PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neeyo Collin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Collin is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bagsakan - Collaboration. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Imanari
vs
Collin

172 cm
28
165 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

165 cm
27
167 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Imanari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neeyo Collin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collin is looking to chop away at Imanari's legs.
Collin lands with a right hand.
Collin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Imanari drops his hands momentarily and Collin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Imanari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Imanari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Imanari shoots in and bounces Collin off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Imanari showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Imanari wants to control from the top but Collin keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collin managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Collin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Imanari wants to pass the guard but Collin is keeping the position.
Collin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Imanari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Collin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari closes the distance but Collin moves to the side
and Collin counters with a head kick.
Imanari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Collin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Imanari tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Collin to counter with a crisp jab.
Collin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Imanari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Collin.
Imanari wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari moves in looking to clinch but Collin pushes him off.
Collin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yoshihiro Imanari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Collin darts in looking for a takedown but Imanari gets double underhooks and turns Collin into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Imanari missing with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Collin jumps guard but Imanari stands there with Collin around his waist. Collin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yoshihiro Imanari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neeyo Collin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Collin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Imanari is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Collin to the mat. Collin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Imanari trying to control but Collin is working from the bottom.
Imanari scoring with some ground and pound.
Imanari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Imanari wants to control from the top but Collin keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imanari content to stall in guard here.
Imanari seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Collin for as long as he can get away with.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Imanari wants to pass the guard but Collin is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Imanari dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Collin.
Imanari moves in looking to clinch but Collin pushes him off.
Collin throws a hook but Imanari blocks it.
Collin tried to score with a low kick but Imanari checks it.
A left and a right from Imanari both land. Nice combination.
Imanari is looking to clinch but Collin is avoiding it.

Imanari gets a clinch.
Collin goes for a takedown attempt but Imanari pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Imanari just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Imanari misses with a few strikes there.
Imanari ducks under a wild hook from Collin.
A low kick from Imanari misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Imanari tries to clinch up but Collin circles away and keeps his distance.
Imanari works Collin's body with a nice hook.
Collin tries for a takedown but Imanari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Neeyo Collin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Collin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Imanari defends well and Collin ends up having to push Imanari into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yoshihiro Imanari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neeyo Collin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imanari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Collin has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Imanari is defended easily by Collin.
Imanari ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Collin moves away.
Collin tries a head kick but it misses.
Imanari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Collin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Imanari doesn't manage to clinch there - Collin circles away.

Imanari darts in and clinches Collin up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari is looking to control Collin's arms but Collin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Imanari has his back to the cage.
Collin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Imanari smiles and moves away.
Collin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Collin counters with a left and a right that stings Imanari.
Imanari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Collin fails to land with a series of punches.
Imanari tries to clinch up but Collin circles away and keeps his distance.
Imanari just misses with a punch to the body.
Imanari misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Collin cracks the inside of Imanari's front leg.
The fight stays on the outside here - Imanari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Imanari misses with a few strikes there.
Imanari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Collin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Collin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Imanari sprawls well initially but Collin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Imanari pushes Collin off looking to stand but Collin dives back in and keeps control.
Collin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yoshihiro Imanari will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Imanari takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Imanari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Collin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Imanari gets a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Collin as Imanari tries to tie him up.
Imanari lands a right hand.

Imanari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Imanari shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Yoshihiro Imanari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Collin trying to hold on to Imanari's head to control him but Imanari postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collin is not content to let Imanari control the position.
Imanari is thwarting Collin's attempts to control the position.
Collin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Collin.
Collin is pulling down on Imanari's head to control his posture.
Collin trying to keep a closed guard but Imanari is proving a slippery customer.
Imanari wants to control from the top but Collin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Imanari is one step ahead there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Collin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Imanari checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Imanari throws a body punch but Collin moves out of range.
Imanari is looking to wear down Collin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Collin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Imanari misses with the combination.
Imanari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Collin swivels and escapes.
Collin keeps the fight on the outside.
Collin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Imanari as he avoids it easily.
Yoshihiro Imanari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Imanari tries to clinch there but Collin circles away.
Imanari tries to close the distance and clinch but Collin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Collin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Imanari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Collin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Neeyo Collin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Imanari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Collin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collin darts in looking for a takedown but Imanari gets double underhooks and turns Collin into the cage.
Collin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Imanari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yoshihiro Imanari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neeyo Collin.
Collin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Imanari backwards.
Collin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Imanari has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Collin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Collin wants to get back to striking at distance but Imanari won't allow it.
Collin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Collin tries to work over Imanari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Collin lands an uppercut.
Collin tries to work over Imanari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Collin misses with a body punch.
Collin struggles to land a body shot inside as Imanari controls his hands.

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 Yoshihiro Imanari.
Well Imanari has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yoshihiro Imanari!
Yoshihiro Imanari took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best 160 for their support in the buildup to the fight.