PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Smalls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo Makunouchi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Reggie Smalls's chin.

Smalls
vs
Makunouchi

170 cm
28
162 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

170 cm
32
160 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reggie Smalls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Makunouchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Makunouchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smalls.
Makunouchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Makunouchi tries to bum rush Smalls with a series of wild strikes but Smalls uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smalls walks into a straight right hand from Makunouchi.
Smalls takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Makunouchi missing with a left hand there. Smalls was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A combination from Smalls does no damage.
Makunouchi blocks a head kick by Smalls.
Smalls has his takedown stuffed
and Makunouchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Makunouchi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Makunouchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smalls slips a jab from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Makunouchi.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but Smalls moves out of range.
Smalls bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Makunouchi swings for the body but Smalls moves out of range.
Smalls throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smalls throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Makunouchi on the side of the head.
Smalls slips a straight right by Makunouchi.
Makunouchi loads up on a big right hand but Smalls slips the punch.
Smalls misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi jabs Smalls to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smalls digs a good body shot into Makunouchi's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Smalls steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Makunouchi.
A right-left combo lands from Smalls.
Makunouchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Makunouchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makunouchi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Smalls takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smalls scores with a nice right hand.
Smalls throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Smalls.
Makunouchi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Makunouchi avoids the body shot from Smalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws a big shot that misses.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Makunouchi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smalls backs up against the cage.

It looks like Reggie Smalls has been cut.
Smalls blocks a jab.
Smalls loads up on a big right hand but Makunouchi slips the punch.
Smalls showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi throws a hook to the side of Smalls's head but Smalls sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smalls is looking to wear down Makunouchi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Smalls goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Makunouchi scores with a punch to the head.
Makunouchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Makunouchi misses with a wild body shot.
Makunouchi looks to land a right hand but Smalls moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smalls feints and then cracks Makunouchi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Makunouchi down.
Smalls looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Makunouchi is fending him off so far but Smalls persists. Nope, Makunouchi circles away and we're back to standing.
Smalls throws a right hand that Makunouchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Makunouchi also avoids with ease.
Makunouchi misses with a body shot
and Smalls connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makunouchi lands a nice shot that snaps Smalls's head back.
Makunouchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smalls.
Smalls lands a body shot.
Smalls misses with a shot to the body
letting Makunouchi counter with a right hand.
Makunouchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smalls counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Smalls 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.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Makunouchi is pulling down on Smalls's head. It's preventing any offense from Smalls, at least for the moment.
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 Reggie Smalls'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.

Smalls rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makunouchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice sprawl there from Makunouchi as Smalls shoots in.
Makunouchi throws a body punch but Smalls moves out of range.
No joy there for Makunouchi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Smalls. Those never looked like landing.
Smalls slips under a jab.
Smalls throws a right hand that Makunouchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Makunouchi also avoids with ease.
Makunouchi falls off balance throwing a combination

so Smalls counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Makunouchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smalls stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Makunouchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls content to stall in guard here.
Smalls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makunouchi is keeping the position for now.
Smalls postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Smalls drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Makunouchi dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smalls is keeping the position for now.
Makunouchi won't allow Smalls to get back to his feet.
Makunouchi connects with a couple of short punches.
Makunouchi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smalls works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Makunouchi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smalls utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makunouchi throws an elbow that misses. Smalls uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Makunouchi's guard. Nice move by Smalls!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Makunouchi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smalls trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smalls won't allow Makunouchi to sweep him here.
Smalls controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smalls loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Reggie Smalls wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Smalls feints and as Makunouchi raises his hands in defense, Smalls changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makunouchi is trying to control the position but Smalls postures up.
Makunouchi seems keen to control Smalls's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smalls content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Makunouchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Makunouchi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smalls. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smalls throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smalls trying to control the position from guard on top but Makunouchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Smalls dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Reggie Smalls's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smalls shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Makunouchi is trying to defend but Smalls finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Smalls trying to pass the guard but Makunouchi defending well.
Smalls missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smalls missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smalls sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Smalls tries to pass the half guard into mount. Makunouchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smalls wants to take a breather but Makunouchi is having none of it.
Smalls seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Makunouchi manages to get to full guard.
Smalls's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reggie Smalls has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Makunouchi jabs Smalls right on the nose. Smalls blinks but takes it well.
Smalls tries to bum rush Makunouchi with a series of wild strikes but Makunouchi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makunouchi misses with a hook.
The fighters circling - Makunouchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Makunouchi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smalls throws a body punch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Smalls blocks a jab.
Smalls moves away from the strike by Makunouchi.
A slow jab from Makunouchi misses its intended target.
Makunouchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smalls moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi stuffs the takedown.
Makunouchi throws a good cross that connects.
Smalls walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Makunouchi throws a right hand that misses
and Smalls counters with a three punch combo that has Makunouchi backing up. Makunouchi nods at Smalls to acknowledge the strikes.
Makunouchi throws a hook to the side of Smalls's head but Smalls sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smalls misses with a few strikes there.
Makunouchi slips a jab from Smalls.
Smalls misses with the combination.
Reggie Smalls is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smalls takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses
and Smalls counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smalls throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makunouchi.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Smalls misses.
A big left from Makunouchi misses.
Smalls throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Makunouchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smalls.
Makunouchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smalls looks to land a right hand but Makunouchi moved out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makunouchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Smalls slips under a jab from Makunouchi.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Reggie Smalls.
I think Smalls has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

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