PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vito Corleone (ranked 2153 p4p, 2803 weight class) and Sora Izanagi (ranked 271 p4p, 357 weight class). Corleone comes to the cage accompanied by Sussudio- Phil Collins. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Corleone
vs
Izanagi

189 cm
21
215
6 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
210
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Hardcore Alchemy

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vito Corleone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sora Izanagi!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Izanagi tries to sprawl but Corleone drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Corleone thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Izanagi's head.
Corleone lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Izanagi is staying active underneath Corleone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Izanagi gets back to full guard.
Corleone throwing strikes from guard but Izanagi blocks nicely.
Izanagi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Corleone accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone postures up in Izanagi's guard and throws a big left but Izanagi blocks it.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Corleone postures up in Izanagi's guard and throws a big left but Izanagi blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone is looking to work some ground and pound but Izanagi has wrist control.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Corleone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Izanagi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Corleone landing some decent shots from guard.
Corleone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Izanagi's head.
Corleone wants to control from the top but Izanagi keeps moving.
Corleone with a flurry of punches that miss.
Izanagi trying to keep a closed guard but Corleone is proving a slippery customer.
Corleone throwing strikes but missing.
Corleone loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Izanagi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Corleone defends it easily.
Corleone with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Corleone throws a big elbow that misses.
Izanagi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Corleone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Corleone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Izanagi's head.
Corleone throwing strikes but missing.
Corleone throws a strike but Izanagi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Izanagi won't allow Corleone to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi is standing up over Corleone. Corleone looks to escape but Izanagi dives into side control.
Corleone is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Izanagi has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Izanagi stands up.
Izanagi lands a really nice looking cross but Corleone seems unphased.
Vito Corleone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Izanagi looks to land a body kick but Corleone moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corleone missing with a left hand there. Izanagi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Izanagi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Corleone has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Izanagi throws a good cross that connects.
Izanagi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Corleone looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Izanagi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Corleone.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Corleone thows a huge punch but Izanagi dodges it nicely.

Izanagi manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Corleone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Izanagi as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Corleone is defended easily by Izanagi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vito Corleone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Izanagi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Izanagi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Corleone.
Izanagi feints a jab promting Corleone to slip. Izanagi then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Corleone slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Vito Corleone has been cut.
Corleone goes for a double leg but Izanagi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Izanagi continues to drive forward.
Izanagi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Corleone can't find room to land a body shot as Izanagi controls the action.
Corleone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izanagi lands a shoulder strike.

Izanagi breaks from the clinch.
Izanagi thumps Corleone with a low kick.
Izanagi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sora Izanagi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Corleone with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Izanagi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Corleone walks into a left hand.
Corleone tries to clinch up but Izanagi circles away and keeps his distance.
Izanagi throws a one two combo.
Corleone fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vito Corleone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Corleone misses with an uppercut.

Izanagi tries to sprawl but Corleone drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Izanagi controlling the position well.
Corleone wants to take a breather but Izanagi is having none of it.
Corleone throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Izanagi to regain full guard.
Izanagi looking for a sweep. Not yet Izanagi, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Izanagi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Corleone manages to get himself to full guard.

Corleone wants to get back to his feet but Izanagi passes into half guard.
Izanagi trying to pass the guard but Corleone defending well.
Izanagi not doing much here.
Vito Corleone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi is continuing to stall.
Izanagi wants to pass to mount but Corleone is defending the position.
Izanagi is looking to pass Corleone's guard but actually Corleone recovers to full guard.
Izanagi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Corleone wants to stand up but Izanagi is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Izanagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sora Izanagi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vito Corleone's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Corleone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab from Izanagi does it's job there.
Nice takedown defense from Izanagi. No joy for Corleone on that attempt.
Izanagi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Izanagi with a nice calf kick.
Izanagi lands a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izanagi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Corleone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Izanagi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Corleone is trying to ground and pound but Izanagi uses the momentary lack of control by Corleone to regain half guard.
Izanagi is trying to maintain the position but Corleone is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Izanagi.
Corleone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Izanagi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Corleone passes Izanagi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've been hearing that Corleone has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Izanagi wants to improve his position but Corleone is controlling well.
Izanagi trying to hold on to Corleone's head to control him but Corleone postures up.
Corleone performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Corleone missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Izanagi is looking to improve his position.
Corleone thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Izanagi's head.
Corleone throwing shots but Izanagi is blocking nicely.
Corleone not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Corleone throws a strike but Izanagi avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Corleone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Izanagi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Corleone lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Corleone throwing strikes from guard but Izanagi blocks nicely.
Corleone with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corleone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Corleone throwing strikes but missing.
Izanagi controlling the position.
Izanagi is trying to control the position but Corleone postures up.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Corleone is looking to work some ground and pound but Izanagi has wrist control.
Corleone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Izanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Corleone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Izanagi appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vito Corleone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Corleone takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corleone fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Izanagi scores with a spinning back kick!
Sora Izanagi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Corleone takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Izanagi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A shot to the liver by Izanagi. Beautiful body shot.
Izanagi scores with a jab to the body.
Corleone takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Izanagi.
Izanagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Izanagi lands a nice looking body shot.
Corleone is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Izanagi cracks Corleone with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Corleone shoots in for a double leg but Izanagi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sora Izanagi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Izanagi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sora Izanagi!
An out of breath Sora Izanagi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.