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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mehdi Illir (ranked 1787 p4p, 2297 weight class) and Kurou Nishiyama (ranked 181 p4p, 223 weight class). Kurou Nishiyama is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 178 cm
27
165
6 - 2 - 0 |
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183 cm
28
167
10 - 10 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Powerful takedowns
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mehdi Illir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurou Nishiyama!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Illir shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nishiyama defends it nicely.
Illir slips a jab and a cross from Nishiyama.
Nishiyama leaves Illir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Illir throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nishiyama was covering up waiting for the punch and Illir finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nishiyama has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Illir off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nishiyama throws a series of punches but Illir avoids them all with ease.
Nishiyama swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Illir goes for a double leg but Nishiyama avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nishiyama continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mehdi Illir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nishiyama misses with a knee to the head.
Illir has Nishiyama pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nishiyama manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Illir is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nishiyama is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Illir to the mat. Illir regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've been hearing good reports from Illir's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Illir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nishiyama trying to control but Illir is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Illir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nishiyama is one step ahead there.
Nishiyama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Illir wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nishiyama slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nishiyama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Illir working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nishiyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Illir is keeping the position for now.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Illir avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Illir with that takedown attempt.
Nishiyama is looking for the big counter here.
Mehdi Illir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nishiyama shoots in and bounces Illir off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nishiyama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Illir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Illir keeping moving, preventing Nishiyama from controlling successfully.
Nishiyama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Illir is keeping the position for now.
Nishiyama trying to control but Illir is working from the bottom.
Illir had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nishiyama defends it easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Illir keeping full guard, as Nishiyama tries to pass.
Illir controlling the position.
Illir keeping moving, preventing Nishiyama from controlling successfully.
Nishiyama wants to pass the guard but Illir is keeping the position.
Illir is trying to keep Nishiyama in close.
Illir is working an open guard so Nishiyama takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nishiyama looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Illir keeping moving, preventing Nishiyama from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illir is looking to sweep but instead, Nishiyama has passed into half guard.
Illir is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Illir looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Illir is looking for a sweep. Nishiyama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Illir slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Illir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Illir lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Illir postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kurou Nishiyama dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nishiyama.
Illir gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nishiyama to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nishiyama stopping the sweep attempt from Illir.
Nishiyama gets to his feet - Illir follows without any prompting.
Some bone on bone action there as Illir checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Illir tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nishiyama sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Illir somewhat.
Nishiyama is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Illir misses with a takedown
and Nishiyama counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nishiyama lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Illir shoots for a double leg takedown but Nishiyama sprawls well. He's pushed Illir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mehdi Illir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nishiyama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Illir manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nishiyama trying to control the position from guard on top but Illir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishiyama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Illir looking for a sweep but Nishiyama has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Nishiyama trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kurou Nishiyama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nishiyama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Nishiyama prevents Illir from getting the reversal.
Illir is working hard here to advance position.
Nishiyama controlling the position easily from mount.
Nishiyama landing strikes from the mount and Illir is in trouble!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama scoring with strikes but Illir is staying in there.
Illir slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Illir looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nishiyama tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Illir.
Nishiyama trying to control the action but Illir is working from the bottom.
Illir works his way to full guard. Good work.
Illir working for a triangle but Nishiyama defends it easily.
Illir looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Illir thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Nishiyama content to stall in guard here.
Illir lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Illir works over Nishiyama with some ground and pound from guard.
Illir passes into half guard.
Nishiyama is defending against the submission attempts here by Illir.
Nishiyama is trying to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Illir scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Illir looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Illir takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nishiyama looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Illir is working for a submission of some sort.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kurou Nishiyama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Nishiyama thuds his right hand into Illir's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nishiyama misses with a body shot.
Illir tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nishiyama defends well and Illir ends up having to push Nishiyama into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nishiyama was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Nishiyama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Illir tries to keep at a distance but Nishiyama has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nishiyama stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Illir drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Illir is looking to control Nishiyama's arms but Nishiyama gets an underhook and turns him. Now Illir has his back to the cage.
Nishiyama breaks the clinch.
Nishiyama darts in and clinches Illir up against the cage.
Nishiyama manages to break the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Illir closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nishiyama did well to prevent Illir getting side control.
Nishiyama looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nishiyama regains full guard. Nicely done.
Illir content to stall in guard here.
Illir throws a strike but Nishiyama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nishiyama stopping the sweep attempt from Illir.
Nishiyama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Illir is pulling down on Nishiyama's head. It's preventing any offense from Nishiyama, at least for the moment.
Illir keeping moving, preventing Nishiyama from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Illir wants to sweep here but Nishiyama controlling him for the moment.
Illir is working an open guard so Nishiyama takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Illir misses with a takedown attempt
and Nishiyama counters with a low kick, right behind Illir 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mehdi Illir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Illir looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nishiyama is fending him off so far but Illir persists. Nope, Nishiyama circles away and we're back to standing.
Nishiyama is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Illir with a body shot.
Illir closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Illir working away.
Nishiyama tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nishiyama is trying to control Illir's posture but Illir avoids it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nishiyama is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Illir asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Illir trying to control the position but Nishiyama is working away.
Nishiyama is trying to control Illir's posture but Illir avoids it.
Nishiyama is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Illir is staying active.
Illir throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Check out the look on Illir's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Nishiyama's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nishiyama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee asks Illir politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Illir prefers to stall for the moment though.
Nishiyama struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nishiyama takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mehdi Illir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurou Nishiyama is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nishiyama struggling a bit here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kurou Nishiyama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nishiyama 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurou Nishiyama!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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