PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunochi (ranked 5408 p4p, 4644 weight class) and Daichi Iwamoto (ranked 515 p4p, 482 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Makunochi
vs
Iwamoto

177 cm
18
185
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ippo Makunochi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Daichi Iwamoto!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iwamoto fails to land with a series of punches.
It looked like Makunochi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Iwamoto.
Makunochi jabs at Iwamoto's body.
Iwamoto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Iwamoto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Makunochi slips a jab and a cross from Iwamoto.
Makunochi is looking to counter punch.

Iwamoto rushes Makunochi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Iwamoto tries for a takedown but Makunochi manages to get underhooks.
Makunochi working hard to break the clinch.
Iwamoto tries to pull guard but Makunochi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Iwamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makunochi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Iwamoto momentarily.
Iwamoto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Iwamoto fails with the takedown
enabling Makunochi to counter with a crisp jab.
Ippo Makunochi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Iwamoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunochi lands a nice looking body shot.
Makunochi connects with a body shot that sends Iwamoto's belly button to the back.
Makunochi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Makunochi scores with a hook to the body. Iwamoto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Iwamoto wants to clinch up but Makunochi keeps it at a distance.
Makunochi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Iwamoto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Iwamoto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Makunochi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makunochi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Iwamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Makunochi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Iwamoto moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunochi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Makunochi wants to break free but Iwamoto has control.
Makunochi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Iwamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Makunochi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makunochi misses with a body shot.
Makunochi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Iwamoto checks it well.
Iwamoto misses the jab.
Makunochi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Iwamoto throws a head kick but Makunochi moves out of range.
Iwamoto shoots for a takedown but Makunochi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Iwamoto has his takedown stuffed
and Makunochi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Makunochi connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunochi jabs Iwamoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Makunochi scores with a body shot.
Iwamoto with a poor takedown
and Makunochi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Iwamoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Makunochi was well out of range. Poor timing from Iwamoto.
Makunochi connects with a body shot that sends Iwamoto's belly button to the back.
Nice takedown defense from Makunochi. No joy for Iwamoto on that attempt.
Iwamoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makunochi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Iwamoto somewhat.
Iwamoto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Iwamoto throws a low kick but Makunochi moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwamoto walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Iwamoto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Iwamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Makunochi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Iwamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makunochi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Makunochi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Iwamoto.
Makunochi misses with a low kick.
Makunochi digs a good hook to Iwamoto's body.
Iwamoto closes the distance looking to clinch
and Makunochi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Iwamoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makunochi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Iwamoto somewhat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunochi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Makunochi jabs Iwamoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Makunochi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Iwamoto can do to turn this around?
Iwamoto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Makunochi counters with a straight right hand.
Iwamoto walks into a left hand.
Makunochi is looking to chop away at Iwamoto's legs.
Makunochi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Iwamoto takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iwamoto has his takedown stuffed
and Makunochi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Makunochi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Iwamoto in his tracks.
Makunochi cracks Iwamoto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Makunochi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Iwamoto doesn't seem bothered though.
Ippo Makunochi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunochi's corner calls for a 1-2. Makunochi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Makunochi scores with a body shot.

Makunochi tries to sprawl but Iwamoto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Makunochi wants to get back to full guard.
Iwamoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Makunochi is trying to maintain the position but Iwamoto is very close to passing his half guard.
Iwamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Makunochi keeps working.
Iwamoto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Makunochi haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwamoto is controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Makunochi is staying active underneath Iwamoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Makunochi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Iwamoto. Iwamoto circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Makunochi lands with a good body shot.

Iwamoto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Makunochi's half guard.
Makunochi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Iwamoto on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Makunochi tries to kick Iwamoto off but Iwamoto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunochi is concentrating on defense, preventing Iwamoto from advancing position.
Makunochi is trying to stand up here but Iwamoto is controlling him well.
Makunochi gets full guard.
Iwamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Makunochi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makunochi has his hands on Iwamoto's head, controlling the position.
Makunochi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Iwamoto is controlling him.

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.
Iwamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Makunochi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Makunochi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Iwamoto moves away.
Ippo Makunochi is winning the standup battle so far.
Iwamoto has a takedown stuffed.
Ippo Makunochi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Iwamoto.
Iwamoto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Iwamoto fails with the takedown.
Makunochi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Iwamoto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Makunochi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Iwamoto scrambles back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunochi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Makunochi digs a good body shot into Iwamoto's ribs.
Makunochi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Iwamoto is out of range and Makunochi settles back down.

Iwamoto gets a clinch.
Makunochi wants to get back to striking at distance but Iwamoto won't allow it.
Makunochi tries to break free but Iwamoto pushes him back against the cage.
Iwamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Makunochi controls his hands.

Iwamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iwamoto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Makunochi defends well and Iwamoto ends up having to push Makunochi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Makunochi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Iwamoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Makunochi misses with a leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Makunochi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Makunochi.
Good shot there by Makunochi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwamoto tries to clinch up but Makunochi circles away and keeps his distance.
Iwamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Makunochi counters with a stiff right hand.
Makunochi works Iwamoto's body with a nice hook.
Iwamoto shoots in for a takedown but Makunochi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ippo Makunochi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daichi Iwamoto.
Makunochi is looking to chop away at Iwamoto's legs.
Makunochi connects with a crisp jab.
No joy there for Iwamoto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice cross by Makunochi.
Iwamoto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Iwamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Iwamoto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Makunochi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwamoto tries for a takedown but Makunochi circles away easily
and Makunochi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makunochi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Iwamoto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Makunochi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Iwamoto scrambles back to his feet.
Makunochi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Iwamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Iwamoto with a poor takedown
and Makunochi counters with a straight right hand.
Makunochi cracks Iwamoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Iwamoto is rocked!
Iwamoto walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Iwamoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Makunochi finish him?
Makunochi cracks Iwamoto with a hook to the temple - Iwamoto is on wobbly legs here! Makunochi swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Iwamoto falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Makunochi wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ippo Makunochi!