PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Peoples (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peoples has chosen Clap as his entrance music. Frank Peoples told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Makunouchi
vs
Peoples

170 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
168 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frank Peoples!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makunouchi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Peoples cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Makunouchi has Peoples up against the cage in a clinch.
Peoples tries to stall but Makunouchi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Peoples wants the takedown. Makunouchi is fighting it off but Peoples persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Makunouchi's guard against the cage.
Peoples forces his way into half guard.
Makunouchi keeping control of the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Peoples is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Makunouchi defends it well.

Peoples is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Peoples is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Makunouchi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Peoples not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Peoples not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peoples is trying to control the action in half guard but Makunouchi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Peoples thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Makunouchi's head.
Peoples thows a huge punch but Makunouchi dodges it nicely.

That's two 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.
Peoples trying to mount his opponent but Makunouchi defends it.
Peoples lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Peoples working Makunouchi over with strikes.
Peoples is keen to just control but Makunouchi is a slippery customer.

Peoples is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Peoples seems to be working for a kimura but Makunouchi defends the submission attempt.
Peoples stalling.
Peoples passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Peoples thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Peoples tries for a kimura but Makunouchi is defending well.

Peoples is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Makunouchi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Makunouchi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peoples working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Makunouchi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peoples is looking to take a break and control but Makunouchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Peoples cracks Makunouchi with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Peoples dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Peoples looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Peoples takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Makunouchi clinches.
Makunouchi lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Makunouchi.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Peoples drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Makunouchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Makunouchi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Peoples's defenses.

It looks like Frank Peoples has been cut.
Peoples goes for a takedown attempt but Makunouchi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ippo Makunouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Peoples.
Makunouchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Peoples counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Peoples.
Makunouchi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Peoples is keeping busy.
Makunouchi lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Makunouchi jumps guard.
Peoples stands and throws Makunouchi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Peoples working the ground and pound but Makunouchi is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi is trying to control Peoples's posture but Peoples avoids it.
Peoples is breathing heavily.
Peoples connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Makunouchi some visible discomfort.

Peoples is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Makunouchi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Peoples has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Makunouchi is trying to improve his position.
Makunouchi is not content to let Peoples control the position.
Peoples creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peoples landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Peoples in side control, throwing shots but Makunouchi defends.
Makunouchi is looking for a sweep.
Peoples controls the position.
Makunouchi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Peoples on the ground.
Makunouchi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Peoples.
Peoples scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Makunouchi to see if he's OK.
Peoples just content to control the position.
Peoples wants to control but Makunouchi is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peoples is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Makunouchi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Peoples throws an elbow but Makunouchi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Makunouchi is looking to regain half guard here but Peoples keeps moving and retains side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Peoples creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sloppy strikes there by Peoples.

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.
Makunouchi struggling a bit here.

Peoples tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Peoples has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Peoples looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Peoples tries for a kimura but Makunouchi is defending well.
Check out the look on Peoples's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Peoples showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Peoples'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. This is the final round!

Makunouchi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Peoples counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Frank Peoples has got the better of the ground game so far.
Peoples distracts Makunouchi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Peoples working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Peoples is working Makunouchi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Peoples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Makunouchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Peoples trying to control but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.
Peoples thows a big elbow that misses.
Peoples throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makunouchi keeping moving, preventing Peoples from controlling successfully.
Peoples works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peoples controlling the pace.
Peoples wants to control but Makunouchi is keeping him busy.

Peoples is looking for a kimura but Makunouchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Peoples to get the leverage.
Peoples thows a huge punch but Makunouchi dodges it nicely.
Peoples trying to control the pace.
Peoples throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Peoples seems content to control.
Peoples looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Makunouchi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Peoples is trying to work for a kimura but Makunouchi is defending well.
Makunouchi is staying active underneath Peoples, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Makunouchi has hold of Peoples's hands but Peoples slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Peoples seems to be looking for submissions.
Peoples seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Makunouchi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Peoples is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Makunouchi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Makunouchi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Peoples is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peoples trying to control the pace.
Makunouchi has hold of Peoples's hands but Peoples slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Peoples wants to work for an arm triangle but Makunouchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Peoples trying to control from half guard but Makunouchi is working away.
Peoples lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peoples has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Makunouchi is squirming around, avoiding Peoples's attempts to control the action.
Peoples takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Makunouchi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Peoples.
Ippo Makunouchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Makunouchi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Peoples comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Peoples 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Peoples!