PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makounchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makounchi comes to the cage accompanied by rolling go. This should be fireworks!

Makounchi
vs
Smith

178 cm
19
139 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

150 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Bushido Clothing
Valhalla Fight Wear

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 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makounchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bill Smith!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Makounchi.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Makounchi is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Makounchi circles away and we're back to standing.
Makounchi misses with a kick to the body.
Makounchi lands a slapping body shot.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Makounchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice sprawl there from Makounchi as Smith shoots in.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Ippo Makounchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Smith.
Makounchi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Smith eats them both and turns towards Makounchi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Makounchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Smith doesn't seem bothered though.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Makounchi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Some wild striking there from Makounchi.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Makounchi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good standup being displayed there by Makounchi as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Makounchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.

Makounchi clinches up against the cage.

Smith successfully pulls guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Makounchi stands up from Smith's guard - Makounchi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makounchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Makounchi lands a slapping body shot.
Ippo Makounchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makounchi 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.
Makounchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith throws out a leg kick but Makounchi moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Makounchi.
Makounchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Makounchi but Makounchi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Makounchi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith looks gassed!
Makounchi connects with a body shot.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Makounchi had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Makounchi throws a one two combo.

Smith has Makounchi up against the cage in a clinch.

Makounchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makounchi works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Makounchi throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Smith avoids the head kick by Makounchi.
Makounchi swinging wildly here.
Makounchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makounchi tries to land a front kick but Smith steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Smith tries to clinch up but Makounchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Makounchi looks to land a body kick but Smith moved away.
Smith walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Smith takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Makounchi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Makounchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Makounchi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Makounchi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Makounchi keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Makounchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smith has managed to clinch.

Makounchi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makounchi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Makounchi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Smith is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makounchi throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smith attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Makounchi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Makounchi wants it to stay on the feet.
Makounchi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Makounchi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makounchi works the jab nicely.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Makounchi circles away.
Makounchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Makounchi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Makounchi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

Makounchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makounchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Makounchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Makounchi.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Makounchi sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Makounchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Makounchi.
Makounchi misses with a wild combination.
Makounchi throws a body kick that misses.
Makounchi misses with the combination.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makounchi wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Makounchi avoids the body shot from Smith.
Makounchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Makounchi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Makounchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range as Makounchi throws a body kick.
Makounchi misses with the combination.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Makounchi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Makounchi 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.
Sloppy strikes from Makounchi. Those never looked like landing.

Makounchi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Makounchi manages to break the clinch.
Makounchi scores with a one two! Smith had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makounchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ippo Makounchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Smith.
An inside leg kick from Makounchi misses.
Makounchi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith moves into range and clinches up with Makounchi.

Makounchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makounchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Smith throws a leg kick but Makounchi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Makounchi 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.
Makounchi misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Smith counters by clinching up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Makounchi breaks the clinch.
Smith throws a right and a left that Makounchi avoids nicely.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Makounchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makounchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Makounchi lands an overhand right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Makounchi.
Ippo Makounchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Makounchi misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makounchi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Smith back to the cage. Makounchi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A jab from Makounchi misses.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Makounchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makounchi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Makounchi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Makounchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Makounchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Makounchi misses.
Smith looks to land a combination but Makounchi avoids it well.

Smith has managed to clinch.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Makounchi manages to break the clinch.

Makounchi rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Makounchi has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makounchi is trying to push Smith away but Smith has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Makounchi breaks from the clinch.
Makounchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Makounchi.
Makounchi tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Makounchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makounchi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Makounchi misses with a kick to the body.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makounchi tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Makounchi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Makounchi connects with a body shot that sends Smith's belly button to the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makounchi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Makounchi rushes Smith and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Makounchi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Makounchi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Makounchi closes the distance and clinches.
Makounchi has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.

Makounchi breaks the clinch.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Makounchi scores with a body shot.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Makounchi circles away.
Ippo Makounchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Makounchi does no damage.
Smith avoids a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith slips a jab and a cross from Makounchi.
Makounchi throws a leg kick that misses.
Makounchi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Smith trying to stall but Makounchi improves his position.

Makounchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smith tries to move into range but Makounchi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Good work by Smith as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Makounchi throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Makounchi thows a body shot but no joy.
Makounchi shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Makounchi shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Makounchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Makounchi misses with a body kick.
Makounchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Makounchi persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Left hook, right uppercut from Makounchi.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Makounchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Smith counters with a three punch combo that has Makounchi backing up. Makounchi nods at Smith to acknowledge the strikes.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Makounchi's waist but Makounchi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Ippo Makounchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Smith.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makounchi works over Smith's head and body with a nice combination.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Makounchi circles away.
Makounchi lands with a straight right. Smith didn't see that one coming.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Makounchi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makounchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Makounchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Makounchi persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Makounchi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Makounchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Makounchi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith throws a low kick but Makounchi avoids it.
Makounchi throws a front kick that sends Smith stumbling back into the cage.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Makounchi circles away.
Nice cross by Makounchi.
Makounchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makounchi throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Makounchi misses with a kick to the body.
Makounchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Smith fails with an attempt to clinch.

Smith has Makounchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Smith fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Makounchi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Makounchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Makounchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makounchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Bill Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ippo Makounchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Makounchi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

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