PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakata Gintoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vasquez
vs
Gintoki

221 cm
21
214 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

175 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rick Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sakata Gintoki!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gintoki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gintoki changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vasquez shoots in for a double leg but Gintoki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vasquez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gintoki - the referee stops the clock and Vasquez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gintoki. Vasquez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Vasquez tries to clinch there but Gintoki circles away.

Gintoki looking to score a takedown here. Vasquez is defending well but Gintoki drives through and ends up in Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez controls Gintoki momentarily but Gintoki frees himself.
Gintoki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gintoki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasquez pulls Gintoki in close to his closed guard and prevents Gintoki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gintoki sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez working a defensive guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gintoki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gintoki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vasquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gintoki sprawls well. Gintoki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sakata Gintoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Gintoki moves into the clinch successfully.
Vasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gintoki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gintoki wants the takedown. Vasquez is fighting it off but Gintoki persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vasquez's guard against the cage.
Vasquez being controlled here, momentarily.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Gintoki from controlling successfully.
Vasquez pulls Gintoki in close to prevent any damage.
Gintoki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Gintoki from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasquez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Vasquez clinches with his opponent.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gintoki to keep the fight standing.

Gintoki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Vasquez being controlled for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gintoki wants to control but Vasquez is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
Gintoki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gintoki tries to move to mount but Vasquez blocks the move with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez tries to buck Gintoki off but Gintoki is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakata Gintoki dominated that 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.

Gintoki tries to keep at a distance but Vasquez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gintoki gets control of Vasquez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gintoki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sakata Gintoki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vasquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gintoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gintoki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vasquez stops Gintoki from standing up.
Vasquez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gintoki throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Vasquez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Vasquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasquez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Gintoki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Gintoki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Vasquez moves into the clinch.
Vasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gintoki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vasquez uses from the top position.
Vasquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Vasquez won't allow Gintoki to sweep him here.
Gintoki controls Vasquez momentarily but Vasquez frees himself.
Vasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Gintoki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gintoki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gintoki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasquez keeps working.
Vasquez is controlling Gintoki's trapped leg to prevent Gintoki from advancing to side control.

Vasquez kicks off Gintoki and gets to his feet.

Gintoki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vasquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasquez tries to escape but Gintoki is in control.
Vasquez is looking to reverse the position.
Gintoki throws a strike aimed at the side of Vasquez's head but Vasquez avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gintoki working away.
Vasquez is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Gintoki stands up and beckons Vasquez to his feet.
Gintoki is breathing heavily.
Vasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Gintoki.

Gintoki bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gintoki throws a strike aimed at the side of Vasquez's head but Vasquez avoids it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gintoki working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gintoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sakata Gintoki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Vasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Vasquez tries to clinch but Gintoki moves out of range.

Gintoki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gintoki throws a big right hand that misses.
Gintoki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vasquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gintoki defends it easily.
Gintoki tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasquez is retaining full guard.

Vasquez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gintoki uses it to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gintoki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vasquez's head.

Vasquez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gintoki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vasquez to the ground. Gintoki is now in Vasquez's guard.
Gintoki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gintoki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasquez is trying to keep Gintoki in close.
Vasquez wants to sweep here but Gintoki controlling him for the moment.
Gintoki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vasquez is trying to keep Gintoki in close.
Vasquez trying to control the position here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gintoki controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vasquez circles away from the clinch attempt.

Gintoki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gintoki trying to control the action but Vasquez is working from the bottom.
Vasquez tries to buck Gintoki off but Gintoki is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gintoki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vasquez, who protects the arm well.
Gintoki taking a breather here.
Vasquez struggling a bit here.
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Vasquez can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vasquez slips a jab and a cross from Gintoki.

Gintoki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vasquez to the ground. Gintoki is now in Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gintoki stops Vasquez from standing up.
Vasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rick Vasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sakata Gintoki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Vasquez looking for a guillotine here but Gintoki defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakata Gintoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gintoki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sakata Gintoki!