PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mariano Abel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shun Sugawara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Abel
vs
Sugawara

175 cm
20
159 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

172 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mariano Abel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shun Sugawara!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sugawara.

Abel lands a big head kick that sends Sugawara tumbling to the mat! Abel takes a step backwards and waves Sugawara back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Sugawara is rocked!

It looks like Shun Sugawara has been cut.
Sugawara throws a right and a left that Abel avoids nicely.

Sugawara scores with a takedown into Abel's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Abel keeping full guard, as Sugawara tries to pass.
Sugawara distracts Abel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sugawara makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sugawara works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sugawara seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Abel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sugawara scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sugawara is looking for a kimura but Abel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sugawara to get the leverage.
Abel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sugawara on the ground.
Sugawara throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Abel has hold of Sugawara's hands but Sugawara slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sugawara lands a nice short elbow.
Sugawara throwing shots but Abel is blocking nicely.
Sugawara takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sugawara looks to land a strike but Abel avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sugawara landing with the ground and pound.
Sugawara wants to control from the top but Abel keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara is looking to work some ground and pound but Abel has wrist control.
Abel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sugawara postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sugawara is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sugawara trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sugawara is looking to work some ground and pound but Abel has wrist control.
Sugawara with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sugawara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Abel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sugawara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sugawara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Abel is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sugawara misses with a body kick.
Abel thinks about countering with a head kick.
Abel takes one on the button.
A jab from Abel misses.
Sugawara throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Abel counters with a thumping low kick.
Abel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sugawara finds it's way round the side to connect with Abel's head.
Sugawara works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Sugawara shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sugawara is keen to just control but Abel is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara stops Abel from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sugawara in particular looking to stall.
Sugawara scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sugawara not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sugawara thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sugawara wants to take a breather but Abel is having none of it.
Abel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shun Sugawara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shun Sugawara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sugawara thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sugawara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sugawara gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Abel counters with a low kick, right behind Sugawara 's knee.
Abel throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sugawara.
Abel throws a front kick that sends Sugawara stumbling back into the cage.
Sugawara misses with a wild body shot.
As Sugawara looks to move away, Abel throws a big counter combo but Sugawara just gets out of the way.
Sugawara lands a jab to Abel's midsection.
Sugawara thows a left - swing and a miss!
Abel fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sugawara just manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sugawara avoids the head kick by Abel.
Sugawara is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Shun Sugawara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sugawara shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Abel defends it nicely.
We've been told by Abel's head coaches at Team Alfalfa Meal that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Mariano Abel is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abel checks a leg kick nicely.
An inside leg kick from Abel misses.
Sugawara misses with an attempted mid kick.
Abel just misses with a punch to the body.
Abel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sugawara tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Abel is able to avoid easily.
Sugawara scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sugawara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sugawara lands a nice hook to Abel's body. Abel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sugawara misses with a hook to the body
and Abel counters with a head kick.
Sugawara is still on wobbly legs! Can Abel finish him?
Abel blocks a jab.
Sugawara seems to have recovered his senses.
Abel throws a looping overhand right but Sugawara ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sugawara. Abel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Abel ducks under a wild hook from Sugawara.

Sugawara closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Abel did well to prevent Sugawara getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sugawara is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sugawara seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sugawara has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sugawara not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sugawara throwing shots but Abel is blocking nicely.
Sugawara trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara throwing shots but Abel is blocking nicely.
Abel is not content to let Sugawara control the position.
Abel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sugawara.
Sugawara scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Sugawara throwing shots but Abel is blocking nicely.
Sugawara works his way into side control.
Sugawara creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Abel sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Sugawara seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Sugawara swings around for an armbar but Abel sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sugawara's guard.
Sugawara throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sugawara is pulling down on Abel's head to control his posture.
Sugawara lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sugawara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Abel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sugawara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shun Sugawara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shun Sugawara's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sugawara tries to bum rush Abel with a series of wild strikes but Abel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sugawara on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sugawara checks a low kick from Abel.
And Sugawara tries to counter it with a takedown but Abel pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sugawara misses with a hook
and Sugawara takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Abel enables Sugawara to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Abel manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sugawara is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sugawara pushes down on Abel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sugawara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Abel defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sugawara works his way into side control.
Sugawara postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Sugawara in side control, throwing shots but Abel defends.

Sugawara is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Abel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Abel explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Abel throws a low kick but Sugawara moves out of range easily.
Mariano Abel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abel throws a solid leg kick but Sugawara takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Abel.
Abel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sugawara darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Abel gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sugawara throws a shot from downtown. Abel moves away and avoids it.
Abel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sugawara.
Sugawara pivots, looking for a leg kick but Abel is out of range and Sugawara settles back down.
Abel jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Sugawara takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Sugawara. Those never looked like landing.
As Sugawara backs away, Abel returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sugawara misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara throws a push kick but Abel slaps the foot to one side.
Abel thinks about countering with a head kick.
Sugawara closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abel circles away.
Sugawara misses with a straight left.
Sugawara goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It looked like Abel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sugawara just misses with a punch to the body.
Abel went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A slapping leg kick lands for Abel.
Sugawara fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abel manages to avoid it.
Abel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sugawara scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sugawara lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugawara not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sugawara missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Abel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sugawara sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Abel defending well though.
Abel misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sugawara trying to control the action but Abel is working from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Sugawara there.
Shun Sugawara is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sugawara lands with a punch from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shun Sugawara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sugawara 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shun Sugawara!