PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ardbeg Islay (ranked 1025 p4p, 2034 weight class) and Louis Sutherland (ranked 130 p4p, 247 weight class). Sutherland comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pressure kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Islay
vs
Sutherland

186 cm
21
200
7 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
185
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Sakura Style

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ardbeg Islay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Louis Sutherland!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Islay digs a good hook to Sutherland's body.
Sutherland closes the distance and clinches up with Islay, looking for a takedown. Sutherland pushes Islay against the cage but Islay circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sutherland shoots in and drives through. Islay sprawls well.
It looked like Islay was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sutherland.
Sutherland avoids the body shot from Islay.
Sutherland doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Islay counters with a right hand to the body.
Ardbeg Islay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Louis Sutherland.
Islay displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sutherland.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sutherland.
Islay scores with a nice strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sutherland moves out of range as Islay strikes.
Sutherland tries to score a power double leg takedown but Islay sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sutherland somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Islay counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Islay. Sutherland does a little dance to reset his feet.
Islay scores with a body shot.
Islay is looking to wear down Sutherland with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Islay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sutherland changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Islay defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sutherland.
Islay stuffs the takedown.
Sutherland showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Islay.
Sutherland walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sutherland takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Islay dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Islay jabs Sutherland to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sutherland shoots for a double leg takedown but Islay sprawls well. He's pushed Sutherland's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sutherland has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sutherland changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Islay tries to avoid it but Sutherland manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Islay to the ground. Islay escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Islay lands with a shot to the body.
Sutherland with a lazy takedown attempt
and Islay counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sutherland looks winded!
Sutherland has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sutherland there as he acknowledges the shot.
Islay swinging wildly here.
Sutherland feints the counter takedown.
Sutherland looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Islay connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sutherland's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Islay connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sutherland scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sutherland shoots for a takedown but Islay saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Islay connects with a body shot.
Sutherland misses with a takedown
and Islay counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sutherland shoots in for a double leg but Islay sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sutherland has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Islay connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Islay looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Sutherland has his takedown stuffed
and Islay counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Islay scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Islay cracks Sutherland with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sutherland fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland fails with the takedown
and Islay counters with a stiff right hand.
Islay lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Islay finds it's way through Sutherland's defenses.
Sutherland on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Islay connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sutherland's hands.
Islay feints a jab promting Sutherland to slip. Islay then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sutherland slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sutherland has his takedown stuffed
and Sutherland takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Islay fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Islay shoots in and bounces Sutherland off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sutherland can do anything to dispel that myth.
Islay scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ardbeg Islay dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Islay scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sutherland doesn't seem bothered though.
Sutherland tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Islay swivels and escapes.
A left and a right from Islay both land. Nice combination.
Sutherland shoots in looking for a takedown. Islay tries to sprawl out of it but Sutherland keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Islay manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Islay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sutherland can do to turn this around?
Islay misses with a wild combination.
Sutherland feints the counter takedown.
Islay lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Islay changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Sutherland shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Islay trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Islay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sutherland.
Islay seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Islay is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sutherland is trying to stand.
Islay takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Islay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Islay with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Islay seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sutherland for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland tries to kick Islay off but Islay keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Islay seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Islay prevents Sutherland from standing back up.
Islay slips a nice elbow through Sutherland's hands, connecting with Sutherland's forehead.
Islay takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sutherland looks like he's trying to stand up.
Islay takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland pushes Islay off looking to stand but Islay dives back in and keeps control.
Islay takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ardbeg Islay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Islay is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nice strikes from Islay there.
Sutherland is breathing heavily.
Islay controlling the action here.
Sutherland is trying to stand.

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.
Islay controlling the action here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sutherland pushes Islay off but Islay dives into side control.
Islay landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Islay scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sutherland bucks up and tries to throw Islay off but instead Islay has got his back!
Sutherland is trying to remain composed but Islay is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Sutherland takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Islay looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Sutherland is trying to stand back up.
Islay lands with a hammerfist to the side of Sutherland's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ardbeg Islay dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Islay scores with the left hand. Sutherland knows he should have avoided that one.

Islay decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Islay working Sutherland over with strikes.
Sutherland on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Islay moves nicely into side control.
Islay taking a breather here.
Sutherland is looking to get back to his feet here but Islay is keeping cool and he's managed to take Sutherland's back.
Sutherland is trapped and Islay is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland takes a big shot to the side of the head.
What can Sutherland do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Islay has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sutherland is trying to stand back up.
Islay biding his time, controlling Sutherland.
Sutherland is covering up but some of the strikes from Islay are getting through and doing damage.
Islay is landing with strikes from the back.
Sutherland is trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Islay controls the action.
Islay scores with punches and elbows.
Sutherland wants to get back to his feet.
Sutherland is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Islay.
Islay connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sutherland to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islay is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Islay gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Islay gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Islay apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Islay looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sutherland!
Islay working the ground and pound.
Islay landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sutherland bucks up and tries to throw Islay off but instead Islay has got his back!
Islay scores with punches and elbows.

Sutherland is rocked!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Ardbeg Islay is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islay lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Louis Sutherland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Islay throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Sutherland!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Islay really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Sutherland.
Islay has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ardbeg Islay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Islay 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ardbeg Islay!