PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kendo Hirigushi (ranked 857 p4p, 663 weight class) and The Reverend Jim Ignatowski (ranked 113 p4p, 86 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hirigushi
vs
Ignatowski

181 cm
34
160
25 - 15 - 0

174 cm
27
144
6 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Perkele!

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 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Kendo Hirigushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, The Reverend Jim Ignatowski!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatowski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski tried to score with a low kick but Hirigushi checks it.
Hirigushi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ignatowski.
Hirigushi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ignatowski counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hirigushi swings for the body but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Hirigushi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirigushi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ignatowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Ignatowski slips under a jab.
Ignatowski slips a jab from Hirigushi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatowski lands a jab to the head.
Ignatowski has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ignatowski slips under a jab from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ignatowski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hirigushi scores with a body shot.
Hirigushi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ignatowski counters with a low kick, right behind Hirigushi 's knee.
Ignatowski misses the body punch
letting Hirigushi counter with a right hand.
Hirigushi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ignatowski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hirigushi misses with a hook to the body
and Ignatowski makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ignatowski has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ignatowski there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hirigushi misses with a right hand
and Ignatowski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ignatowski ducks under a wild hook from Hirigushi.
A big left from Hirigushi misses.
Kendo Hirigushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ignatowski with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hirigushi fails to land with a series of punches.
Hirigushi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ignatowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski scores with the left hand. Hirigushi knows he should have avoided that one.
Hirigushi throws a body punch but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Hirigushi clobbers Ignatowski with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hirigushi throws a hook but Ignatowski blocks it.
Ignatowski throws a push kick but Hirigushi slaps the foot to one side.
Hirigushi is looking for a counter combo.
A slow jab from Hirigushi misses its intended target.
Ignatowski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hirigushi throws out the jab.
Ignatowski tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hirigushi misses with a double jab.
Hirigushi misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi swings widly with a right hand
and Ignatowski counters with a straight right hand.
Hirigushi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ignatowski slips a straight right by Hirigushi.
Ignatowski wants to counter the offense by Hirigushi and move into the clinch position.
Ignatowski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hirigushi.
A little jabbing left from Ignatowski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hirigushi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hirigushi throws a big shot that misses.
Ignatowski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski misses with a body punch
enabling Hirigushi to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Ignatowski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hirigushi's sensitive parts.
Hirigushi misses the jab.
Ignatowski throws out a counter right but Hirigushi avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendo Hirigushi 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.

Ignatowski tests Hirigushi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The Reverend Jim Ignatowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hirigushi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ignatowski counters with a thumping low kick.
Hirigushi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hirigushi misses with a wild combination.
Hirigushi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ignatowski feints a counter leg kick.
Kendo Hirigushi is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ignatowski, as that shot connected.
Hirigushi misses with a body shot.
Ignatowski tries to counter with a clinch but Hirigushi shakes him off and moves away.
Kendo Hirigushi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ignatowski ducks under a wild hook from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski wants to counter with a clinch but Hirigushi pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hirigushi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ignatowski appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hirigushi throws a series of punches but Ignatowski avoids them all with ease.
A little jabbing left from Ignatowski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ignatowski ducks under a wild hook from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski defending well as Hirigushi loads up on a big left hand.
Ignatowski is trying to counter with his kicks.
Hirigushi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ignatowski motions for Hirigushi to come forward. Ignatowski throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ignatowski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hirigushi.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Ignatowski might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Hirigushi has got the better of the exchanges.
Hirigushi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hirigushi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ignatowski. Hirigushi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hirigushi throwing a counter right hand but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ignatowski. Ignatowski obviously looking to wear him down.
Ignatowski scores with a shot to the body.
Hirigushi misses with a lunging right hand
and Ignatowski makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hirigushi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ignatowski wants to counter the offense by Hirigushi and move into the clinch position.
Ignatowski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on Ignatowski's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hirigushi misses with a straight right.
Ignatowski flicks out a counter leg kick but Hirigushi steps away.
Ignatowski lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big right from Ignatowski misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Ignatowski finds it's way through Hirigushi's defenses.
A good leg kick by Ignatowski.
Hirigushi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hirigushi misses with an uppercut.
Ignatowski throws a shot to the body.
Hirigushi throws a jab when Ignatowski was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hirigushi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hirigushi misses with a body punch
and Ignatowski counters with a leg kick.
Hirigushi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hirigushi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hirigushi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ignatowski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hirigushi.
Ignatowski is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Hirigushi misses the shot to the body.
Hirigushi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kendo Hirigushi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ignatowski ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hirigushi looks to land a right hand but Ignatowski moved out of range.
Hirigushi tries to bum rush Ignatowski with a series of wild strikes but Ignatowski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ignatowski tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hirigushi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hirigushi.
Ignatowski is looking to chop away at Hirigushi's legs.
A little feinted left hand from Hirigushi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ignatowski ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirigushi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ignatowski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hirigushi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ignatowski.
Ignatowski wants to counter with a clinch but Hirigushi pushes him away.
Ignatowski takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Hirigushi misses its intended target.
Ignatowski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hirigushi lands a jab to Ignatowski's midsection.
Hirigushi throws out a loose jab but Ignatowski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ignatowski appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ignatowski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hirigushi throws out the jab.
Ignatowski replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Hirigushi blocks it well.
Hirigushi misses with an uppercut.
Hirigushi takes a swing at Ignatowski's ribcage but misses.
Hirigushi throws a right and a left that Ignatowski avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi stalks Ignatowski and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ignatowski's face. Ignatowski staggers backwards, shaken.
Nice defenses there by Ignatowski.
Hirigushi throws out a loose jab but Ignatowski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ignatowski wants to counter the offense by Hirigushi and move into the clinch position.
Ignatowski thows a body kick. Hirigushi tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hirigushi misses the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ignatowski! But no joy.
Hirigushi throws an off balance right hand
and Ignatowski counters with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hirigushi scores with a nice right hand.
Hirigushi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ignatowski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hirigushi missing with a left hand there. Ignatowski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi scores with a nice right hand.
Hirigushi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatowski manages to avoid it.
Hirigushi misses with a two punch combination.
Hirigushi backing away here, and Ignatowski unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hirigushi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ignatowski counters with a stiff right hand.
Ignatowski throws a low kick, looking for Hirigushi's leg but Hirigushi calmly moves out of range.
Kendo Hirigushi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hirigushi throws the left hand but Ignatowski avoids the punch easily.
Ignatowski feints a counter leg kick.
Ignatowski ducks right into an uppercut from Hirigushi.
Ignatowski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatowski takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hirigushi throws a series of punches but Ignatowski moves out of range.
Hirigushi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hirigushi throws a series of punches but Ignatowski avoids them all with ease.
Hirigushi misses with a wild combination.
Ignatowski looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
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!
Hirigushi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ignatowski.
Hirigushi stuns Ignatowski with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendo Hirigushi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hirigushi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendo Hirigushi!
Kendo Hirigushi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.