PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Imanari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Colt McLaren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Imanari
vs
McLaren

172 cm
28
165 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
165 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware
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 15 - 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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Colt McLaren!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imanari takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Imanari circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imanari. McLaren does a little dance to reset his feet.
McLaren has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
McLaren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imanari manages to avoid it.
McLaren throws a leg kick but Imanari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McLaren misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McLaren connects with an inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Imanari misses.
Imanari tries to clinch but McLaren is having none of it.
An inside leg kick lands from McLaren.
McLaren throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Imanari has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
McLaren tries to clinch but Imanari moves out of range.
Imanari connects with a body shot that sends McLaren's belly button to the back.

Imanari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Imanari lands in his opponent's guard.
Imanari in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McLaren is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Imanari defends well.
Imanari trying to control but McLaren is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Imanari accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McLaren controlling the position.
Imanari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

McLaren has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Imanari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Imanari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McLaren swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McLaren bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Imanari's guard.
Imanari lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McLaren!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McLaren is looking to escape.
Imanari lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McLaren really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Imanari.
Imanari lands a nice shot to the head.

Imanari goes for an armbar but McLaren turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from McLaren.
Imanari looking for a sweep. Not yet Imanari, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaren stands and throws Imanari's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Imanari tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imanari managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McLaren.
McLaren in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Imanari is looking for a sweep.
Imanari can't do much from the bottom here.
McLaren wants to control but Imanari is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLaren with the ground and pound but Imanari regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Imanari trying to control but McLaren postures up.
McLaren looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Imanari avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McLaren.
McLaren missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. McLaren lands a nice short elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice strikes from McLaren there.
Imanari avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McLaren.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yoshihiro Imanari will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McLaren looks to land a body kick but Imanari moved away.
McLaren avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! McLaren crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Imanari - the referee stops the clock and McLaren gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Imanari. McLaren manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McLaren throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from McLaren. Imanari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Imanari checks a leg kick nicely.
McLaren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Imanari paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Imanari scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McLaren works Imanari's body with a nice hook.

McLaren shoots in and bounces Imanari off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
McLaren scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McLaren.
Imanari keeping moving, preventing McLaren from controlling successfully.
Imanari is adopting a defensive guard.
McLaren must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McLaren throws a big elbow that misses.
McLaren controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McLaren's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanari bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McLaren's guard.
McLaren keeping moving, preventing Imanari from controlling successfully.
McLaren wants to sweep here but Imanari controlling him for the moment.
McLaren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Imanari is stalling in the full guard.

McLaren is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Imanari is aware though and is defending well.
Imanari sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McLaren's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Imanari seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McLaren does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Imanari not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Imanari wants to control but McLaren is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLaren is in trouble now - Imanari has advanced to mount!
Imanari raining down shots from the mount!
Imanari fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Imanari lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Imanari connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Imanari raining down shots from the mount!
McLaren bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Imanari has his hands on McLaren's head, controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McLaren throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari trying to control the position here.
Imanari 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.
McLaren wants to control from the top but Imanari keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanari wants to stand but McLaren is controlling the position.
Yoshihiro Imanari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Imanari avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshihiro Imanari dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

McLaren wants to clinch.
Imanari misses the shot to the body.
McLaren lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Imanari circles away quickly and effectively.
McLaren lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaren misses with a low kick.
McLaren slips a jab and a cross from Imanari.
McLaren lands a high kick!
McLaren throws a series of punches but Imanari avoids them all with ease.
Imanari looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Imanari changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McLaren tries to avoid it but Imanari manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McLaren to the ground. McLaren escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Colt McLaren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLaren lands a jab to Imanari's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from McLaren misses.
McLaren takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McLaren misses with an uppercut
and Imanari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Imanari misses with a head kick.
McLaren throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Imanari.
Colt McLaren seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Imanari.
Imanari looks to throw the jab but McLaren is out of range.
McLaren throws out a leg kick but Imanari moves out of range and McLaren only half commits.
McLaren slips a jab from Imanari.
Nice defenses there by Imanari.
A slapping leg kick lands for McLaren.
McLaren tries to clinch but Imanari moves out of range.
Colt McLaren has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLaren throws a head kick but Imanari moves out of range.
Imanari moves into range and connects with a jab.
McLaren lands with a kick to the temple. Imanari shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McLaren tries to work over Imanari's front leg with a kick but Imanari checks it.
Imanari fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshihiro Imanari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Imanari lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
McLaren misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Imanari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imanari tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McLaren manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McLaren misses with a kick to the body.
McLaren dives in for a single leg takedown but Imanari sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Imanari tries to break the clinch but McLaren is controlling the position.
McLaren tries to work over Imanari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Imanari.
McLaren is looking for a takedown.
Imanari is pressed up against the cage. McLaren has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Imanari down to the mat. Imanari avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
McLaren throws a sloppy head kick and Imanari moves out of range easily.
Yoshihiro Imanari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Imanari cracks McLaren with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Imanari scores with a punch to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Imanari. Those never looked like landing.
Imanari throws a nice outside leg kick.
Imanari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Imanari thuds his right hand into McLaren's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McLaren jabs Imanari to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McLaren tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McLaren.
McLaren has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Imanari.
McLaren throws a head kick that misses
and Imanari counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Imanari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McLaren throws a head kick that misses
and Imanari counters with a nice uppercut.
McLaren chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A combination from Imanari does no damage.
Yoshihiro Imanari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from McLaren misses

and Imanari counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Imanari trying to control the position from guard on top but McLaren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Imanari is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McLaren had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Imanari defends it easily.

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 I reckon that's a shut out for Imanari, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yoshihiro Imanari!
An out of breath Yoshihiro Imanari thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.