PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiriro Itsuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Flannery (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.

Itsuma
vs
Flannery

158 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiriro Itsuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam Flannery!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Itsuma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Flannery.
Itsuma checks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Flannery misses its intended target.
Flannery moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Flannery. Those never looked like landing.
Itsuma shoots in looking for a takedown but Flannery manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Itsuma's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Flannery cracks Itsuma with a right hand to the side of the head.

Itsuma gets a clinch.
Itsuma tries to pull guard but Flannery forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Flannery prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Itsuma has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Flannery avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Flannery looking to stall.
Flannery wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Itsuma has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Itsuma breaks from the clinch.
Flannery uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Itsuma misses with a few strikes there.

Itsuma manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Flannery on his heels. He'll look to pass Flannery's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Flannery working for a triangle but Itsuma defends it easily.
Flannery really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Itsuma. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Flannery throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Itsuma gets to his feet - Flannery follows without any prompting.
Itsuma fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Flannery lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Flannery.
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!
Itsuma throws a head kick but Flannery moves out of range.
Itsuma dodges the punch combination from Flannery.
Flannery lands a body shot.
Liam Flannery is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flannery throws a shot to the body.
Flannery wants to land a leg kick but Itsuma is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Itsuma fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Itsuma is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Flannery. No joy for Itsuma on that attempt.
Flannery throws a series of punches but Itsuma avoids them all with ease.
Itsuma doesn't manage to clinch there - Flannery circles away.
Flannery lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Good work by Itsuma as he checks the leg kick.
Itsuma keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Flannery. That snapped Itsuma's head back.
Itsuma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Itsuma has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Flannery!
Flannery will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flannery scores with a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flannery throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Itsuma moves into the clinch.
Flannery prevents a takedown attempt there.
Itsuma is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Flannery pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Itsuma lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Flannery tries to break the clinch but Itsuma is controlling the position.

Itsuma breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Flannery dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Flannery misses with an uppercut.

Itsuma is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Flannery's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Itsuma seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Itsuma lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Itsuma missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flannery actively working from the bottom here.
Flannery wants to sweep but Itsuma has passed to side control!
Itsuma is looking to take a break and control but Flannery is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma works to advance to full mount. Flannery defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Itsuma manages to capitalize on a mistake by Flannery to take his back!
I would not like to be Flannery right now.
Itsuma lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
A lull in the action here.
Itsuma is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoshiriro Itsuma just wasn't active enough.
Flannery stuffs the takedown attempt from Itsuma. Itsuma gets slowly back to his feet.
Flannery throws a nice looking combination but Itsuma bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiriro Itsuma dominated that second round.
That's time! Itsuma's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Itsuma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Flannery. No joy for Itsuma on that attempt.
Itsuma tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Flannery will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Flannery lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Flannery misses with a two punch combination.
Flannery throws a right and a left that both miss.
Liam Flannery seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Itsuma on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Itsuma has taken the fight to the clinch.
Flannery is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Itsuma pulls guard effortlessly.
Flannery content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flannery postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Flannery lands a jab to the nose.
Yoshiriro Itsuma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Flannery gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Itsuma to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Flannery has an active guard here but Itsuma has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma moves into full mount! Flannery won't be happy about that!
Itsuma is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Flannery can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Itsuma is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Flannery has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Flannery!
Itsuma keeping moving, preventing Flannery from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Itsuma looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Flannery is defending well. Itsuma quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Flannery has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Itsuma celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yoshiriro Itsuma!