PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sakamoto Ryoma (ranked 2893 p4p, 4156 weight class) and Thomas Davis (ranked 205 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryoma comes to the cage accompanied by The Plight of the Samurai. Davis has chosen Not like us as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ryoma
vs
Davis

164 cm
18
132
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sakamoto Ryoma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Davis!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Davis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ryoma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ryoma wants to clinch.
Ryoma misses with a double jab
and Davis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A low kick from Ryoma is predictable there

and Davis counters by clinching up.

Davis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Davis throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Davis shoots in and drives through. Ryoma sprawls well.
As Davis tries to get set, Ryoma tries to push him back and clinch up but Davis manages to avoid the attempt.

Davis closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Davis wants to take the fight to the mat but Ryoma manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ryoma's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis lands with a light punch inside.

Davis jumps guard.
Davis has control of Ryoma's left arm, preventing Ryoma from doing any damage.
Ryoma sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ryoma looking to pass the guard.
Ryoma looking to sit in guard and control but Davis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ryoma controls Davis momentarily but Davis frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryoma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ryoma being controlled here, momentarily.
Davis forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis trying to control the pace.
Ryoma is looking to get back to full guard here but Davis has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ryoma is trying to improve his position.
Davis controls the position.

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.
Ryoma can't do much from the bottom here.
Ryoma defending against the ground and pound.

Davis stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Davis clinches up with Ryoma and pushes him back against the cage.
Ryoma tries to break free but Davis pushes him back against the cage.

Davis pulls guard successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ryoma knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Davis on the ground.
Davis keeping moving, preventing Ryoma from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Davis dominated that 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.

Davis dives in for a single leg takedown but Ryoma sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ryoma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Davis moves into the clinch.
Ryoma is trying to pull guard but Davis has him pressed against the cage.
Davis has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryoma after a bit of a struggle.
Ryoma misses with the head strike.
Davis is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ryoma tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ryoma avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sakamoto Ryoma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Davis.

Davis manages to break the clinch.
Davis plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Davis blocks a head kick by Ryoma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ryoma is fending him off so far but Davis persists. Nope, Ryoma circles away and we're back to standing.
Ryoma throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Ryoma misses with a lunging right hand
and Davis counters with a straight right hand.

Davis clinches with his opponent.

Davis manages to break the clinch.
Ryoma tries a head kick but it misses.
Ryoma tries to clinch but Davis is having none of it.
Davis avoids the head kick by Ryoma.
Davis is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ryoma throws a head kick that misses

and Davis counters by clinching up.
Ryoma is trying to break the clinch but Davis is controlling him.

Davis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ryoma throws a body kick that misses

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryoma throws a punch but it's blocked by Davis.

Davis breaks from the clinch.
Ryoma wants to clinch up but Davis keeps it at a distance.
Ryoma pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Davis clinches up with Ryoma and pushes him back against the cage.
Ryoma wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Davis has him pressed against the cage.

Davis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis shoots for a takedown but Ryoma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ryoma feinted with a counter takedown.
Ryoma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomas Davis seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick by Ryoma misses

and Davis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ryoma's guard.

Ryoma is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Davis defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis advances to half guard.
Ryoma is trying to get back to full guard.
Davis thows a huge punch but Ryoma dodges it nicely.
Davis controlling the action here.

Davis is trying to work for a kimura but Ryoma is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ryoma has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Davis is working away from the top position though.

Davis decides to stand and escape the position.
Ryoma throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Ryoma tries to clinch but Davis moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryoma fails to land with a series of punches.
Davis scores with a head kick.
Ryoma fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Davis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ryoma throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Davis throws a counter combo.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryoma is looking for a counter combo.
Davis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ryoma swivels and escapes.
Davis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Davis moves into the clinch successfully.

Davis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sakamoto Ryoma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davis shoots in for a double leg but Ryoma sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sakamoto Ryoma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Davis.

Ryoma gets tackled into the cage by Davis. Davis maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Davis decides to pull guard.

Ryoma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Davis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ryoma has managed to get both his arms back between Davis's legs - danger averted.
Ryoma trying to control the position from guard on top but Davis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryoma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Davis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ryoma might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Davis pulls Ryoma in to control the position.
Ryoma wants to pass the guard but Davis is keeping the position.
Davis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ryoma throws an elbow that misses. Davis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ryoma's guard. Nice move by Davis!

Davis passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Davis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ryoma tries to bench press Davis off him but Davis keeps the position.
Thomas Davis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Davis slows the pace down.

Davis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Thomas Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Davis plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryoma throws a head kick that misses
and Davis counters with a nice body kick.
Ryoma throws a hook to the side of Davis's head but Davis sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Davis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ryoma throws a lazy head kick
and Davis counters with a right hand to the body.
Ryoma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ryoma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Davis.
No luck for Davis with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Ryoma. Those never looked like landing.

Davis closes the distance and pushes Ryoma back into the cage.
Ryoma is trying to break free.
Ryoma is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Davis to keep the fight standing.

Davis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Ryoma.
Sakamoto Ryoma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Davis blocks a head kick by Ryoma.
Davis moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryoma stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ryoma wants it to stay on the feet.
Davis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas Davis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Davis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ryoma walks away with a smile on his face. Davis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Davis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Davis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Davis!
A very excited looking Thomas Davis made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Sakamoto Ryoma spoke after the fight, saying 'It is what it is, I will come back even stronger.'.