PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iwasaki Okamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendall Mitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kendall Mitch was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Okamoto
vs
Mitch

170 cm
23
132 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
130 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Iwasaki Okamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kendall Mitch!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mitch has closed the distance and engaged Okamoto in a clinch.
Okamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Mitch controls his hands.
Okamoto will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mitch up against the cage.
Okamoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Okamoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mitch prevents it.
Okamoto wants to stall.
Mitch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mitch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Okamoto.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Okamoto.
Mitch misses with a knee to the head.
Okamoto tries to pull guard but Mitch forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iwasaki Okamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mitch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Okamoto tries to clinch up.
Okamoto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mitch tries to clinch but Okamoto is having none of it.
Mitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mitch throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Mitch as Okamoto shoots in.

Mitch is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Okamoto's half guard.
Mitch stops Okamoto from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto is doing well to control the position and prevent Mitch from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mitch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okamoto's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mitch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mitch takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Okamoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Okamoto wants to improve his position but Mitch is controlling well.
Okamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Okamoto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mitch scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mitch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Okamoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mitch looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mitch lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitch wants to stand up but Okamoto has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Okamoto missing with punches from the bottom.
Okamoto keeping hold of Mitch's head, controlling as best he can.
Mitch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Mitch.
Mitch lands strikes from half guard.
Mitch seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Okamoto is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitch thows a huge punch but Okamoto dodges it nicely.
Mitch thows a huge punch but Okamoto dodges it nicely.
Mitch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Okamoto wants to improve his position but Mitch is controlling well.
Mitch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Okamoto is trying to maintain the position but Mitch is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mitch connects with a nice short shot to Okamoto's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okamoto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mitch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ground and pound from Mitch.
Okamoto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mitch is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Mitch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mitch is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Okamoto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mitch counters with a big head kick but Okamoto shrugs it off.
Mitch throws a sloppy head kick and Okamoto moves out of range easily.
Mitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mitch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Okamoto but Okamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Okamoto cracks a nice hook into Mitch's ribs.
Okamoto tries to clinch but Mitch is having none of it.
Mitch throws a head kick but Okamoto moves out of range.
Mitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mitch throws a lazy head kick
and Okamoto counters with a head kick. That will keep Mitch thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A head kick by Mitch misses
and Okamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Mitch is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Mitch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okamoto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Okamoto shoots for a takedown but Mitch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iwasaki Okamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okamoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mitch.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Okamoto. Mitch shrugs it off though.
Okamoto wants to clinch.
Mitch tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mitch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Okamoto.
Okamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mitch defends it nicely.
Okamoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kendall Mitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto shoots in for a takedown but Mitch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Okamoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Mitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Okamoto fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Mitch.
Okamoto blocks a head kick by Mitch.
Mitch takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Mitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitch throws a sloppy head kick and Okamoto moves out of range easily.
Okamoto fails with the takedown.
Okamoto avoids the head kick by Mitch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitch shoots in but Okamoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Okamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mitch but Mitch pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Okamoto avoids the head kick by Mitch.
Mitch throws a lazy head kick
and Okamoto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mitch really felt that one!
Mitch takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Okamoto lands a jab-cross combination.
Mitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Mitch misses
and Okamoto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Okamoto shoots in for a takedown but Mitch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mitch clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitch tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Okamoto pulls Mitch into guard.
Mitch cracks Okamoto with a solid left hand.
Okamoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mitch with a nice head shot there.
Okamoto is trying to control the position but Mitch postures up.

Okamoto looking for a guillotine here but Mitch defends easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mitch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iwasaki Okamoto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Okamoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mitch throws a sloppy head kick and Okamoto moves out of range easily.
Okamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Mitch moves out of range easily.
Okamoto blocks a head kick by Mitch.
Okamoto moves in looking to clinch but Mitch pushes him off.
Okamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Okamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Mitch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Okamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitch tries a head kick but it misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Okamoto.
Okamoto happy to just control the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okamoto wants to stand but Mitch is controlling his arm.
Mitch parries the strikes from Okamoto easily there. Okamoto is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Mitch to escape.

Okamoto has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iwasaki Okamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Okamoto blocks a head kick by Mitch.
Mitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Okamoto shoots and misses
and Mitch counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Iwasaki Okamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Okamoto tries to sprawl but Mitch drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Okamoto is looking for a sweep. Mitch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Okamoto manages to get to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Okamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mitch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mitch stands and steps away. Okamoto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Okamoto fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mitch on the side of the head.
Okamoto blocks a head kick by Mitch.
Okamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Mitch circles away.
Okamoto scores with a body shot.
Mitch throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Okamoto.
Okamoto throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mitch throws a head kick but Okamoto moves out of range.
Mitch swats away the attempt to clinch by Okamoto.
Mitch throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Mitch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Okamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mitch throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Okamoto.
Okamoto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Mitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Okamoto throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mitch.
Mitch throws a sloppy head kick and Okamoto moves out of range easily.
Mitch tries a head kick but it misses.

Okamoto closes the distance and clinches.
Mitch can't get the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Okamoto tries to pull guard but Mitch forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Okamoto jumps into guard, dragging Mitch to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Iwasaki Okamoto.
I think Okamoto 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!