PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mitsu Misawa (ranked 1968 p4p, 2197 weight class) and Jim Duggan (ranked 250 p4p, 280 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Misawa
vs
Duggan

182 cm
24
174
5 - 4 - 0

186 cm
24
170
5 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mitsu Misawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Duggan!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duggan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Duggan throws a hook to the side of Misawa's head but Misawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Misawa punishes Duggan's body with a nice straight punch.
Misawa checks a leg kick nicely.
Duggan throws a low kick but Misawa avoids it.
Misawa digs a good hook to Duggan's body.
Duggan throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Misawa swings widly with a right hand
and Duggan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Duggan staying out of range there.
Misawa slips under a jab.
Duggan misses with a hook. Misawa ducked under it nicely.
Misawa checks the leg kick.
Misawa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Duggan appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left lands for Duggan.
Misawa takes a swing at Duggan's ribcage but misses.
Duggan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Misawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Duggan.
A big left from Duggan misses.
Misawa throws a lazy right hand but Duggan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Duggan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Misawas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Misawa throws an overhand right that lands on Duggan's shoulder, as Duggan tries to avoid the shot.
Sloppy strikes from Duggan. Those never looked like landing.
Misawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Duggan sizes up Misawa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Misawa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Duggan slips under a jab from Misawa.
Misawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Duggan throws out a counter right but Misawa avoids it with no problem.
Duggan misses with a low kick.
Duggan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Misawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Duggan.
Misawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duggan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Duggan misses with a body kick.
Misawa throws the left hand but Duggan avoids the punch easily.
Duggan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Duggan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Misawa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A nice leg kick from Duggan, right into the meat of the thigh.
Duggan wants to land a leg kick but Misawa is out of range.
Misawa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Misawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Duggan circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duggan throws a body kick that misses.
Misawa misses with a looping left.
Misawa scores with a decent looking hook.
Duggan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Duggan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Misawa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Duggan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Misawa throws a jab but it's blocked by Duggan.
A slapping leg kick lands for Duggan.
Misawa throws a shot from downtown. Duggan moves away and avoids it.
A cross from Duggan lands.

Misawa pushes Duggan up against the cage in a clinch.
Duggan pushes Misawa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Duggan breaks the clinch.
Misawa avoids the head kick by Duggan.
Duggan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Misawa blocks a jab.
Duggan misses with a few strikes there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Duggan, as that shot connected.
Jim Duggan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Duggan.
Misawa connects with a right hand. Duggan shakes it off.

Misawa gets a clinch.
A body shot lands from Duggan.
Duggan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Duggan takes a shot to the head.

Duggan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Misawa loads up on a big right hand but Duggan slips the punch.
Misawa is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The fighters circle momentarily. Duggan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Misawa stuffs the takedown.
Duggan takes a swing at Misawa's ribcage but misses.
As Duggan tries to get set, Misawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Duggan manages to avoid the attempt.
Misawa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Duggan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Duggan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Misawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Duggan.
Duggan misses with a looping left.
Duggan connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duggan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duggan throws a shot to the body.
Duggan misses with a straight right.
Misawa throws a body shot but no joy.
Duggan looks to land a right hand but Misawa moved out of range.

Misawa darts in and clinches Duggan up against the cage.
Duggan tries to stall but Misawa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Misawa takes a shot to the head.
Misawa has Duggan pushed against the cage.
Duggan misses with a punch to the body.
Misawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Misawa is looking to control Duggan's arms but Duggan gets an underhook and turns him. Now Misawa has his back to the cage.
Misawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Duggan jumps guard but Misawa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mitsu Misawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Duggan.
Misawa lands a damaging elbow.
Misawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Duggan controls his hands.
Misawa tries to throw a body punch but Duggan avoids it by throwing Misawa back against the cage.
Misawa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Duggan dominated that round.
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.

Duggan slips a jab from Misawa.
A looping hook to the body misses from Duggan. Misawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Duggan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Duggan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duggan misses with a body shot.
Misawa moves away from the strike by Duggan.
Misawa tries to counter by clinching up but Duggan breaks away and moves out of range.
Duggan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Misawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Duggan.
Misawa cracks a nice hook into Duggan's ribs.
A big right from Misawa misses.
Misawa defending well as Duggan loads up on a big left hand.
Duggan throws a leg kick but Misawa sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As Duggan tries to get set, Misawa tries to push him back and clinch up but Duggan manages to avoid the attempt.
Misawa blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duggan scores with a one two! Misawa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Misawa with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Duggan to score with a decent uppercut.
Duggan ducks under a wild hook from Misawa.
Misawa ducks under a wild hook from Duggan.
Duggan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Duggan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Misawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Duggan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Misawa throws a looping overhand right but Duggan ducks down to avoid it.
Duggan misses with a straight left.
Jim Duggan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Duggan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Misawa swings for the body but Duggan moves out of range.
Misawa throws out a loose jab but Duggan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Duggan flicks out a counter leg kick but Misawa steps away.
Nice defenses there by Duggan.
Duggan only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Duggan throws a hook to the side of Misawa's head but Misawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Misawa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Duggan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Misawa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Misawa swings for the body but Duggan moves out of range.
Misawa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Misawa throws a hook to the side of Duggan's head but Duggan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duggan stuns Misawa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Duggan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A big right from Misawa misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Duggan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Duggan swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Misawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Duggan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Misawa paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Misawa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duggan connects with a crisp jab.
Duggan throws a hook to the side of Misawa's head but Misawa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Duggan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Duggan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Duggan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Duggan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Misawa in his tracks.
Misawa throws a looping overhand right but Duggan ducks down to avoid it.
Duggan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Duggan tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Misawa is able to avoid easily.
Duggan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Misawa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Duggan misses with a body punch.

Duggan jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan keeping full guard, as Misawa tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Duggan looking for a guillotine here but Misawa defends easily.
Our spies down at at Rivers Edge Gym inform us that Duggan has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Duggan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Misawa content to stall in guard here.
Misawa wants to pass the guard but Duggan is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Misawa has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Duggan is proving hard to escape from.
Misawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Duggan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Misawa looks to throw the jab but Duggan is out of range.
Duggan lands a nice leg kick that just misses Misawa's sensitive parts.
Duggan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Misawa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Duggan throws a body shot but no joy.
Misawa blocks a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Duggan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Misawa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Duggan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Misawa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Duggan.
Misawa lands a jab to Duggan's midsection.
Duggan slips under a jab.
Misawa misses with a wild body shot.
Misawa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Duggans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Duggan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Duggan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Misawa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Misawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Misawa throws an overhand right that lands on Duggan's shoulder, as Duggan tries to avoid the shot.
Misawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Duggan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duggan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Misawa.
Duggan is looking to slow Misawa down with leg kicks.
Duggan throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Misawa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duggan tries to throw a body punch but Misawa avoids it by throwing Duggan back against the cage.

Duggan manages to break the clinch.
Misawa misses with a jab to the body
and Duggan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Misawa throws an overhand right that lands on Duggan's shoulder, as Duggan tries to avoid the shot.
Duggan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Misawa tries to clinch up but Duggan circles away and keeps his distance.
Duggan swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Duggan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Misawa digs a good hook to Duggan's body.
A jab from Misawa misses.
Misawa tries to clinch up but Duggan circles away and keeps his distance.
Duggan now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Duggan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Duggan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Duggan fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Misawa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Duggan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Duggan shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Misawa is looking for a sweep. Duggan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misawa is working hard here to advance position.
Duggan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Duggan is pressing down on Misawa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Misawa is holding on for now.
Duggan is trying to control. Misawa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Misawa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan is looking to advance position but Misawa won't allow it.

Duggan is working for a kimura but Misawa is defending it quite comfortably.
Mitsu Misawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Duggan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Misawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Duggan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Misawa doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Duggan.
Misawa trying to control from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Misawa tries to sprawl but Duggan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Duggan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Misawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Misawa moves into full guard.
Misawa keeping moving, preventing Duggan from controlling successfully.
Misawa trying to keep a closed guard but Duggan is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Duggan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Duggan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

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