PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kanji Inoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willy Fistur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fistur has chosen FATE as his entrance music. Willy Fistur will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Inoki
vs
Fistur

186 cm
27
232 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

201 cm
27
285 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kanji Inoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Willy Fistur!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Inoki avoids the head kick by Fistur.
Fistur pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Inoki feints and as Fistur raises his hands in defense, Inoki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Inoki is pushing down on Fistur's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fistur is fighting to maintain full guard but Inoki has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fistur won't allow Inoki to pass to mount.
Fistur is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Fistur wants to get back to full guard.

Inoki is looking for submissions but instead, Fistur has regained full guard.
Inoki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fistur is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Inoki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Fistur looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Fistur looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Fistur!
Fistur really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Inoki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Inoki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A lull in the action here as Fistur stalls from top position.
Inoki tries to bench press Fistur off him but Fistur keeps the position.
Inoki is letting Fistur control him for a moment.
Inoki is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fistur controlling from side mount.
Inoki tries to bench press Fistur off him but Fistur keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Fistur stalls from top position.
Inoki is looking to reverse the position.
Fistur is staying tight to Inoki's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Willy Fistur has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Fistur digs a good hook to Inoki's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoki avoids the head kick by Fistur.
A head kick misses from Fistur.
Inoki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Inoki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fistur.

Inoki shoots in and gets a takedown into Fistur's guard.
Inoki pushing down on Fistur's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Inoki seems to be working for a kimura but Fistur defends the submission attempt.

Inoki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Fistur sees it coming and defends easily.
Fistur is controlling Inoki's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fistur is trying to get back to full guard.

Fistur is defending against the submission attempts here by Inoki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fistur trying to control but Inoki postures up.

Inoki is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Inoki prevents Fistur from improving his position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Inoki is pressing down on Fistur's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fistur is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fistur is looking to improve his position.
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 Kanji Inoki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fistur misses with a wild combination.
Fistur misses the shot to the body.
Fistur misses with an uppercut.
Inoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fistur's waist but Fistur gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Inoki off to one side.
Inoki shoots in for a takedown but Fistur shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Inoki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fistur counters with a body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kanji Inoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fistur stuffs the takedown attempt from Inoki. Inoki gets slowly back to his feet.
Inoki avoids a kick to the body.
Inoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fistur is fending him off so far but Inoki persists. Nope, Fistur circles away and we're back to standing.
Inoki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fistur defends it nicely.

Inoki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fistur is trying to defend but Inoki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Fistur is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Inoki is trying to work for a kimura but Fistur is defending well.

Inoki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Inoki is trying to work for a kimura but Fistur is defending well.
Inoki is pressing down on Fistur's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fistur is holding on for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fistur can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fistur is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Inoki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Inoki's back!
Inoki tries to roll but Fistur sticks to his back.
Fistur controlling the position well here. Inoki rolled but Fistur kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Fistur struggling to keep hold of the position.
Fistur is trying to stick to Inoki's back but Inoki is turning into Fistur. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Fistur's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Inoki.
Inoki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Inoki stopping the sweep attempt from Fistur.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoki is looking to improve his position.
Inoki is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Fistur jumps into side control!
Inoki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Inoki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Inoki.
Fistur engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Inoki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fistur defends well.

Inoki isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fistur stacks Inoki on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Fistur!
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Inoki here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoki gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Inoki wants to improve his position but Fistur is controlling well.

Inoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fistur perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Inoki looking for submissions off his back.
Inoki wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanji Inoki 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!

Fistur fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fistur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fistur misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fistur has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Inoki is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Fistur pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fistur throws a right and a left that Inoki avoids nicely.
Inoki shoots in for a double leg but Fistur sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Willy Fistur seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Inoki blocks a head kick by Fistur.
Fistur shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Inoki eats them both and turns towards Fistur to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Kanji Inoki has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fistur throws a sloppy head kick and Inoki moves out of range easily.
Fistur throws a right hand that Inoki ducks under and follows up with a left that Inoki also avoids with ease.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Fistur.
Fistur throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Inoki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fistur on his heels. He'll look to pass Fistur's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Inoki is looking to pass into half guard but Fistur pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Fistur is in guard.

Fistur got a little sloppy there for a moment and Inoki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fistur has managed to get both his arms back between Inoki's legs - danger averted.

Inoki is looking for a triangle here but Fistur uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fistur controlling the position from side mount.
Inoki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Inoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Inoki moves into full guard.
Inoki wants to sweep but no luck.
Inoki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fistur controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Inoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Inoki looking for subs off his back but Fistur has passed one foot through into half guard.
Fistur prevents Inoki from improving his position.
Fistur trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Inoki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Inoki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Inoki tries to get to full guard but Fistur has control of the leg.
Fistur content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoki tries to get to full guard but Fistur has control of the leg.
Inoki is working hard here to advance position.
Fistur trying to control from half guard but Inoki is working away.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Willy Fistur wasn't active enough on the ground.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Fistur.
Inoki blocks a head kick by Fistur.
Fistur connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fistur throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Inoki.

Kanji Inoki's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Inoki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fistur's waist but Fistur gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Inoki off to one side.
Fistur scores with a push kick.
Fistur lands a brutal head kick. Inoki looks out on his feet and Fistur throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Willy Fistur!
After winning the bout, Willy Fistur thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.