PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manunu Igi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Braulio Vitale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manunu Igi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Igi
vs
Vitale

182 cm
21
175 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

169 cm
26
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manunu Igi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Braulio Vitale!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Igi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Igi showed some decent athleticism there.
Vitale regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vitale throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Vitale lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Igi!
Igi is looking to improve his position but Vitale isn't that keen on the idea.
Vitale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Igi wants to hold on but Vitale pushes him away.

Vitale looking for a guillotine from mount but Igi is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vitale is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Igi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Igi working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitale trying to control but Igi is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Igi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vitale sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vitale can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Igi is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitale content just to control the position here.
It looks like Vitale might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Braulio Vitale.
Vitale stuffs the takedown attempt from Igi. Igi gets slowly back to his feet.
Vitale tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Igi counters with a single leg into guard. Vitale didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitale trying to keep a closed guard but Igi is proving a slippery customer.
Vitale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vitale has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Braulio Vitale was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Igi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Igi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Vitale back to the cage. Igi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Vitale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Braulio Vitale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Igi stuffs the takedown attempt from Vitale. Vitale gets slowly back to his feet.
Vitale tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Igi counters with a one-two to the body.
Igi misses with a takedown attempt - Vitale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Igi moves into the clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Igi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manunu Igi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Igi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Igi scores with a nice right hand.
A left and a right from Igi both land. Nice combination.
Igi is looking to clinch.
Igi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vitale looks to clinch

and Igi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Igi.

Vitale escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Igi lands a nice hook to Vitale's body. Vitale takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vitale tries for a takedown but Igi circles away easily
and Igi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vitale looks gassed!
Igi throws a head kick that misses.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Igi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vitale's guard.
Vitale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vitale keeping moving, preventing Igi from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Manunu Igi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vitale throws a lazy uppercut
and Igi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Igi lands with a nice combination. Vitale backs away looking to recover.
Vitale throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Igi's waist but Igi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vitale off to one side.
Igi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vitale pinned against the cage. Vitale gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Igi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Igi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Igi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Vitale is trying desperately to land a takedown but Igi is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Vitale.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Igi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vitale at a distance.
Igi closes the distance and clinches up with Vitale, looking for a takedown. Igi pushes Vitale against the cage but Vitale circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Igi throws a series of strikes that have Vitale backpedaling.
Horrible takedown by Igi or perhaps it was just good defense by Vitale which made him look bad.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Igi shoots in but no luck this time.
Igi is looking to land body kicks.
Vitale defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Igi.
Igi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vitale avoids the head kick by Igi.
Igi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Igi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vitale avoids it really well and circles away.
Igi is working the combinations to good effect here.
Igi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vitale is fending him off so far but Igi persists. Nope, Vitale circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manunu Igi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vitale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Igi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vitale tries to pull guard but Igi won't allow it.
Vitale changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Igi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Manunu Igi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Braulio Vitale.
Igi throws a series of strikes that have Vitale backpedaling.
A head kick misses from Igi.
Vitale shoots in for a double leg but Igi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Igi scores with a one two! Vitale had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Igi doesn't manage to clinch there - Vitale circles away.
Vitale is breathing heavily.
Igi tries to clinch but Vitale moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Igi with that takedown attempt.
Vitale slaps away a takedown attempt from Igi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Igi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vitale is trying to defend but Igi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Igi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Igi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vitale on the ground.
Vitale is trying to stand back up but Igi is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitale makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vitale.
Igi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vitale's guard.
Igi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Igi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Manunu Igi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Igi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Igi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vitale. Vitale circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Igi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Vitale tries to get to full guard but Igi has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Igi won't allow Vitale to get back to his feet.
Vitale wants to sweep here but Igi controlling him for the moment.

Vitale looking for a guillotine here but Igi defends easily.
Vitale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vitale keeping full guard, as Igi tries to pass.
Vitale keeping moving, preventing Igi from controlling successfully.
Manunu Igi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Igi tries to free his leg and advance position but Vitale is retaining full guard.

That's six 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.
Vitale wants to stand up but Igi is controlling him.
Vitale trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Manunu Igi just wasn't active enough.
Vitale fails with the takedown

so Igi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Igi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Vitale wants to sweep but no luck.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Igi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Igi is looking to work some ground and pound but Vitale has wrist control.
Igi wants to pass the guard but Vitale is keeping the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vitale tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Manunu Igi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Igi lands with a nice combination. Vitale backs away looking to recover.
Vitale swats away the attempt to clinch by Igi.
Igi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Vitale shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Igi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vitale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Igi lands a two punch combo.
Igi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Igi shoots in but Vitale avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vitale defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Igi.
Igi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Igi counters with a left and a right that stings Vitale.
Manunu Igi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Igi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vitale keeps control of Igi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Igi tries to land knees in the clinch but Vitale avoids the damage to the body.
Vitale taking a breather.
Vitale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Igi is defending well for now.
Igi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Igi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Igi!
Vitale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Braulio Vitale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manunu Igi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vitale stuffs the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manunu Igi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Igi 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Manunu Igi!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Manunu Igi!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Manunu Igi!

Manunu Igi wins by unanimous decision!