PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Almer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatsu Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Almer
vs
Ishikawa

175 cm
23
177 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

180 cm
23
182 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Almer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatsu Ishikawa!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping body kick lands there for Ishikawa.
Almer looks for the body kick but Ishikawa saw that one coming.
Ishikawa scores with a nice right hand.
Almer connects with a nice looking jab.
Almer throws the kick towards the body but Ishikawa avoids it.
Ishikawa misses with an uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Almer.
Ishikawa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ishikawa lands with a hook. Almer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Almer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ishikawa is trying to drag Almer to the mat but Almer just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Almer struggles to land a body shot inside as Ishikawa controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Almer.
Almer blocks an uppercut.
Ishikawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Almer backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Almer's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A combination from Ishikawa does no damage.
Ishikawa misses with a hook. Almer ducked under it nicely.
Ishikawa checks a leg kick.
Ishikawa throws a hook but Almer avoids it easily.
Almer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ishikawa fails with an attempt to clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Almer crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ishikawa - the referee stops the clock and Almer gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ishikawa. Almer manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ishikawa moves out of range of the body kick from Almer.
Ishikawa misses with a hook.
Almer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ishikawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Almer.
A big right from Ishikawa misses.
Ishikawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Almer.
Almer throws the kick towards the body but Ishikawa avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Almer.
Jab from Almer.
A lazy body kick from Almer
and Ishikawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Ishikawa scores with a four punch combination!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Almer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Almer. Ishikawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice cross by Almer.
Almer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ishikawa.
Almer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Almer connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ishikawa momentarily.
Ishikawa avoids the body shot from Almer.
Ishikawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A clash of legs there as Ishikawa blocks the low kick.
Almer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Almer moves out of range as Ishikawa strikes.
Ishikawa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa thows a body shot but no joy.
Ishikawa moves out of range as Almer throws a body kick.
Ishikawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ishikawa scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ishikawa throws out a loose jab but Almer uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Almer's head.
Ishikawa scores with a nice head shot.
Crunch! Almer slams his shin into Ishikawa's torso.
Ishikawa looks gassed!
Almer moves out of range of the strikes.
Almer loads up on a big right hand but Ishikawa slips the punch.
Almer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Almer looks to land a left hand but Ishikawa moved out of range nicely.
Almer misses with a series of wild punches.
Almer throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ishikawa scores with a jab. Almer acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ishikawa throws a right and a left that Almer avoids nicely.
Almer lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ishikawa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Almer lands a nice looking body kick.
Almer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Almer digs a good hook to Ishikawa's body.
Almer scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almer scores with a spinning back kick!
Almer swings for the body but Ishikawa moves out of range.
Almer scoring well with a low kick there.
Almer lands a nice looking body shot.
Almer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ishikawa.
Ishikawa avoids the body shot from Almer.
Ishikawa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Almer lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ishikawa at a distance.
Almer feints and then cracks Ishikawa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ishikawa down.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Almer - that will leave a mark!
Almer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ishikawa moves away.
Ishikawa moves out of range of the body kick from Almer.
Almer misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ishikawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Almer finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ishikawa slips a jab from Almer.
Almer looks to land a combination. Ishikawa sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thiago Almer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Almer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Almer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almer misses the shot to the body.
Almer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almer just misses with a punch to the body.
Almer throws a lazy body kick
and Ishikawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ishikawa misses with an uppercut. Almer saw that one coming.
Almer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ishikawa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Almer blocks a jab.
Ishikawa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Almer.
Almer cracks Ishikawa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ishikawa throws the left hand but Almer avoids the punch easily.
Almer swings for the body but Ishikawa moves out of range.
Almer misses with a kick to the body.
Almer throws a half hearted mid kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Almer fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Almer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ishikawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Almer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Almer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ishikawa lands a hook that snaps the head of Almer backwards.
Almer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ishikawa's elbow.
Almer tries to work over Ishikawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ishikawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ishikawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Almer misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa lands a nice shot to the body.
Ishikawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Almer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Almer tries a body shot but Ishikawa blocks it.
Ishikawa is working Almer over against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ishikawa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Almer misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa swings wildly with an uppercut but Almer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almer stops a takedown attempt from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Almer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ishikawa gets through Almer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ishikawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ishikawa lands a right hand.
Almer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Almer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Almer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ishikawa gets through Almer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ishikawa misses with a body punch.
Ishikawa misses with a punch on the inside.
Almer working hard to break the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ishikawa.
Almer misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Ishikawa works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Almer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Almer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ishikawa throws a big elbow that misses.
Almer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Almer tries to get out of the position.
Ishikawa trying to control but Almer is working from the bottom.
Almer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ishikawa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ishikawa wants to control from the top but Almer keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa landing with the ground and pound.
Ishikawa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Almer wants to stand but Ishikawa is controlling the position.
Ishikawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Almer is retaining full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatsu Ishikawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Almer scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Ishikawa has managed to clinch.
Almer tries to work over Ishikawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Almer throws a head punch that misses.
Ishikawa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Almer pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ishikawa slips under a jab.
Ishikawa loads up on a big right hand but Almer slips the punch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Almer. Ishikawa shrugs it off though.
Ishikawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Almer connects with an inside leg kick.
Ishikawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ishikawa misses the jab.
Ishikawa avoids the body shot from Almer.
Almer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Almer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ishikawa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Almer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ishikawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikawa moves forwards but Almer connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ishikawa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ishikawa misses with a few strikes there.
Almer misses with a shot to the body
and Ishikawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Almer swings for the body but Ishikawa moves out of range.
Almer tests Ishikawa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Almer misses with a few strikes there.
Almer is looking to wear down Ishikawa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Almer misses with an uppercut. Ishikawa saw that one coming.
Almer looks to score with a jab to the body but Ishikawa is just out of range.
Ishikawa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ishikawa's corner calls for a 1-2. Ishikawa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Almer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ishikawa misses the shot to the body.
Ishikawa throws a hook but Almer avoids it easily.
Ishikawa throws a hook to the side of Almer's head but Almer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice leg kick lands there from Almer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Almer scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almer scores with a push kick.
Almer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Almer with a jab.
Ishikawa avoids the body shot from Almer.
Ishikawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Almer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice body kick from Almer.
Almer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ishikawa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Almer.
Thiago Almer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Almer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Almer fakes the leg kick and cracks Ishikawa in the body.
Almer turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ishikawa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Almer lands an overhand right.
Almer connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almer looks to land a body kick but Ishikawa moved away.
Almer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ishikawa. That did some damage!
Almer loads up on a big right hand but Ishikawa slips the punch.
Almer throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Almer listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ishikawa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Almer avoids the body shot from Ishikawa.
Almer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ishikawa in his tracks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Almer.
Ishikawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ishikawa missing with a left hand there. Almer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circle momentarily. Almer darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Almer misses with a kick to the body.
Almer throws a push kick but Ishikawa slaps the foot to one side.
Almer throws a hook to the side of Ishikawa's head but Ishikawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Almer blocks a head kick by Ishikawa.
Ishikawa misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa avoids a kick to the body.
Almer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Almer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ishikawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Almer on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ishikawa.
A solid body kick from Almer.
Ishikawa throws a series of punches but Almer avoids them all with ease.
Ishikawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almer.
A swing and a miss from Ishikawa.
Almer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Almer thows a body shot but no joy.
Ishikawa connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Almer's hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ishikawa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab, jab by Almer - just one landing.
Ishikawa looks to land a left hand but Almer moved out of range nicely.
A big right from Ishikawa misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thiago Almer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Almer 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Almer!