PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brock Lenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Ishizaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishizaki comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Captain Tsubasa kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Brock Lenny has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lenny
vs
Ishizaki

160 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
165 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brock Lenny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Ishizaki!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lenny fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A shot to the liver by Lenny. Beautiful body shot.
Ishizaki shoots in for a double leg but Lenny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lenny really is a fat lump.
Lenny closes the distance but Ishizaki moves to the side

and Ishizaki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lenny's guard now.
Lenny looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ishizaki is one step ahead there.
Ishizaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lenny is keeping the position for now.
Ishizaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishizaki works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenny wants to control but Ishizaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ishizaki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Ishizaki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lenny doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ishizaki.
Lenny is not content to let Ishizaki control the position.
Lenny tries to kick Ishizaki off but Ishizaki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Well, if Ishizaki is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Lenny is defending against the submission attempts here by Ishizaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishizaki works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ishizaki trying to control the position but Lenny is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

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

Ishizaki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lenny is not content to let Ishizaki control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ishizaki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lenny has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ishizaki looks up at the clock and then as Lenny takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ishizaki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lenny trying to remain calm as Ishizaki controls from the top position.

Ishizaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lenny knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lenny is not content to let Ishizaki control the position.
Lenny is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ishizaki is staying tight to Lenny's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ishizaki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lenny knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ishizaki creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Ishizaki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lenny throws a wild body kick that Ishizaki sees coming a mile off.
Lenny looks to clinch

and Ishizaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lenny tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lenny keeping moving, preventing Ishizaki from controlling successfully.

Ishizaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ishizaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lenny keeping moving, preventing Ishizaki from controlling successfully.
Ishizaki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ishizaki wants to control from the top but Lenny keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ryo Ishizaki.
Lenny fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ishizaki avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishizaki circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ishizaki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ishizaki managing to block the knees to the body from Lenny.
Ishizaki has Lenny pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lenny manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Lenny has had enough of the clinch but Ishizaki keeps him there for the moment.
Ishizaki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ishizaki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lenny prevents it.
Brock Lenny has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryo Ishizaki.
Lenny misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishizaki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lenny changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ishizaki fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lenny tries to clinch there but Ishizaki circles away.
Ishizaki shoots in and drives through. Lenny sprawls well.
Lenny throws a nice looking combination but Ishizaki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lenny shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ishizaki as he avoids it easily.
Ishizaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ishizaki has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenny fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ishizaki slips a jab and a cross from Lenny.
Ishizaki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Ryo Ishizaki has been cut.
Ishizaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lenny sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lenny has his takedown stuffed

so Ishizaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ishizaki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ishizaki trying to control but Lenny is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishizaki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lenny's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ishizaki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ishizaki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ishizaki lands strikes from half guard.
Ishizaki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lenny does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ishizaki sitting and controlling from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryo Ishizaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryo Ishizaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lenny throws a wild body kick that Ishizaki sees coming a mile off.
Ishizaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lenny moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lenny wants to clinch but Ishizaki slips to the side

and Ishizaki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ishizaki.
Ishizaki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ishizaki is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lenny can't fight it off and eventually Ishizaki manages to take the fight to the floor. Lenny looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lenny wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ishizaki is now in half guard.
Lenny is controlling Ishizaki's trapped leg to prevent Ishizaki from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishizaki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Lenny has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ishizaki is working away from the top position though.
Ishizaki controlling the action here.

Ishizaki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lenny defends it well.
Ryo Ishizaki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ishizaki content to control rather than advance.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lenny tries to roll over but Ishizaki keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lenny is not content to let Ishizaki control the position.
Lenny is trying to stand up here but Ishizaki is controlling him well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ishizaki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lenny to the mat! Lenny manages to get full guard.
Ishizaki trying to control but Lenny is working from the bottom.
Lenny pulls Ishizaki in to control the position.
Ishizaki controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ishizaki trying to control but Lenny is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishizaki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ryo Ishizaki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lenny tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ishizaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ishizaki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lenny trying to keep a closed guard but Ishizaki is proving a slippery customer.
Ishizaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Lenny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lenny might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ishizaki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishizaki wants to control from the top but Lenny keeps moving.
Ryo Ishizaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ryo Ishizaki was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ishizaki takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ishizaki stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ishizaki instigates a clinch.

Ishizaki lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ishizaki not doing much here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryo Ishizaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ishizaki 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryo Ishizaki!
A relieved looking Ryo Ishizaki thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.