PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sora Izanagi (ranked 711 p4p, 408 weight class) and Moritz Zimmerman (ranked 106 p4p, 61 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Izanagi
vs
Zimmerman

190 cm
21
210
6 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
215
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Carnage

Urban Fighter
Hardcore Alchemy

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sora Izanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Moritz Zimmerman!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Izanagi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Izanagi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CT in the buildup to the fight.
Izanagi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Izanagi throws a leg kick

and Zimmerman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zimmerman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Izanagi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zimmerman, into his guard.

Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Zimmerman has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Zimmerman throws his legs up looking for a submission but Izanagi uses it to pass to side control.
Zimmerman is looking for a sweep.
Izanagi moves into full mount!
Izanagi controlling the position easily from mount.
Zimmerman is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zimmerman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Zimmerman tries to free his leg and advance position but Izanagi is retaining full guard.
Izanagi looking for a sweep. Not yet Izanagi, not yet.
Izanagi is working hard here to advance position.
Izanagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zimmerman.
Zimmerman wants to pass the guard but Izanagi is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman postures up in Izanagi's guard and throws a big left but Izanagi blocks it.
Zimmerman stands and throws Izanagi's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Zimmerman swings around for an armbar but Izanagi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Zimmerman's guard.
Izanagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Zimmerman is retaining full guard.

Zimmerman looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Izanagi has picked Zimmerman up and slammed him! Zimmerman can't keep hold of the triangle and Izanagi manages to pass to side control!
Zimmerman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zimmerman looks to move to half guard but instead Izanagi has passed into mount! Damn!
Zimmerman working to try and regain half guard.
Zimmerman regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman looking for a kimura from the bottom but Izanagi passes into side control!
Zimmerman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Izanagi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zimmerman is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Izanagi is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Izanagi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Izanagi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zimmerman sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Zimmerman actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zimmerman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Izanagi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zimmerman wants to get back to full guard.
Zimmerman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Zimmerman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zimmerman missing with punches from the bottom.
Izanagi stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sora Izanagi dominated that round.
That's time! Izanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Izanagi scores with a leg kick.
Izanagi throws a head kick but Zimmerman moves out of range.
Izanagi wants to slow Zimmerman down by chopping away at his legs.
Zimmerman feints the counter takedown.
Izanagi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Izanagi throws a sloppy head kick

and Zimmerman counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Izanagi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman can't get the takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Izanagi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zimmerman fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zimmerman.

Zimmerman jumps into guard, dragging Izanagi to the mat.
Izanagi trying to control but Zimmerman is working from the bottom.

Zimmerman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Izanagi is aware though and is defending well.
Izanagi forces his way into half guard.
Izanagi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zimmerman can do to turn this around?
Izanagi prevents Zimmerman from improving his position.

Zimmerman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Izanagi pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Izanagi seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman won't allow Izanagi to pass to mount.

Zimmerman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zimmerman looking for submissions off his back.

Zimmerman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Izanagi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zimmerman is trying to get back to full guard.

Zimmerman actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zimmerman is trying to get back to full guard.
Zimmerman gets back to full guard.
Izanagi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zimmerman is trying to get back to full guard.

Zimmerman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Zimmerman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Izanagi pulls his head out easily.

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.

Zimmerman actively working from the bottom here.
Zimmerman wants to improve his position but Izanagi is controlling well.
Izanagi passes to full mount!
Zimmerman really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zimmerman regains half guard.
Izanagi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sora Izanagi dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Zimmerman walks into a straight right hand from Izanagi.
Zimmerman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Izanagi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Izanagi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Izanagi clinches up against the cage.
Zimmerman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Izanagi after a bit of a struggle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zimmerman goes for a takedown attempt but Izanagi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sora Izanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moritz Zimmerman.
Izanagi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Moritz Zimmerman has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Izanagi closes the distance and clinches.
A right hand to the body from Izanagi.
Zimmerman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Izanagi after a bit of a struggle.
Zimmerman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Izanagi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice left hand lands by Izanagi.
Izanagi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Izanagi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zimmerman backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Izanagi.
Izanagi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Izanagi.
Izanagi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Zimmerman has Izanagi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Izanagi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Izanagi pushes Zimmerman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Zimmerman is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Izanagi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sora Izanagi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zimmerman is still on wobbly legs! Can Izanagi finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A fake to the body and Izanagi gets the Thai clinch. He wastes no time and tries to connect with knees to the head. This is dangerous for Zimmerman! He should get out! Another devastating knee and Zimmerman falls head first to the ground. It's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). 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.