PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Ragay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiriro Itsuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Ragay has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ragay
vs
Itsuma

173 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

158 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

[CBK] Legal Highs ↑ 160Q STAMINA + ENERGY
[CBK] Legal Highs ↑ 160Q STAMINA + ENERGY

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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Rocky Ragay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiriro Itsuma!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ragay forces Itsuma back against the cage and clinches.

Itsuma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Itsuma manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ragay on his heels. He'll look to pass Ragay's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Itsuma throws a big elbow that misses.
Itsuma throwing strikes but missing.
Ragay keeping moving, preventing Itsuma from controlling successfully.
Ragay has a closed guard, preventing Itsuma from standing up.
Itsuma looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yoshiriro Itsuma was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Itsuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ragay swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ragay with a lazy takedown attempt
and Itsuma finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Yoshiriro Itsuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Itsuma shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ragay keeping full guard, as Itsuma tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Itsuma stands up and waves to Ragay to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Itsuma is looking to clinch.

Itsuma dives in and scores a takedown into Ragay's guard.
Itsuma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ragay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Itsuma is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ragay will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Itsuma looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rocky Ragay just wasn't active enough.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Itsuma.
Ragay shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Itsuma as he jumps to the side.
Ragay fails in his attempt to clinch.

Itsuma moves into range and clinches up with Ragay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ragay has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Itsuma regains guard immediately.
Itsuma striking from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ragay missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Itsuma holds on and takes a little breather.
Itsuma wants to stand but Ragay is controlling the position.
Ragay is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ragay stopping the sweep attempt from Itsuma.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Itsuma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiriro Itsuma dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ragay tries for a takedown but Itsuma sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Itsuma shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ragay's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Itsuma showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Yoshiriro Itsuma has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Itsuma throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ragay's head.
Itsuma shoots in for a takedown but Ragay shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ragay tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Itsuma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ragay looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ragay shoots for a double leg takedown but Itsuma sprawls well. He's pushed Ragay's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Itsuma gets a clinch.
Itsuma is stalling here.

Itsuma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Itsuma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ragay sprawls well. Ragay wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Itsuma gets slowly back to his feet.

Itsuma clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ragay has clasped his hands together around Itsuma's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Itsuma can't do much from the bottom here.
Ragay is looking to take a break and control but Itsuma is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ragay stands up and we're back to a striking position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Itsuma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ragay is fending him off so far but Itsuma persists. Nope, Ragay circles away and we're back to standing.
Rocky Ragay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshiriro Itsuma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragay throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Itsuma's waist but Itsuma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ragay off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Itsuma throws a big shot that misses.

Itsuma throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ragay tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Itsuma is in Ragay's guard.
Itsuma postures up in Ragay's guard and throws a big left but Ragay blocks it.
Ragay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Itsuma.
Itsuma wants to get up but he can't break Ragay's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Itsuma shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Itsuma manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ragay on his heels. He'll look to pass Ragay's guard now, I'm sure.
Itsuma postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Itsuma is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Itsuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ragay. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Itsuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Ragay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Yoshiriro Itsuma wasn't active enough on the ground.

Itsuma clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiriro Itsuma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ragay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Itsuma closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Itsuma wants to take a breather but Ragay is having none of it.

Yoshiriro Itsuma has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ragay throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Itsuma's waist but Itsuma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ragay off to one side.
Itsuma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ragay tries to avoid it but Itsuma manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ragay to the ground. Ragay escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Itsuma stuffs the takedown.

Itsuma closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Itsuma lands in his opponent's guard.
Itsuma is looking to stand up but Ragay won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ragay pushes Itsuma off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ragay shoots in looking for a takedown but Itsuma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ragay's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Ragay. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Itsuma moves into the clinch successfully.
Itsuma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ragay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Itsuma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Itsuma.
Itsuma looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ragay is fending him off so far but Itsuma persists. Nope, Ragay circles away and we're back to standing.

Itsuma fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ragay sprawls well initially but Itsuma persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Itsuma seems to be working for a kimura but Ragay defends the submission attempt.
Itsuma content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Itsuma is trying to control. Ragay wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Yoshiriro Itsuma hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ragay tries to close the distance and clinch but Itsuma swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Itsuma cracks the inside of Ragay's front leg.
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Ragay keeps it at a distance.

Itsuma shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ragay pushes Itsuma off looking to stand but Itsuma dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Itsuma is taking a breather. Ragay says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshiriro Itsuma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Itsuma has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshiriro Itsuma!