PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ran Sakamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinji Ikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sakamoto
vs
Ikari

173 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ran Sakamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinji Ikari!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ikari misses with a series of wild punches.
Sakamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Ikari circles away.
Ikari's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ikari duly obliges.
Sakamoto wants to clinch up but Ikari keeps it at a distance.
Ikari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Sakamoto dodges the punch combination from Ikari.

Ikari clinches up against the cage.
Ikari wants to break free but Sakamoto has control.

Ikari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakamoto moves in looking to clinch but Ikari pushes him off.
Ikari lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sakamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ikari is fending him off so far but Sakamoto persists. Nope, Ikari circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakamoto tries for a takedown but Ikari sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ikari scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ikari throws a right hand that Sakamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakamoto also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikari scores with a head kick.
Ikari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ikari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sakamoto tries to clinch there but Ikari circles away.
Ikari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ikari throws a sloppy head kick and Sakamoto moves out of range easily.
Shinji Ikari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ikari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ikari tries to work over Sakamoto's front leg with a kick but Sakamoto checks it.

Ikari fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sakamoto, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakamoto avoiding damage as Ikari throws knees to the body.
Ikari creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ikari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ikari landing knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ikari.
Ikari tries to land knees in the clinch but Sakamoto avoids the damage to the body.

Ikari breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikari throws a series of punches but Sakamoto moves out of range.

Sakamoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ikari, pushing him back against the cage.
Sakamoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ikari misses with an elbow strike.
Sakamoto managing to block the knees to the body from Ikari.
Ikari trying to land knees to the body.
Ikari looks gassed!
Ikari misses with a knee strike.

Sakamoto jumps into guard, dragging Ikari to the mat.

Sakamoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ikari doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ikari manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ikari stands up and waves to Sakamoto to follow him.
Ikari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakamoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakamoto looks for a takedown but Ikari sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakamoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No joy there for Ikari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Ikari as Sakamoto shoots in.
Ikari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horrible takedown by Sakamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Ikari which made him look bad.
Sakamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sakamoto shoots for a takedown but Ikari saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ikari lands a head kick!
Ikari fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sakamoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ikari swivels and escapes.
Ikari misses with the combination.

Ikari moves into range and clinches up with Sakamoto.
Sakamoto takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ikari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ikari misses with an elbow over the top.
Ikari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Sakamoto has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ikari uses from the top position.

Sakamoto has his foot on Ikari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ikari works his way back into a safe position though.

Sakamoto is looking for a triangle but Ikari pushes his legs off easily.

Sakamoto is working an open guard so Ikari takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ikari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ikari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakamoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ikari misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sakamoto shoots in looking for a takedown. Ikari tries to sprawl out of it but Sakamoto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ikari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ikari throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ikari has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ikari throws an elbow that misses.
Ikari missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikari tries to land a knee to the head but Sakamoto blocks with his arms.
Ikari trying to land knees to the body.
Ikari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ikari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sakamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Ikari can't break the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ikari just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakamoto's brow.
Sakamoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sakamoto wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ran Sakamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ikari is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sakamoto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ikari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sakamoto successfully pulls guard.

Sakamoto is looking for a triangle but Ikari pushes his legs off easily.
Ikari wants to get up but he can't break Sakamoto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ikari gets to his feet - Sakamoto follows without any prompting.
Ikari tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sakamoto counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sakamoto tries for a kimura but Ikari is defending well.

Sakamoto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ikari is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sakamoto has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Sakamoto advances to mount.
Ikari is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Sakamoto looking for a guillotine from mount but Ikari is having none of it.

Sakamoto has hold of Ikari's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ikari manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikari is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Sakamoto moves to the back position.
Ikari looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Sakamoto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ikari has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ikari has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Sakamoto working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ikari is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikari clinches but Sakamoto breaks the clinch

and Sakamoto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sakamoto.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ikari uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Ikari throws a sloppy head kick and Sakamoto moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ikari throws an elbow but it misses.
Sakamoto controlling the action here for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ikari trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sakamoto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ikari just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ikari misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ran Sakamoto dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ikari tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by Sakamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Ikari which made him look bad.
Ikari tries to clinch but Sakamoto moves out of range.
Ikari looks to clinch

and Sakamoto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ikari's guard.
Ikari keeping full guard, as Sakamoto tries to pass.
Ikari wants to stand but Sakamoto is controlling the position.

Sakamoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ikari wriggles free and stands up.

Ikari has managed to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikari missing with knees to the body.
Sakamoto keeps control of Ikari as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sakamoto pulls guard successfully.
Ikari wants to stand but Sakamoto is controlling his posture from full guard.

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

Sakamoto is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ikari has his hands clasped together but Sakamoto extends an breaks Ikari's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Sakamoto.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ran Sakamoto!