PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Illias Illiadis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shunsui Kyoraku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Illiadis
vs
Kyoraku

178 cm
26
185 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
186 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Illias Illiadis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsui Kyoraku!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illiadis throws a body shot but no joy.
Illiadis digs a good body shot into Kyoraku's ribs.
Kyoraku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Illiadis moves away.
Kyoraku misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Illiadis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Illiadis.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Illiadis is pushing down on Kyoraku's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kyoraku is fighting to maintain full guard but Illiadis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Illiadis is looking to pass Kyoraku's guard but actually Kyoraku recovers to full guard.
Kyoraku keeping moving, preventing Illiadis from controlling successfully.
Kyoraku pulls Illiadis in close to prevent any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kyoraku not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Illiadis trying to control the position from guard on top but Kyoraku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Illiadis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyoraku pulls Illiadis in close to his closed guard and prevents Illiadis from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kyoraku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kyoraku takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kyoraku takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kyoraku dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Illiadis. That did some damage!
Illiadis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kyoraku manages to avoid it.
Illiadis swings for the body but Kyoraku moves out of range.
Kyoraku looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Illiadis ducks under a wild hook from Kyoraku.
A jab from Illiadis misses.
Shunsui Kyoraku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Illiadis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis is looking to clinch.
Illiadis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kyoraku throws a series of punches but Illiadis moves out of range.
Kyoraku throws a body punch but Illiadis moves out of range.
Illiadis scores with a hook to the body. Kyoraku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab, jab by Illiadis - just one landing.
Illias Illiadis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kyoraku throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kyoraku throws a hook but Illiadis blocks it.
Kyoraku throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kyoraku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Illiadis dives in and scores a takedown into Kyoraku's guard.
Kyoraku keeping full guard, as Illiadis tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Illiadis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Illiadis looking to sit in guard and control but Kyoraku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Illiadis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Illiadis is looking for a triangle but Kyoraku pushes his legs off easily.

Illiadis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kyoraku wants to get up but he can't break Illiadis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kyoraku trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kyoraku avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Illiadis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kyoraku doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kyoraku manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Illiadis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kyoraku wants to pass the guard but Illiadis is keeping the position.
Kyoraku keeps trying to improve his position.
Illiadis seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Illiadis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kyoraku trying to control the position from guard on top but Illiadis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Illias Illiadis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Illiadis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kyoraku moves away.
Kyoraku misses with a head kick.
Illiadis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Illiadis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kyoraku.
Illiadis shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kyoraku as he avoids it easily.
Illiadis throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kyoraku fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Illiadis shoots for a takedown but Kyoraku saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Illiadis misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Illiadis. Kyoraku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Illias Illiadis is winning the standup battle so far.
Illiadis scores with a leg kick.
Illiadis looks to score with a jab to the body but Kyoraku is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyoraku connects with an inside leg kick.
Kyoraku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Illiadis.
Kyoraku throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Illiadis stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Illiadis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kyoraku defends well and Illiadis ends up having to push Kyoraku into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Illias Illiadis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kyoraku blocks an uppercut.
Kyoraku lands an uppercut.
Illiadis misses with a body punch.
Kyoraku keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Illiadis's efforts to push away.
Illiadis jumps guard but Kyoraku turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nice body punch from Illiadis - that landed with a thud.
Kyoraku struggles to land a body shot inside as Illiadis controls his hands.
Kyoraku can't find room to land a body shot as Illiadis controls the action.
Illiadis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Illiadis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kyoraku looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis working aggressively here.
Kyoraku tries to throw a body punch but Illiadis avoids it by throwing Kyoraku back against the cage.
Kyoraku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Illiadis throws a punch but it's blocked by Kyoraku.
Illiadis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kyoraku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
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!
Illiadis is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Illiadis takes a swing at Kyoraku's ribcage but misses.
Illiadis connects with a crisp jab.
Kyoraku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kyoraku tests Illiadis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
That kick from Illiadis tenderised Kyoraku's leg. Kyoraku is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kyoraku throws a right hand that Illiadis ducks under and follows up with a left that Illiadis also avoids with ease.
Illiadis throws a low kick but Kyoraku moves out of range easily.

Illiadis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Illiadis wants to pass to mount but Kyoraku is defending the position.
Kyoraku is looking to improve his position.
Kyoraku wants to control but Illiadis is keeping busy.
Kyoraku tries to roll over but Illiadis keeps him under control.
Kyoraku is trying to maintain the position but Illiadis is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Illiadis is working for a submission of some sort.
Illiadis wants to control but Kyoraku is keeping him busy.
Kyoraku wants to control but Illiadis is keeping busy.
Kyoraku is refusing to be controlled, as Illiadis sits in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Illiadis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kyoraku doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Illiadis.
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 Illias Illiadis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kyoraku keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kyoraku scores with a leg kick.
Kyoraku feints and then cracks Illiadis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Illiadis down.
Illiadis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A swing and a miss from Illiadis.
Kyoraku tests Illiadis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Illiadis checks a low kick from Kyoraku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Illiadis misses with a low kick.
Kyoraku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kyoraku throws a leg kick but Illiadis sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Illiadis tries to clinch but Kyoraku moves out of range.
Illiadis fails with the takedown.
Illiadis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kyoraku was well out of range. Poor timing from Illiadis.
Illiadis connects with an inside leg kick.
Illiadis lands a jab to Kyoraku's midsection.
Kyoraku rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Illiadis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kyoraku takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kyoraku tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Kyoraku.
Kyoraku lands a nice looking body shot.
Illiadis buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Illiadis misses with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kyoraku tries to clinch up.
Illiadis just misses with a punch to the body.
Kyoraku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Illiadis lands with a hook. Kyoraku tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Illiadis is looking to clinch.
Illiadis is looking to wear down Kyoraku with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kyoraku takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kyoraku throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kyoraku staying out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kyoraku checks a leg kick.
Illiadis throws a body shot but no joy.
Illiadis wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Illiadis looking to score a takedown here. Kyoraku is defending well but Illiadis drives through and ends up in Kyoraku's guard.
Illiadis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kyoraku swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kyoraku trying to control the position here.
Kyoraku's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Illiadis trying to control but Kyoraku is working from the bottom.
Illias Illiadis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illiadis controlling from the top position.
Shunsui Kyoraku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Shunsui Kyoraku wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sloppy strikes from Kyoraku. Those never looked like landing.
Kyoraku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Illiadis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Illiadis fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Illias Illiadis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Illiadis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Illiadis is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kyoraku.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shunsui Kyoraku.
I think Illiadis 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Illias Illiadis!
Illias Illiadis seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.