PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiriro Itsuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshiriro Itsuma had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Itsuma
vs
Smith

158 cm
22
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
21
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiriro Itsuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Itsuma. That did some damage!
Smith connects with a leg kick. Itsuma looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith lands a leg kick that knocks Itsuma off balance momentarily.
Itsuma shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Itsuma's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Itsuma. That did some damage!
Itsuma takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Itsuma takes a kick to the side of the head.
Itsuma fails with the takedown.
Itsuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Itsuma tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Itsuma.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Smith cracks the inside of Itsuma's front leg.
Itsuma is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Smith keeps Itsuma at a distance using the push kick.
Smith keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Itsuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith throws a quick inside leg kick.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Smith.
Itsuma misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That kick from Smith tenderised Itsuma's leg. Itsuma is trying to keep his angry face on.
Itsuma closes the distance but Smith moves to the side
and Smith counters with a good low kick that Itsuma was not able to check.
Itsuma tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Itsuma jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma throws a lazy body kick
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of Itsuma's side.
Smith throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Itsuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Itsuma thows a leg kick but Smith checks it
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Horrible takedown by Itsuma or perhaps it was just good defense by Smith which made him look bad.
Sean Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a nice inside leg kick.
Itsuma shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a head kick.
Itsuma is breathing heavily.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Itsuma's sensitive parts.
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Itsuma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Itsuma misses with a straight right.
No joy there for Itsuma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice inside leg kick there by Smith. That's going to slow Itsuma down.
Itsuma has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Smith.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Itsuma misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Itsuma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Itsuma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yoshiriro Itsuma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Itsuma fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.

Itsuma has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Itsuma tries to clinch but Smith moves away
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sean Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Smith dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Itsuma. That did some damage!
Smith scores with a leg kick.
Itsuma has his takedown stuffed
and Smith counters with a good, hard body kick but Itsuma shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Itsuma takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.
Smith connects with a leg kick. Itsuma looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Smith leaves Itsuma with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith connects with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Itsuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Itsuma throws a body kick the misses
and Smith counters with a leg kick.
Smith lands a high kick!
A big right from Itsuma misses.
Smith lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Itsuma will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Itsuma takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Itsuma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Itsuma's calf.
Itsuma tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Itsuma fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice body kick there by Smith.
Smith thumps Itsuma with a low kick.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Itsuma throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Smith counters with a thumping low kick.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Itsuma's front leg but catches the back leg as Itsuma tries to avoid it.
Smith bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Smith, right into the meat.
Itsuma on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Smith fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Itsuma tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Smith explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Itsuma.
Smith with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Itsuma wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith lands a head kick. Itsuma smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Itsuma has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith scores with a head kick.
Itsuma wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a low kick, right behind Itsuma 's knee.
Itsuma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Itsuma fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Itsuma closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshiriro Itsuma. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Itsuma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Itsuma misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Smith. Itsuma shrugs it off though.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith throws a nice head kick!
Itsuma shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Itsuma's calf.
Smith scores with a leg kick.
Smith explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Itsuma.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of Itsuma's side.
Smith throws a head kick that Itsuma semi-blocks.
Itsuma chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith lands a leg kick that knocks Itsuma off balance momentarily.
Itsuma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smith.
Itsuma tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Itsuma tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A solid body kick from Smith.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith lands with a slapping head kick.
Yoshiriro Itsuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Itsuma.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Smith chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Itsuma throws a lazy head kick
and Smith counters with a nice low kick that buckles Itsuma's knee momentarily.
Sean Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An inside leg kick lands from Smith.
Itsuma takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Smith!
Sean Smith decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.