PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sloan Kettering (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sloan Kettering has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kettering
vs
Makunouchi

187 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
191 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sloan Kettering!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Kettering.
Kettering showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Makunouchi.
Some wild striking there from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Kettering swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi throws a right and a left that Kettering avoids nicely.
Kettering connects with a looping right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makunouchi throws a lazy right hand but Kettering sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kettering throws a right hand that Makunouchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Makunouchi also avoids with ease.
Kettering lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettering uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but Kettering moves out of range.
Makunouchi throws a lazy right hand but Kettering sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Makunouchi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Sloan Kettering has been cut.
Makunouchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kettering paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kettering closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kettering thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Makunouchi's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Makunouchi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Makunouchi wants to stand and escape but Kettering is having none of it.
Kettering has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makunouchi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kettering with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makunouchi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kettering missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Kettering does no damage.
Makunouchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kettering throws a left and a right that both miss
and Makunouchi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick misses from Kettering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi moves in looking to clinch but Kettering pushes him off.
Kettering looks to land a combination but Makunouchi avoids it well.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but Kettering moves out of range.
Kettering tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Kettering looks to land a combination but Makunouchi avoids it well.
Kettering falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Makunouchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Makunouchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Kettering circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kettering tries to clinch up.
Kettering misses with a series of wild punches.
Makunouchi tries to clinch there but Kettering circles away.
Kettering walks into a straight right hand from Makunouchi.

Kettering has taken the fight to the clinch.
Makunouchi missing with knees to the body.
Makunouchi lands an elbow inside.
Makunouchi lands an elbow inside that Kettering shrugs off.
Makunouchi missing with knees to the body.
Makunouchi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunouchi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sloan Kettering's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Makunouchi throws a jab when Kettering was well out of range.

Makunouchi forces Kettering back against the cage and clinches.
Makunouchi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Makunouchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kettering swats away the attempt to clinch by Makunouchi.
Kettering misses with a takedown
and Makunouchi counters with a straight right hand.
Makunouchi misses with a looping right.
Makunouchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kettering.
Kettering wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi ducks under a wild hook from Kettering.
Kettering defending well as Makunouchi loads up on a big left hand.
Kettering throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Makunouchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kettering circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Kettering to counter with a crisp jab.
Kettering throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettering swats away the attempt to clinch by Makunouchi.
Makunouchi wants to clinch but Kettering slips to the side
and Kettering counters with a three punch combo that has Makunouchi backing up. Makunouchi nods at Kettering to acknowledge the strikes.
Kettering misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Makunouchi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Sloan Kettering's cut is getting worse.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but Kettering is having none of it.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Kettering.
Kettering tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettering moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Makunouchi misses.
Kettering throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Makunouchi counters by moving into the clinch.
Makunouchi tries to break the clinch but Kettering is controlling the position.
Makunouchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kettering using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Makunouchi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Makunouchi lands a knee to the body.
Makunouchi misses with an elbow strike.
Makunouchi lands an elbow inside.

Makunouchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Makunouchi avoids a kick to the body.
Kettering circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kettering throws a push kick but Makunouchi slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi dodges the punch combination from Kettering.
Kettering throws a series of punches but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kettering moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Makunouchi.

Makunouchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makunouchi lands with a right hand.
Makunouchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kettering is just out of range.
Makunouchi tries to clinch
and Kettering counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunouchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sloan Kettering's cut.
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.

Kettering tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Makunouchi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makunouchi misses with a looping left.
Kettering wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Makunouchi misses with an uppercut. Kettering saw that one coming.
Makunouchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kettering throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Kettering.
Sloan Kettering is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Makunouchi avoids the head kick by Kettering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettering misses with the combination.
Kettering throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kettering throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Makunouchi tries to bum rush Kettering with a series of wild strikes but Kettering uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kettering throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Makunouchi counters with a straight right hand.
Kettering circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makunouchi clinches.
Makunouchi throws an elbow that misses.
Makunouchi misses with an elbow over the top.
Kettering has Makunouchi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Makunouchi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Makunouchi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kettering dodges an elbow strike from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi leaning against his opponent.
Kettering avoids the elbow strike from Makunouchi, against the cage.
Makunouchi lands an elbow inside that Kettering shrugs off.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Makunouchi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kettering's brow.
Kettering blocks an elbow strike from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Makunouchi.

Sloan Kettering's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Kettering's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kettering dodges an elbow strike from Makunouchi.
Kettering stalling in the clinch.
Kettering misses with a knee to the head.
Kettering wants a takedown.
Kettering blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Makunouchi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Makunouchi avoiding damage as Kettering throws knees to the body.
Makunouchi wants to stall.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kettering takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kettering takes an elbow to the forehead.

Jeez, Sloan Kettering's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Kettering avoids the elbow strike from Makunouchi, against the cage.
Kettering is looking to control Makunouchi's arms but Makunouchi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kettering has his back to the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Makunouchi throws an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Makunouchi.
Kettering blocks an elbow strike from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi lands a nice elbow.
Kettering creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kettering takes an elbow to the temple.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Sloan Kettering's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ippo Makunouchi!
Ippo Makunouchi is the new middleweight champion!