PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ishikawa Goemon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronuel Natividad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goemon comes to the ring accompanied by The Beginning is the End. Natividad comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Hero kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ishikawa Goemon has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Goemon
vs
Natividad

173 cm
21
147 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ishikawa Goemon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ronuel Natividad!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goemon throws a lazy uppercut
and Natividad counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Natividad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Goemon throws a lazy right hand but Natividad sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Natividad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Goemon.
A slow jab from Goemon misses its intended target.
Natividad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Natividad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goemon lands a right hook to the body.
Goemon thuds his right hand into Natividad's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Natividad avoids the body shot from Goemon.
Goemon misses with a body shot.
Goemon throws an off balance right hand
and Natividad counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Natividad closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Goemon to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goemon stuns Natividad with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Natividad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ishikawa Goemon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Goemon ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Natividad has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A slow jab from Goemon misses its intended target.
Goemon misses with a straight right.
Natividad moves out of range of the strikes.
Goemon misses with an uppercut.
Goemon tries to bum rush Natividad with a series of wild strikes but Natividad uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Goemon lands with a straight right. Natividad didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goemon throws the left hand but Natividad avoids the punch easily.
Goemon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Natividad manages to avoid it.

Goemon gets caught napping as Natividad dives in and scores a takedown. Goemon manages to retain guard.
Natividad advances position into side control!
Goemon is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Goemon can't do much from the bottom here.

Natividad decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Natividad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Goemon.
Goemon looks to score with a jab to the body but Natividad is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natividad ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Natividad wants to clinch but Goemon slips to the side
and Goemon counters with a stiff right hand.
Goemon throws out a powerful jab.
Goemon misses with a double jab.
Goemon misses with a hook. Natividad ducked under it nicely.
Goemon is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Goemon misses with a straight right.
Goemon throws a lazy uppercut
and Natividad counters with a slapping leg kick.
Natividad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Natividad moves away from the strike by Goemon.
Goemon fails to land with a series of punches.
Goemon missing with a left hand there. Natividad was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Goemon throws an off balance right hand
and Natividad makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Goemon really felt that one!
Goemon is breathing heavily.
Goemon scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Natividad slips a jab and a cross from Goemon.
Goemon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Natividad sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Natividad has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Natividad there as he acknowledges the shot.
Natividad tries to clinch up but Goemon circles away and keeps his distance.
Goemon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Natividad wants to clinch up but Goemon keeps it at a distance.
Ishikawa Goemon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Goemon misses with an uppercut. Natividad saw that one coming.
Goemon throws a right hand that misses

and Natividad counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Goemon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Natividad is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Goemon to keep the fight standing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Natividad blocks a body shot from Goemon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishikawa Goemon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Natividad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Goemon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Natividad takes a jab right on the kisser.
Goemon thows a body shot but no joy.
Goemon slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Goemon scores with a jab. Natividad acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ronuel Natividad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from Goemon. Natividad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Goemon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Natividad.
Goemon moves into range and connects with a jab.
Goemon misses with a looping left.
Goemon misses the shot to the body.
Natividad steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goemon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natividad takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Natividad staying out of range there.
Goemon throws the left hand but Natividad avoids the punch easily.
Goemon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Natividad moves out of range as Goemon strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slow jab from Goemon misses its intended target.
Natividad takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Goemon misses with a wild body shot.
Goemon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Goemon with a nice cross.
Goemon misses with a lunging right hand

so Natividad counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Natividad pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Goemon is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goemon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Natividad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Natividad slips nicely into half guard.
Goemon wants to improve his position but Natividad is controlling well.
Goemon is controlling Natividad's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Goemon wants to improve his position but Natividad is controlling well.

Natividad is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Goemon is just riding it out for now. Natividad eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goemon slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Natividad working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Goemon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Natividad on the ground.
Goemon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Goemon keeping moving, preventing Natividad from controlling successfully.
Natividad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Goemon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Goemon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goemon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A lazy left from Goemon finds it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Goemon misses the target.

Natividad rushes Goemon and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Natividad makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goemon prevents the takedown attempt.
Goemon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Goemon working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishikawa Goemon dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Goemon fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Natividad on the side of the head.
Left hook, right uppercut from Goemon.
Goemon cracks Natividad with a right hand to the side of the head.
Natividad takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Goemon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Natividad moves away.
Goemon misses with a lunging right hand
and Natividad counters with a nice leg kick.
Natividad slips a straight right by Goemon.
Natividad staying out of range there.
Goemon misses with an uppercut
and Natividad counters with a low kick, right behind Goemon 's knee.
Goemon scores with the left hand. Natividad knows he should have avoided that one.
Goemon throws a hook to the side of Natividad's head but Natividad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Natividad displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Goemon throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goemon misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Goemon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Natividad.
Goemon missing with a left hand there. Natividad was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Goemon throws a poor cross that misses
and Goemon takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Natividad shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Goemon's guard.
Natividad being controlled here momentarily.
Goemon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Goemon tries to get out of the position.
Natividad working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Natividad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Natividad trying to control but Goemon is working from the bottom.

Natividad stands and steps away. Goemon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ishikawa Goemon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goemon fails to land with a series of punches.
Goemon works Natividad's body with a nice hook.
Goemon throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Goemon throws a lazy uppercut
and Natividad counters with a thumping low kick.
Goemon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Goemon throws a nice looking combination but Natividad bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Natividad tries to clinch there but Goemon circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Natividad moves out of range as Goemon strikes.
Goemon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Goemon throws a body punch but Natividad moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natividad slips a straight right by Goemon.
Goemon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Natividad to counter with a crisp jab.
Natividad is looking to clinch but Goemon is avoiding it.
Goemon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Natividad closes this distance looking for a takedown but Goemon circles away.
Natividad wants to clinch.
Natividad staying out of range there.
Goemon throws a right hand that Natividad ducks under and follows up with a left that Natividad also avoids with ease.
Goemon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Natividad ducks under a wild hook from Goemon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Goemon misses.
Natividad shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from Goemon does no damage.
Goemon throws a hook but Natividad avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Goemon. Natividad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Goemon keeps the fight on the outside.
Natividad moves away from the strike by Goemon.
Natividad shoots in looking for a takedown but Goemon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Natividad's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ishikawa Goemon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronuel Natividad.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Goemon misses the target.
Goemon jabs Natividad right on the nose. Natividad blinks but takes it well.
Ronuel Natividad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Goemon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Natividad counters with a flying knee. Nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ishikawa Goemon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Goemon, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ishikawa Goemon!
Ishikawa Goemon decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.