PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dick Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippon Makanouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Russell
vs
Makanouchi

217 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dick Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ippon Makanouchi!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Makanouchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Russell has closed the distance and engaged Makanouchi in a clinch.
Russell is trying to break the clinch but Makanouchi is controlling him.

Makanouchi has Russell pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Makanouchi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Russell tumbling to the mat - Makanouchi dives into Russell's guard.

Makanouchi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Russell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Russell has escaped and now he's on top!

Russell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Makanouchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makanouchi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Makanouchi wants to get back to his feet but Russell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russell gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makanouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Makanouchi drives through with a takedown into guard.

Russell pushes Makanouchi off and gets back to his feet.

Russell clinches.
Russell tries to pull guard but Makanouchi won't allow it.
Russell jumps guard but Makanouchi stands there with Russell around his waist. Russell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Makanouchi misses with a punch to the body.
Russell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Makanouchi walks away with a smile on his face. Russell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russell tries to clinch but Makanouchi moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Makanouchi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Russell looks to clinch
and Makanouchi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russell tries to clinch up but Makanouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Makanouchi tries to land a front kick but Russell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Russell blocks the body kick.
Makanouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ippon Makanouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Makanouchi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Makanouchi is pressed up against the cage. Russell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Makanouchi down to the mat. Makanouchi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Makanouchi has closed the distance and engaged Russell in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Makanouchi breaks from the clinch.
Makanouchi leaves Russell with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Makanouchi gets a double leg takedown into Russell's guard.
Russell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makanouchi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makanouchi preventing the sweep.
Russell seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Makanouchi is pushing down on Russell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Russell is fighting to maintain full guard but Makanouchi has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Makanouchi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Russell sees it coming and defends easily.
Makanouchi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Makanouchi controlling the action here.
Makanouchi is looking to take a break and control but Russell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippon Makanouchi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Russell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Makanouchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Russell moves in looking to clinch but Makanouchi pushes him off.
Russell fails to land the takedown.

Makanouchi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Makanouchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Makanouchi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Makanouchi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Russell looking for a sweep. Not yet Russell, not yet.
Russell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Makanouchi on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell keeping full guard, as Makanouchi tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makanouchi sitting in guard here, content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Makanouchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Makanouchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Russell gets tackled into the cage by Makanouchi. Makanouchi maintains the clinch.

Makanouchi pulls guard.
Makanouchi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Makanouchi is trying to control the action in half guard but Russell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell gets full guard.
Makanouchi is pushing down on Russell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Russell is fighting to maintain full guard but Makanouchi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Makanouchi wants to pass to mount but Russell is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makanouchi throwing shots but Russell is blocking nicely.
Makanouchi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Russell is trying to stand back up but Makanouchi is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makanouchi wants to stand up but Russell is controlling the position.
Makanouchi uses his free foot to push down on Russell's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Russell.
Makanouchi tries to control but Russell wriggling away.
Makanouchi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makanouchi controlling from the full mount.
Makanouchi avoids the attempt from Russell to control.
Russell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Makanouchi trying to control but Russell is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makanouchi looking to ground and pound but Russell is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippon Makanouchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Makanouchi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Russell is rocked!
Makanouchi wants to get back to his feet.
Oh Russell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Russell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Makanouchi scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makanouchi works his way into side control.
Makanouchi just content to control the position.

Makanouchi is working to tighten his grip on Russell's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Russell has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Makanouchi is really squeezing tight and eventually Russell passes out! Makanouchi breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ippon Makanouchi!