with a two punch combination.
Wallaby throws a combination that misses
and Spirit counters with a nice leg kick.
Wallaby misses with a two punch combination.
Wallaby looks to land a combination but Spirit avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Wallaby.
Spirit throws an overhand right that lands on Wallaby's shoulder, as Wallaby tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spirit stuns Wallaby with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wallaby is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Spirit lands with a nice body punch.
A punch combination from Wallaby misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Wallaby.
A punch combination from Wallaby misses.
Wallaby misses the body punch
and Spirit counters with a good low kick that Wallaby was not able to check.
Spirit looks to land a combination but Wallaby avoids it well.
Wallaby misses with a combination

and Spirit counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Spirit.
Spirit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wallaby is keeping the position for now.
Spirit passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wallaby taking a bit of punishment here - Spirit scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Spirit is putting a hurting on Wallaby here, landing some big shots from side control.
Wallaby is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Spirit is controlling him well.
Spirit working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Spirit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wallaby is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Spirit working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallaby wants to get back to his feet.
Wallaby is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
JT Spirit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spirit controls the position.
Spirit creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Spirit grinds an elbow into Wallaby's temple.
Spirit working the head with strikes.
Wallaby is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Doug Wallaby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
You can see the frustration on Wallaby's face as Spirit controls the position.
Spirit seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wallaby for as long as he can get away with.
Spirit has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
JT Spirit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spirit has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 50:44
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 50:44
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JT Spirit!
JT Spirit retains his bantamweight title!