PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Iwamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miles Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Iwamura
vs
Connor

178 cm
24
153 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshihiro Iwamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miles Connor!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Iwamura with that takedown attempt.
Iwamura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Iwamura is trying hard to land a takedown here. Connor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Iwamura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iwamura stuffs the takedown attempt from Connor. Connor gets slowly back to his feet.
Connor is looking to clinch but Iwamura is avoiding it.
Iwamura with a lazy takedown attempt

and Connor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Connor trying to control but Iwamura is working from the bottom.
Iwamura pulls Connor in to control the position.
Connor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Iwamura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Iwamura wants to get back to his feet but Connor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Iwamura clinches up against the cage.
Iwamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Connor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Connor, right into the meat.
Iwamura tries to clinch up but Connor circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Iwamura.

Iwamura clinches.
Iwamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Connor pulls his leg out and moves away.
Connor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Iwamura is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Connor.
Connor shoots for a double leg takedown but Iwamura sprawls well. He's pushed Connor's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Iwamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Connor is fending him off so far but Iwamura persists. Nope, Connor circles away and we're back to standing.
Connor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Iwamura circles away.
Iwamura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Connor counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Iwamura's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Connor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Iwamura looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Connor trying to control the position from guard on top but Iwamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Miles Connor wasn't active enough on the ground.
Iwamura with a poor takedown

and Connor counters by clinching up.
Iwamura is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Iwamura goes for a takedown attempt but Connor pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Connor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Iwamura.

Connor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Iwamura did well to prevent Connor getting side control.
Connor is trying to control. Iwamura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Iwamura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Iwamura.
Iwamura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Connor is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Iwamura looking to control.
Connor throws a strike but Iwamura rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connor keeping moving, preventing Iwamura from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Connor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Connor dominated that round.
That's time! Iwamura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Connor closes the distance looking to clinch

and Iwamura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Connor's guard.
Connor keeping moving, preventing Iwamura from controlling successfully.
Iwamura wants to pass the guard but Connor is keeping the position.
Iwamura being controlled here momentarily.
Connor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Iwamura manages to get himself to full guard.
Connor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Connor wants to control from the top but Iwamura keeps moving.
Iwamura wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iwamura pushes Connor off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Iwamura fails with the takedown

and Connor counters by moving into the clinch.
Iwamura trying to land knees to the body.
Iwamura keeps control of Connor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Iwamura tries for a takedown. No joy.
Iwamura looking to throw knees to the head but Connor is blocking nicely.
Connor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Iwamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Iwamura fails with an attempt to clinch.

Iwamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Connor looks like he's trying to stand up.
Connor is looking for a sweep. Iwamura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Iwamura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Connor is controlling Iwamura's posture.
Miles Connor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Connor keeping moving, preventing Iwamura from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iwamura connects with a couple of short punches.
Connor looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Iwamura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Iwamura throws a big right hand that misses.
Connor working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor is adopting a defensive guard.
Iwamura throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Connor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Miles Connor hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Connor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Connor tries for a takedown but Iwamura circles away easily

and Iwamura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Iwamura.
Iwamura controls from within his opponent's guard.
Connor keeping moving, preventing Iwamura from controlling successfully.
Iwamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Iwamura is aware though and is defending well.
Iwamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Connor is keeping the position for now.
Iwamura is working Connor over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Iwamura wants to pass the guard but Connor is keeping the position.
Iwamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Connor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Connor controls Iwamura momentarily but Iwamura frees himself.
Iwamura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Connor is working an open guard so Iwamura takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horrible takedown by Iwamura or perhaps it was just good defense by Connor which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Iwamura dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Iwamura is looking to clinch.

Iwamura changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Connor looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Connor tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Iwamura presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Iwamura connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Iwamura lands a nice shot to the head.
Iwamura sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Iwamura working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Connor wants to control but Iwamura is having none of it.
Connor takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Connor tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Iwamura looking to finish Connor with some ground and pound. This is bad for Connor!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwamura with a couple of short strikes.
Iwamura tries to control but Connor wriggling away.
Connor really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Iwamura 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.
Connor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Iwamura dominating with strikes here.
Connor tries to lock up and control but Iwamura gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Connor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Iwamura lands with some strikes.
Connor keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura landing punches.
BOOM! Iwamura connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Iwamura working Connor over with strikes here.
Iwamura can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Connor is looking to escape.
Connor wants to try and get back to his feet.
Connor is in a horrible position here. Iwamura smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Iwamura jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Connor is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Connor and Iwamura has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Iwamura sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Connor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Iwamura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Connor struggling a bit here.
Iwamura working the head and body with strikes.
Iwamura is looking to take a break and control but Connor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Iwamura seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Iwamura is looking to take a break and control but Connor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Connor wants to control but Iwamura postures up.

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.
Iwamura throws an elbow but Connor slips to the side and avoids it well.
Iwamura lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Connor stops Iwamura from passing to mount.
Connor is working to avoid the ground and pound but Iwamura connects with a decent elbow.
Connor is working to avoid the ground and pound but Iwamura connects with a decent elbow.
Connor is looking to reverse the position.
Iwamura is staying tight to Connor's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Iwamura scores with punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor is working to avoid the ground and pound but Iwamura connects with a decent elbow.
Iwamura fails to land a wild elbow strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Iwamura showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Iwamura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Iwamura!