PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tadayoshi Ishimaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Pearson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ishimaru
vs
Pearson

168 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tadayoshi Ishimaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris Pearson!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pearson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ishimaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ishimaru misses with a hook

and Pearson counters by clinching up.
Pearson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pearson has Ishimaru pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ishimaru manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Pearson pulls guard.
Ishimaruis looking to pass into half guard but Pearson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Pearson is in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pearson wants to control from the top but Ishimaru keeps moving.
Ishimaru wants to sweep but no luck.
Pearson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ishimaru is looking for a sweep.
Pearson controlling the position.

Pearson stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ishimaru closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pearson to the mat! Pearson manages to get full guard.
Ishimaru won't allow Pearson to get back to his feet.
Ishimaru loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pearson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pearson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pearson trying to keep a closed guard but Ishimaru is proving a slippery customer.
Pearson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ishimaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pearson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pearson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Chris Pearson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ishimaru circles away from the clinch attempt.

Pearson moves into range and clinches up with Ishimaru.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Pearson breaks from the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ishimaru.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pearson checks a leg kick.
Ishimaru lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Ishimaru closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pearson is trying to get back to half guard.
Ishimaru working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearson on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ishimaru tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pearson's legs.

Ishimaru tries for a kimura but Pearson is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pearson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Ishimaru working the head and body with strikes.
Ishimaru wants to control but Pearson is keeping him busy.
Ishimaru creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ishimaru working the body and head with strikes.

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.
Pearson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ishimaru scores with punches from side control.

Ishimaru is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pearson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ishimaru lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ishimaru working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ishimaru working the head with strikes.
Ishimaru creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pearson wants to control but Ishimaru postures up.
Pearson is trying to get back to half guard.
Ishimaru works to advance to full mount. Pearson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ishimaru lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pearson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ishimaru counters with a shoot takedown. Pearson fights it but they end up in guard.
Ishimaru knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pearson on the ground.
Ishimaru stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pearson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ishimaru with a nice head shot there.
Ishimaru wants to pass the guard but Pearson is keeping the position.
Pearson wants to stand but Ishimaru is controlling the position.
Ishimaru trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ishimaru might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pearson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pearson is breathing heavily.
Ishimaru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pearson is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishimaru with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pearson keeping moving, preventing Ishimaru from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ishimaru accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ishimaru postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ishimaru scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pearson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pearson keeping moving, preventing Ishimaru from controlling successfully.
Ishimaru not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ishimaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pearson keeping full guard, as Ishimaru tries to pass.

We're going to have a standup here because Tadayoshi Ishimaru wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ishimaru punishes Pearson's body with a nice straight punch.
Ishimaru paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Ishimaru drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ishimaru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pearson is keeping the position for now.
Ishimaru postures up.
Ishimaru is working Pearson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ishimaru is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ishimaru lands a couple of elbows.
Ishimaru postures up.
Pearson looking for a sweep. Not yet Pearson, not yet.
Pearson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ishimaru is controlling him.
Ishimaru not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ishimaru throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ishimaru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pearson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ishimaru content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ishimaru working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ishimaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Pearson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ishimaru won't allow Pearson to get back to his feet.
Ishimaru looking to pass the guard.
Ishimaru lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ishimaru postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ishimaru is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ishimaru scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pearson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ishimaru.
Ishimaru lands with a cross.
Pearson moves out of range as Ishimaru strikes.

Ishimaru feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ishimaru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pearson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ishimaru is looking to advance position but Pearson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Pearson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Pearson wants to finish this one by submission but Ishimaru is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pearson.
Ishimaru is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ishimaru controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishimaru is squirming around, avoiding Pearson's attempts to control the action.
Ishimaru keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ishimaru tries to lock up and control but Pearson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ishimaru is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ishimaru is trying to escape the mount.

Pearson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ishimaru has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pearson tries to control but Ishimaru wriggling away.
Ishimaru is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ishimaru holds on for dear life, controlling Pearson's posture momentarily.
Ishimaru sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ishimaru tries to roll over but Pearson keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru is trying to control but can't.
Ishimaru is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ishimaru is staying active underneath Pearson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pearson prevents Ishimaru from improving his position.

Chris Pearson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ishimaru cracks Pearson with a good jab.

Ishimaru scores with a takedown into Pearson's guard.
Ishimaru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pearson is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearson looking for a sweep. Not yet Pearson, not yet.

Pearson looking for a guillotine here but Ishimaru defends easily.
Ishimaru stands up over Pearson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tadayoshi Ishimaru is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Pearson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pearson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ishimaru!
Chris Pearson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ishimaru tries to lock up and control but Pearson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tadayoshi Ishimaru showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ishimaru, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tadayoshi Ishimaru!