PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Yamaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamaru has chosen Rising as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Makunouchi
vs
Yamaru

165 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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, Ippo Makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Yamaru!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamaru closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Makunouchi quickly recovers to half guard.
Yamaru content to control rather than advance.
Yamaru tries to pass the half guard into mount. Makunouchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.

Yamaru decides to stand and escape the position.

Makunouchi closes the distance and pushes Yamaru back into the cage.

Yamaru has picked Makunouchi up - he's going for a ride! Yamaru dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Makunouchi is trying to stand back up but Yamaru is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaru is controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Shinji Yamaru.

Makunouchi clinches up with Yamaru and pushes him back against the cage.

Makunouchi is trying to trip Yamaru. He has hold of a leg but Yamaru is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Makunouchi persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Makunouchi with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaru is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Yamaru looking to hit a scissor sweep but Makunouchi is one step ahead there.
Makunouchi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yamaru lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Makunouchi!
Yamaru controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
Yamaru raining down hammerfists from mount.
Yamaru controlling the position easily from mount.
Makunouchi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Makunouchi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamaru on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yamaru tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Makunouchi is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Makunouchi is breathing heavily.
Yamaru takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Yamaru dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Makunouchi closes the distance and clinches.
Makunouchi is trying to force a seperation but Yamaru has the dominant position.

Yamaru pulls guard effortlessly.
Yamaru wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Makunouchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Makunouchi 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.
Makunouchi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaru pulls Makunouchi in close to his closed guard and prevents Makunouchi from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yamaru is on top in guard.
Yamaru controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaru passes Makunouchi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Yamaru slows the pace down in half guard.
Makunouchi tries to kick Yamaru off but Yamaru keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamaru not doing much here.
Makunouchi is in trouble now - Yamaru has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Yamaru has taken his back!
Shinji Yamaru has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yamaru throwing damaging strikes from the back! Makunouchi could be in trouble here!
Makunouchi is trying to stand back up.

Yamaru is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Makunouchi taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Yamaru.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Shinji Yamaru!