PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kazunori Ishii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishii comes to the cage accompanied by Imagine Dragons - Radioactive . Marciano has chosen Wu-Tang - as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ishii
vs
Marciano

176 cm
34
165 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

180 cm
42
163 lbs
43 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Tokyo United Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kazunori Ishii!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocky Marciano!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishii swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And Marciano tries to counter it with a takedown but Ishii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Marciano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ishii pinned against the cage. Ishii gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ishii throws a right and a left that Marciano avoids nicely.
Some bone on bone action there as Marciano checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ishii looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marciano throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ishii throws a hook to the side of Marciano's head but Marciano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ishii moves out of range as Marciano strikes.
It looked like Ishii was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Marciano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ishii.
Marciano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ishii's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ishii duly obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii misses with a looping right.
Marciano drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ishii defends it well.
Ishii ducks under a wild hook from Marciano.
Ishii throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marciano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ishii throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marciano throws a body shot but no joy.
Ishii misses with a low kick.
Ishii throws a leg kick which misses Marciano's front leg but catches the back leg as Marciano tries to avoid it.
Ishii is looking to slow Marciano down with leg kicks.
Marciano looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Marciano. Ishii shrugs it off though.
Ishii misses with the combination.
Ishii pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ishii.
Ishii misses with a looping left.
A punch combination from Ishii misses.
A punch combination from Ishii misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Ishii.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ishii moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marciano missing with a left hand there. Ishii was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marciano slips under a jab from Ishii.
Marciano throws a leg kick but Ishii moved away.
Ishii throws a series of punches but Marciano avoids them all with ease.
Marciano blocks a low kick nicely.
Marciano drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ishii defends it well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Marciano checks a leg kick.
Kazunori Ishii is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ishii darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Marciano moves out of range of the strikes.
Ishii throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Marciano.
Marciano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ishii.
Marciano checks a leg kick.
Ishii will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marciano clobbers Ishii with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ishii avoids the body shot from Marciano.
Ishii swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ishii fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marciano manages to avoid it.
Marciano lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Marciano.
Ishii throws a lazy right hand but Marciano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ishii is looking to slow Marciano down with leg kicks.
Ishii tries a low kick but Marciano avoids it.
Ishii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marciano.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ishii looks to land a left hand but Marciano moved out of range nicely.
Ishii tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ishii will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ishii takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Marciano misses with a hook. Ishii ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Ishii misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Ishii dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ishii throws a hook but Marciano avoids it easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Marciano.
Marciano misses the shot to the body.
Marciano fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ishii is out of range.
Ishii half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ishii tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Marciano is predictable there
and Ishii counters with a slapping leg kick.
Marciano checks a leg kick nicely.
Marciano with the counter takedown but Ishii avoids it easily.
Ishii with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marciano throws a poor cross that misses
and Ishii counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ishii dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Marciano. That did some damage!
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Marciano might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ishii has got the better of the exchanges.
Marciano throws a lazy right hand but Ishii sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A quick step to the side and Ishii tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ishii motions for Marciano to come forward. Ishii throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Marciano's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii throws a hook but Marciano blocks it.
Marciano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ishii moves away.

Ishii closes the distance and clinches.

Marciano breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Ishii.
Marciano throws a jab when Ishii was well out of range.
Ishii takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ishii bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marciano's head.
Ishii throws a low kick but it's checked well by Marciano.
And Marciano tries to counter it with a takedown but Ishii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Marciano on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ishii throws a body shot but no joy.
Marciano feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Ishii lands.
Ishii throws a series of punches but Marciano moves out of range.
And Marciano tries to counter it with a takedown but Ishii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Marciano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ishii lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ishii is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marciano can do to turn this around?
Nice cross by Ishii.
Marciano throws a leg kick but Ishii sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ishii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ishii misses with a body shot.
Marciano drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ishii throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ishii buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishii attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Marciano tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Marciano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Marciano walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ishii checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ishii chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Marciano blocks a low kick nicely.
Marciano is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Marciano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ishii was well out of range. Poor timing from Marciano.
A good leg kick by Ishii.
Ishii lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Marciano at a distance.
Ishii misses with a lunging right hand

and Marciano counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ishii wants to sweep but no luck.
Marciano trying to control the position from guard on top but Ishii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marciano wants to pass the guard but Ishii is keeping the position.
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.
Marciano looking to sit in guard and control but Ishii gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ishii looking to pass the guard.
Ishii is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Marciano controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Ishii dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marciano shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ishii keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ishii looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ishii trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marciano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishii defending well though.
Marciano uses his free foot to push down on Ishii's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ishii.
Marciano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii wants to hold on but Marciano pushes him away.
Marciano putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ishii wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Marciano.
Marciano looking to finish with strikes here!
Ishii is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at War Hogs Academy, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Marciano scoring with strikes but Ishii is staying in there.
Marciano thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Marciano lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marciano is landing with some decent strikes but Ishii is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Marciano fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ishii tries to lock up and control but Marciano gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marciano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Marciano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marciano landing strikes, looking to finish!
Marciano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marciano pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Marciano sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Marciano scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Marciano looking to ground and pound but Ishii is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishii is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ishii wants to control but Marciano is having none of it.
Marciano landing punches.
Marciano wants to control the pace but Ishii is squirming around nicely.
Marciano looking to ground and pound but Ishii is blocking nicely.
Marciano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Marciano swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ishii is now in Marciano's guard. A big mistake from Marciano there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marciano managing to control the position.
Ishii wants to stand but Marciano is controlling his posture from full guard.
Marciano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marciano seems keen to control Ishii's posture.
Marciano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Marciano really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Marciano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ishii manages to avoid it.
Ishii misses with a few strikes there.
A leg kick checked by Marciano.
Ishii uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ishii throws a leg kick but Marciano sees it coming and moves out of range.
Marciano drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ishii defends it well.
Ishii throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marciano.
Ishii throws a combination. Marciano tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ishii throws a series of punches but Marciano moves out of range.
Ishii throws a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Marciano.
Ishii throws a hook but Marciano blocks it.
Marciano drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ishii defends it well.
Kazunori Ishii is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishii misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Marciano misses its intended target.
Ishii connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kazunori Ishii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Marciano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ishii is not content to let Marciano control the position.
Marciano lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Marciano lands some shots froms side control.
Marciano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ishii keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano lands an elbow.

Marciano has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Ishii is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Marciano yanks on the arm and Ishii is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Marciano.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rocky Marciano!
Rocky Marciano is the new lightweight champion!
Rocky Marciano decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.