PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Itsu Hitigaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aiko Yuuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Itsu Hitigaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hitigaki
vs
Yuuka

175 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Itsu Hitigaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aiko Yuuka!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hitigaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yuuka shoots in for a takedown but Hitigaki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yuuka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hitigaki counters with a head kick.
Hitigaki dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yuuka shoots in looking for a takedown but Hitigaki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yuuka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Itsu Hitigaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aiko Yuuka.
Yuuka has his takedown stuffed
and Hitigaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Yuuka with a poor takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Aiko Yuuka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yuuka has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hitigaki finds it's way round the side to connect with Yuuka's head.
Nice uppercut there from Hitigaki.
Hitigaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yuuka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hitigaki's waist but Hitigaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yuuka off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitigaki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hitigaki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yuuka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a head kick. That will keep Yuuka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Yuuka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hitigaki counters with a two punch combo.
Yuuka 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.
Yuuka looks winded!
Yuuka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hitigaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hitigaki lands a nice hook to Yuuka's body. Yuuka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yuuka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hitigaki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hitigaki with a jab.
Hitigaki misses with a few strikes there.
Hitigaki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hitigaki misses with a hook.

Hitigaki gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hitigaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Hitigaki, not yet.
Yuuka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yuuka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hitigaki's head.
Yuuka passes into half guard.
Yuuka is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yuuka trying to pass the guard but Hitigaki defending well.

Yuuka is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hitigaki sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitigaki on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hitigaki is looking to escape.
Yuuka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yuuka working over Hitigaki with some ground and pound. Hitigaki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hitigaki is refusing to be controlled, as Yuuka sits in half guard.
Yuuka moves into full mount! Hitigaki won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka lands a big shot there that rocks Hitigaki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yuuka landing strikes from the mount.
Hitigaki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Yuuka lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Yuuka trying to control but Hitigaki is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Yuuka cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yuuka looking to finish Hitigaki with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hitigaki!
Yuuka with shots to the head and body - Hitigaki looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aiko Yuuka dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yuuka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hitigaki pinned against the cage. Hitigaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yuuka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yuuka misses with a takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Itsu Hitigaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aiko Yuuka.
Yuuka tries for a takedown but Hitigaki circles away easily
and Hitigaki counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Nice cross by Hitigaki.
Yuuka dives in and grabs Hitigaki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hitigaki pushes down on Yuuka's head and hops out.
Yuuka is breathing heavily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hitigaki - that will leave a mark!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yuuka misses with a takedown attempt
and Hitigaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Yuuka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Hitigaki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yuuka swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hitigaki misses with a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Hitigaki.
Hitigaki fakes the leg kick and cracks Yuuka in the body.
Hitigaki lands with a good body shot.
Hitigaki is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hitigaki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yuuka is defended easily by Hitigaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka swats away the attempt to clinch by Hitigaki.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hitigaki.
Hitigaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yuuka.
Yuuka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hitigaki tries to avoid it but Yuuka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hitigaki to the ground. Hitigaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hitigaki thuds a left hand into Yuuka's body.
Yuuka misses with a takedown attempt - Hitigaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitigaki connects with a high kick.
Hitigaki catches Yuuka with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hitigaki connects with a looping right hand.
Hitigaki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yuuka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Aiko Yuuka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab lands there for Hitigaki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hitigaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka has his takedown stuffed
and Hitigaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hitigaki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hitigaki connects with a nice looking jab.
Yuuka fails with a takedown attempt.
Hitigaki scores with a nice strike.
Decent striking displayed by Hitigaki there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yuuka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hitigaki as he avoids it easily.
Yuuka avoids the head kick by Hitigaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Itsu Hitigaki dominated that second round.
That's time! Hitigaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yuuka shoots in for a takedown but Hitigaki shows good takedown defense.
Hitigaki with a hook.
Yuuka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yuuka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hitigaki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Itsu Hitigaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aiko Yuuka.
Hitigaki cracks Yuuka with a good jab.
Good exchange - Hitigaki coming out on top.
Yuuka has his takedown stuffed
enabling Hitigaki to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yuuka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitigaki throws a head kick that Yuuka semi-blocks.
Hitigaki cracks Yuuka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hitigaki 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.
Yuuka tries for a takedown but Hitigaki circles away easily
and Yuuka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hitigaki moves into the clinch.
Hitigaki taking a breather.
Yuuka is trying to pull guard but Hitigaki has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Hitigaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka has Hitigaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hitigaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hitigaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yuuka's face.
Yuuka is looking to control Hitigaki's arms but Hitigaki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yuuka has his back to the cage.
Yuuka controlling the action here for a moment.
Yuuka has Hitigaki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hitigaki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hitigaki scores a nice knee to the body.
Yuuka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hitigaki smiles and moves away.
Itsu Hitigaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Yuuka with a poor takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitigaki sizes up Yuuka with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hitigaki cracks Yuuka with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yuuka takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hitigaki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hitigaki lands with a kick to the temple. Yuuka shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Yuuka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hitigaki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yuuka somewhat.
Hitigaki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yuuka stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hitigaki delivers a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuuka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a head kick. That will keep Yuuka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hitigaki misses the shot to the body.
Yuuka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hitigaki counters with a big head kick but Yuuka shrugs it off.
Yuuka has his takedown stuffed
and Hitigaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Itsu Hitigaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hitigaki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hitigaki fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Itsu Hitigaki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hitigaki 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Itsu Hitigaki!