PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sugawara Ichirou (ranked 5048 p4p, 6301 weight class) and Andre Sawyer (ranked 587 p4p, 675 weight class). Ichirou's entrance music is The Milky Way. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Ichirou
vs
Sawyer

189 cm
18
185
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Nutritional Shaved Ice
Mile High

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sugawara Ichirou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andre Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sawyer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ichirou fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sawyer, pushing him back against the cage.
Ichirou misses with a knee to the head.
Sawyer's coach down at Lionheart Combat Sports was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Sawyer's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ichirou throws an elbow but it misses.
Sawyer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ichirou just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ichirou slows down the pace here.
Ichirou just leaning against Sawyer, taking a breather.
Ichirou gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Ichirou is struggling to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ichirou's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sawyer tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichirou effectively controlling the action here.
Sawyer tries to pull guard but Ichirou won't allow it.
Ichirou keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sawyer's efforts to push away.
Sawyer working hard to break the clinch.
Ichirou looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A hook to the body from Ichirou.
Still in the clinch, Ichirou scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ichirou digs a right hand underneath Sawyer's ribcage. Sawyer let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sawyer tries to pull guard but Ichirou forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sugawara Ichirou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Sawyer.
Ichirou lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sawyer backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ichirou.
Ichirou is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sawyer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.
Ichirou loads up on a big right hand but Sawyer slips the punch.
A swing and a miss from Ichirou.

Ichirou closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sawyer goes for a takedown attempt but Ichirou pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ichirou scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Andre Sawyer has been cut.
Sugawara Ichirou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ichirou pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Ichirou gets a clinch.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.
Sawyer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice shot by Ichirou.

Sawyer tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou throws an elbow but it misses.
Sawyer changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ichirou fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ichirou pushes Sawyer up against the cage in a clinch.
Ichirou misses with a punch to the body.
Sawyer jumps guard but Ichirou stands there with Sawyer around his waist. Sawyer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ichirou stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Sawyer tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Ichirou manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ichirou takes the fight into the clinch.
Ichirou dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ichirou lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sawyer backwards.
Sawyer is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ichirou to keep the fight standing.
Sawyer jumps guard but Ichirou stands there with Sawyer around his waist. Sawyer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ichirou stalling against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ichirou makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Ichirou breaks the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sugawara Ichirou dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Andre Sawyer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ichirou moves into the clinch.
Ichirou misses with a hook to the ribs.

Ichirou escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ichirou closes the distance and pushes Sawyer back into the cage.
Ichirou has Sawyer pressed against the cage.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sawyer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sawyer is trying to drag Ichirou to the mat but Ichirou just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ichirou misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sawyer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ichirou escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ichirou closes the distance and pushes Sawyer back into the cage.
Sawyer looking to throw knees to the head but Ichirou is blocking nicely.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ichirou rushes Sawyer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ichirou pushes off an throws an elbow but Sawyer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sawyer tries to score a body lock takedown but Ichirou shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ichirou throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ichirou scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ichirou has Sawyer pushed against the cage.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ichirou works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ichirou has Sawyer pushed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ichirou.
Sawyer is trying to break free.
Sawyer is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ichirou to keep the fight standing.
Sugawara Ichirou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Sawyer.
Ichirou lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ichirou throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sawyer trying to control the position but instead, Ichirou has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sawyer into the cage.
Sawyer working hard to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Ichirou.
Ichirou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ichirou.
Sawyer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sawyer is trying to break the clinch but Ichirou has him pressed against the cage.
Ichirou looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Ichirou stalling in the clinch.
Sugawara Ichirou has scored more points in the clinch so far.
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!
Ichirou lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sawyer is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ichirou to keep the fight standing.
A left hand lands to the body for Ichirou.
Ichirou throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sawyer or not.
Sawyer is breathing heavily.
Ichirou is leaning against Sawyer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ichirou lands an uppercut.
Ichirou with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ichirou misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sawyer.
Ichirou lands an uppercut.
Ichirou is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sawyer can do to turn this around?
Ichirou has Sawyer pressed against the cage.
Sawyer slows down the pace here.
Ichirou makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ichirou is leaning against Sawyer and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ichirou throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ichirou lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ichirou pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sawyer misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Ichirou closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ichirou lands with a left to the head.
Ichirou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ichirou gets underhooks to prevent Sawyer's takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ichirou.
Ichirou avoiding damage.
Ichirou misses with an elbow strike.
Ichirou on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ichirou misses with a knee strike.
A shot in the inside from Ichirou.
Sawyer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sugawara Ichirou dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Andre Sawyer'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. And we move into the final round!

Ichirou darts in and clinches Sawyer up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Ichirou scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ichirou lands a nice uppercut.

Ichirou's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ichirou connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sawyer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ichirou is fending him off so far but Sawyer persists. Nope, Ichirou circles away and we're back to standing.

Ichirou rushes Sawyer and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sawyer fails to pull guard.
Ichirou lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sawyer backwards.
Ichirou softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ichirou lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ichirou lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ichirou throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sawyer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ichirou throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sawyers head.

Sawyer is rocked!
Ichirou lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sawyer is still on wobbly legs! Can Ichirou finish him?
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ichirou takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichirou tries a knee to the head but Sawyer blocks it.
Ichirou stalls.
Sawyer seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ichirou.
Ichirou stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Ichirou.
Ichirou taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ichirou scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ichirou cracks Sawyer with a nice body shot.

Ichirou breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sawyer gets tackled into the cage by Ichirou. Ichirou maintains the clinch.
Ichirou has Sawyer pushed against the cage.
Ichirou trying to land knees to the body.
Ichirou misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou'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.
Sawyer looking to slow down the pace here.
Ichirou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ichirou trying to land knees to the body.
Ichirou lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sawyer or not.
Ichirou throws an elbow that misses.
Sawyer tries to land knees in the clinch but Ichirou avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ichirou dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ichirou looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ichirou pushes Sawyer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ichirou.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ichirou has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ichirou stalling in the clinch.
Good body shot from Ichirou.
Ichirou slows down the pace here.
Come on Ichirou - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ichirou misses with a knee strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ichirou throws an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ichirou.
Ichirou softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sawyer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ichirou pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sugawara Ichirou has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andre Sawyer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichirou misses with an elbow over the top.
Sawyer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ichirou as Sawyer tries to tie him up.
Ichirou is stalling here.
Ichirou displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sawyer up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Ichirou.

Ichirou breaks the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Ichirou there.
Sawyer slips a straight right by Ichirou.

Sawyer tries to keep at a distance but Ichirou has taken the fight into the clinch.
Andre Sawyer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sugawara Ichirou is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sawyer struggles to land a body shot inside as Ichirou controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sugawara Ichirou showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ichirou 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:24
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:24
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:24

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