PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Borne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryoma Echizen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Borne
vs
Echizen

165 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
134 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 Las Vegas, Samuel Borne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryoma Echizen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Borne clinches up with Echizen and pushes him back against the cage.

Borne successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Echizen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Borne dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Echizen wants to sweep but no luck.
Borne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Echizen is keeping the position for now.
Borne slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Echizen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Echizen seems to be working for a kimura but Borne defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borne is trying is best to control the position here.
Echizen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Borne tries to hold on but Echizen pushes him away.

Echizen goes for an armbar but Borne turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Borne.

Echizen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borne postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Echizen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Borne, into his guard.
Borne controls Echizen momentarily but Echizen frees himself.
Echizen trying to control but Borne is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borne controlling Echizen's posture.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Borne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Borne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Echizen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Echizen pushes down on Borne's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Echizen wants to control but Borne is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Echizen with the ground and pound but Borne uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Echizen trying to control but Borne is working from the bottom.
Echizen throwing strikes from guard but Borne blocks nicely.
Borne trying to control the position.
Borne wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Echizen wants to control from the top but Borne keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryoma Echizen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Borne enables Echizen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Borne manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Echizen trying to control the position from guard on top but Borne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Echizen advances to half guard.

Echizen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Borne doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Echizen.

Echizen seems to be working for a kimura but Borne defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Echizen moves into full mount! Borne won't be happy about that!

Echizen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Borne has worked his arm free - good work by Borne!
Borne is not content to let Echizen control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borne is trying to control Echizen's posture but Echizen avoids it.
Borne is not content to let Echizen control the position.
Ryoma Echizen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Borne tries to bench press Echizen off him but Echizen keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borne managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Echizen.

Echizen tries for a kimura but Borne is defending well.

Echizen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Echizen is breathing heavily.
Echizen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Echizen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Borne keeps working.

Echizen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Borne, who protects the arm well.
Echizen throws an elbow but Borne slips to the side and avoids it well.
Echizen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Echizen working away.

Echizen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Echizen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Echizen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Echizen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryoma Echizen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Echizen closes the distance and pushes Borne back into the cage.
Borne effectively controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Echizen gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Borne regains guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Echizen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Borne is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Echizen, into his guard.
Borne tries to free his leg and advance position but Echizen is retaining full guard.
Echizen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Borne controls the pace.
Borne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Echizen is keeping the position for now.
Borne controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Echizen trying to keep a closed guard but Borne is proving a slippery customer.
Borne trying to control but Echizen is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel Borne.

Echizen gets caught flat footed, as Borne shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Echizen wants to sweep here but Borne controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borne tries to free his leg and advance position but Echizen is retaining full guard.
Borne not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Echizen is keeping the position for now.
Samuel Borne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Echizen looking for a sweep. Not yet Echizen, not yet.
Echizen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Borne clinches up against the cage.
Borne wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Echizen has him pressed against the cage.
Come on Borne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Echizen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Borne showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Echizen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryoma Echizen!