PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Pezzulla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikkaku Madarame (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Madarame has chosen Bleed It Out as his entrance music. Mirko Pezzulla has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pezzulla
vs
Madarame

182 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Pezzulla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikkaku Madarame!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pezzulla showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Madarame.
Pezzulla tries to clinch there but Madarame circles away.

Pezzulla gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pezzulla using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pezzulla trying to land knees to the body.
Pezzulla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Madarame in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pezzulla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Madarame is defending well for now.

Pezzulla's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Madarame misses with a left hand
and Pezzulla counters with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pezzulla chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pezzulla looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Madarame throws the left hand but Pezzulla avoids the punch easily.
A combination from Pezzulla does no damage.
Pezzulla scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Pezzulla.
Pezzulla scoring well with a low kick there.
Madarame tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pezzulla was well out of range. Poor timing from Madarame.
Madarame misses with a double jab
and Pezzulla counters with a head kick.
Madarame lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pezzulla circles away quickly and effectively.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pezzulla.
Madarame will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Madarame falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pezzulla counters with a low kick, right behind Madarame 's knee.
Pezzulla darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madarame throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pezzulla lands a head kick. Madarame smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Madarame misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Madarame throws a right hand that Pezzulla ducks under and follows up with a left that Pezzulla also avoids with ease.
Madarame throws a series of punches but Pezzulla moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Madarame. That snapped Pezzulla's head back.
Pezzulla takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Madarame throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Madarame paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pezzulla avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pezzulla moves into the clinch successfully.
Pezzulla misses with a knee strike.
Pezzulla tries to land knees in the clinch but Madarame avoids the damage to the body.
Madarame takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pezzulla tries to throw a body punch but Madarame avoids it by throwing Pezzulla back against the ropes.

Pezzulla breaks the clinch.
Pezzulla uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Madarame.
Madarame lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pezzulla backs up against the ropes.
Madarame throws a body shot but no joy.
Madarame misses the jab.
Pezzulla thinks about countering with a body kick.
Madarame misses with a left hand
and Pezzulla counters with a nice low kick that buckles Madarame's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madarame keeps the fight on the outside.
Pezzulla swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Madarame counters with a straight right hand.
Madarame throws a body shot but no joy.
Madarame throws a good cross that connects.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pezzulla keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Madarame scores with a one two! Pezzulla had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Pezzulla clinches up with Madarame and pushes him back against the ropes.
Pezzulla landing knees to the body.
Madarame looks winded!

Pezzulla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pezzulla scores with a kick to the body.
Madarame throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pezzulla makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Madarame swings widly with a right hand
and Pezzulla counters with a slapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mirko Pezzulla will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Madarame throws an overhand right that lands on Pezzulla's shoulder, as Pezzulla tries to avoid the shot.
Madarame misses with a combination
and Pezzulla counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pezzulla throws a nice inside leg kick.
Madarame lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pezzulla circles away quickly and effectively.
Pezzulla throws a quick counter kick to the body but Madarame avoids it.

Pezzulla clinches up with Madarame and pushes him back against the ropes.
Madarame wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pezzulla lands an elbow inside.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Pezzulla just misses with a elbow thrown towards Madarame's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pezzulla escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Madarame fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ikkaku Madarame is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Madarame cracks Pezzulla with a good jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pezzulla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Madarame avoids it.
Pezzulla lands a nice elbow.
Pezzulla missing with knees to the body.

Pezzulla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pezzulla lands a leg kick that knocks Madarame off balance momentarily.
Pezzulla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Madarame paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Madarame has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pezzulla.
Pezzulla lands a head kick. Madarame smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Madarame misses with a right hand
and Pezzulla counters with a thumping low kick.
Madarame throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pezzulla.
Madarame misses with a looping left.
Ikkaku Madarame seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pezzulla fails in his attempt to clinch.
Madarame lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pezzulla circles away quickly and effectively.
Madarame sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Madarame ducks under a wild hook from Pezzulla.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pezzulla showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Madarame.
Pezzulla slips a jab and a cross from Madarame.
A quick step to the side and Pezzulla tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Madarame looks to land a combination but Pezzulla avoids it well.
Pezzulla dodges the punch combination from Madarame.
Pezzulla fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madarame falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pezzulla counters with a nice leg kick.
Pezzulla throws a shot from downtown. Madarame moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Madarame was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pezzulla throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Madarame.
Madarame takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pezzulla lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Madarame misses with a two punch combination.
Pezzulla wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Madarame has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Pezzulla misses the shot to the body.
Madarame misses with a two punch combination.
Madarame will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pezzulla seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pezzulla.
Madarame throws a right hand that Pezzulla ducks under and follows up with a left that Pezzulla also avoids with ease.
And Pezzulla counters with a quick kick to the body but Madarame blocks it.
Pezzulla wants to clinch up but Madarame keeps it at a distance.

Pezzulla clinches.
Pezzulla comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pezzulla landing knees to the body.
Madarame is breathing heavily.
Pezzulla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Madarame in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pezzulla tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Madarame's elbow.
Madarame goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pezzulla works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pezzulla jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Madarame walks away with a smile on his face. Pezzulla gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pezzulla waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Madarame.
Madarame throws a counter combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Pezzulla dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Madarame looks to land a left hand but Pezzulla moved out of range nicely.
Madarame misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pezzulla.
Pezzulla is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Madarame.
Some wild striking there from Madarame.
Madarame misses with a combination

and Pezzulla moves into the clinch.
Pezzulla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Madarame is defending well for now.
Pezzulla is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Madarame gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pezzulla works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mirko Pezzulla has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pezzulla misses with an elbow strike.
Madarame tries a body shot but Pezzulla blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pezzulla prevents Madarame from breaking the clinch.
Pezzulla slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pezzulla missing with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Madarame.
Madarame letting Pezzulla take a breather here.
Madarame managing to block the knees to the body from Pezzulla.
Pezzulla trying to land knees to the body.
Pezzulla is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Madarame on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pezzulla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Madarame tries to circle away but Pezzulla has him pinned against the ropes.
Pezzulla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Madarame.
Pezzulla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Madarame in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pezzulla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Madarame can do to turn this around?
Madarame takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pezzulla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pezzulla shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Madarame scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
No joy there for Madarame, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pezzulla tried to counter with a leg kick but Madarame avoided it.
Madarame throws a lazy uppercut
and Pezzulla counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Pezzulla gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Madarame managing to block the knees to the body from Pezzulla.
Pezzulla lands a nice knee to the body.
Madarame is looking to break free of the clinch but Pezzulla has double underhooks.
Pezzulla landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Pezzulla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Madarame moves away from the strike by Pezzulla.
Ikkaku Madarame seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pezzulla tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Madarame to counter with a crisp jab.
Madarame throws an off balance right hand
and Pezzulla counters with an inside leg kick.
Madarame misses with a lunging right hand
and Pezzulla counters with a straight right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Madarame. No joy for Pezzulla on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mirko Pezzulla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pezzulla pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Madarame throws a hook but Pezzulla blocks it.
Pezzulla jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Madarame swinging wildly here.
Madarame looks to score with a jab to the body but Pezzulla is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pezzulla shoots in and drives through. Madarame sprawls well.
Madarame lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pezzulla circles away quickly and effectively.
Pezzulla throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pezzulla avoids the body shot from Madarame.
Madarame throws a right hand that misses
and Pezzulla counters with a leg kick.
Madarame swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pezzulla makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Madarame throws a right and a left that Pezzulla avoids nicely.
Pezzulla looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Pezzulla lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mirko Pezzulla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Madarame misses with a series of wild punches.
Pezzulla tries to counter by clinching up but Madarame breaks away and moves out of range.
Ikkaku Madarame has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pezzulla throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Madarame's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Pezzulla showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pezzulla, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Pezzulla!