PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ichi Ijima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan OReily (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ijima comes into the arena with Alphabetical #1 - Karera Musication blaring out of the sound system. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ijima
vs
OReily

178 cm
22
202 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
190 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ichi Ijima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan OReily!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ijima is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in OReily's half guard.
Ijima not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ijima wants to lay and pray for a moment but OReily keeps working.
OReily is trying is best to control the position here.
OReily is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Ijima jumps into side control!
The referee asks Ijima politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ijima prefers to stall for the moment though.
OReily is looking to regain half guard here but Ijima keeps moving and retains side control.

Ijima tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ijima working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ijima tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
OReily struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ijima lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ijima trying to control the action but OReily is working from the bottom.
Ijima cracks OReily with an elbow. That is naaassty.
OReily is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ijima lands a nice forearm strike.
Ijima working away.
OReily takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
OReily is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
OReily manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ijima's best efforts.
OReily is looking to get back to full guard here but Ijima has managed to pass to side control instead.
OReily gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
OReily is trying to maintain the position but Ijima is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OReily actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
OReily is trying to get back to full guard.
Ijima seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but OReily does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
OReily trying to hold on to Ijima's head to control him but Ijima postures up.
Ijima takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
OReily has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ijima is working away from the top position though.
Ijima working over OReily with some ground and pound. OReily looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ijima wants to control but OReily is keeping him busy.
OReily is looking to control Ijima's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can OReily avoid being mounted?
Ijima lands with a punch from half guard.
Ijima is taking a breather. OReily 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Ijima there.
Ground and pound from Ijima.
Ijima thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed OReily's head.
OReily is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ijima wants to work for an arm triangle but OReily is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
OReily is refusing to be controlled, as Ijima sits in half guard.
OReily is looking to control Ijima's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can OReily avoid being mounted?

Ijima looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Ijima is looking for a kimura but OReily is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ijima to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ijima landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Ijima is looking for a kimura but OReily is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ijima to get the leverage.
OReily is looking for a sweep. Ijima is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
OReily regains full guard. Nicely done.
OReily keeping full guard, as Ijima tries to pass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
OReily working a defensive guard but Ijima manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ijima in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
OReily can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ijima looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
OReily is trying to control Ijima's posture but Ijima avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Ijima 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.

OReily shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ijima sprawls well. Ijima wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. OReily gets slowly back to his feet.

Ijima darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Ijima.
OReily gets back to full guard.
OReily wants to sweep here but Ijima controlling him for the moment.
Ijima trying to control but OReily is working from the bottom.

OReily working for a triangle but Ijima defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OReily can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ijima controls the pace.
OReily working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ijima.
OReily pulls Ijima in close to prevent any damage.
Ijima advances position into side control!
OReily is not content to let Ijima control the position.
OReily tries to improve position but can't.
OReily is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ijima wants to lay and pray for a moment but OReily keeps working.
Ijima moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OReily is working to get back to half guard.
OReily tries to hold on but Ijima pushes him away.
Ijima prevents OReily from getting the reversal.
Ijima avoids the attempt from OReily to control.
Ijima scoring with strikes but OReily is staying in there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ijima fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ijima pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ijima punishing his opponent with strikes.
OReily wants to hold on but Ijima pushes him away.
Ijima tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
OReily is desperately trying to improve his position but Ijima has a good base and remains in mount.
Ijima unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OReily tries to reverse the position but Ijima maintains control.
Ijima controlling from the full mount.
OReily tries to hold on but Ijima pushes him away.
OReily is looking to improve his position but Ijima isn't that keen on the idea.
Ijima with good strikes from the mount here!
Ijima sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ijima lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ijima avoids the attempt from OReily to control.
Ijima looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ijima breaks from OReily's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ijima is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, OReily has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ichi Ijima overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OReily can't escape the position.
Ijima lands a nice shot to the head.
Ijima lands a big shot to the head and OReily winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ichi Ijima!
In his post fight interview, Ichi Ijima started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.