PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hayao Miyazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marshall Mathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Miyazaki
vs
Mathers

175 cm
18
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hayao Miyazaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marshall Mathers!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathers misses with a takedown attempt - Miyazaki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mathers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Miyazaki but Miyazaki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mathers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice takedown defense from Miyazaki. No joy for Mathers on that attempt.
Hayao Miyazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Mathers.
Miyazaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mathers shoots in looking for a takedown. Miyazaki tries to sprawl out of it but Mathers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Miyazaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mathers clinches up with Miyazaki and pushes him back against the ropes.
Miyazaki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mathers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathers drops down looking for an ankle pick but Miyazaki pulls his leg out and moves away.
Miyazaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Mathers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyazaki scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mathers has a takedown stuffed.
Miyazaki shoots for a takedown but Mathers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mathers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Miyazaki.
Miyazaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mathers rushes Miyazaki and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Miyazaki really is a fat lump.

Miyazaki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mathers uses from the top position.
Mathers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miyazaki is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Miyazaki holds on and takes a little breather.
Miyazaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers trying to control but Miyazaki is working from the bottom.
Mathers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Miyazaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Miyazaki wants to sweep here but Mathers controlling him for the moment.
Miyazaki throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Miyazaki wants to hit a switch here but Mathers passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Miyazaki there!
Mathers controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Mathers takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Miyazaki is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Mathers can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miyazaki is looking to escape.
Mathers with shots to the head and body - Miyazaki looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Miyazaki throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Miyazaki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Miyazaki wants to control but Mathers is having none of it.
Miyazaki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathers wants to control the pace but Miyazaki is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hayao Miyazaki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Miyazaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mathers is defended easily by Miyazaki.
Horrible takedown by Miyazaki or perhaps it was just good defense by Mathers which made him look bad.
Mathers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mathers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mathers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Miyazaki counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Miyazaki throws a sloppy head kick and Mathers moves out of range easily.
Miyazaki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mathers avoids it really well and circles away.
Mathers throws a head kick but Miyazaki moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mathers.

Mathers clinches.
Mathers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Miyazaki smiles and moves away.
Hayao Miyazaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marshall Mathers.
Mathers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Miyazaki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mathers defends it nicely.

Miyazaki tries to keep at a distance but Mathers has taken the fight into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Miyazaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mathers blocks a head kick by Miyazaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki fails to land the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mathers is defended easily by Miyazaki.
Mathers displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Miyazaki throws out the jab.
Mathers tries to clinch there but Miyazaki circles away.
Miyazaki wants to clinch.
Mathers tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hayao Miyazaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Mathers with that takedown attempt.
Mathers tries for a takedown but Miyazaki circles away easily
and Miyazaki counters with a good, hard body kick but Mathers shrugs it off.
Mathers is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Miyazaki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mathers somewhat.
Miyazaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mathers circles away quickly and effectively.
Mathers tries to clinch there but Miyazaki circles away.
Miyazaki shoots in for a double leg but Mathers sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mathers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Miyazaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mathers shoots in looking for a takedown. Miyazaki tries to sprawl out of it but Mathers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Miyazaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice combination there by Mathers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyazaki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mathers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Miyazaki somewhat.
Miyazaki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Miyazaki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mathers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mathers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mathers misses with a wild body shot.
Miyazaki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mathers counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marshall Mathers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mathers shoots in but no luck this time.
Miyazaki shoots in and drives through. Mathers sprawls well.
Mathers scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A head kick by Miyazaki misses

and Mathers moves into the clinch.
Mathers gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Miyazaki.
Miyazaki prevents a takedown attempt there.

Mathers gets control of Miyazaki's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mathers will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mathers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mathers is looking to stand up but Miyazaki isn't so interested in that idea.
Miyazaki postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyazaki preventing the sweep.
Miyazaki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mathers controlling Miyazaki's posture.
Miyazaki wants to control from the top but Mathers keeps moving.
Mathers wants to control but Miyazaki passes easily into half guard.

That's two 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.
Mathers desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Miyazaki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Miyazaki is looking to take a break and control but Mathers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Miyazaki stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers is looking to get back to is feet but Miyazaki passes into side control.

Miyazaki stands up.
Miyazaki fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hayao Miyazaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mathers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miyazaki defends it nicely.

Mathers has closed the distance and engaged Miyazaki in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Miyazaki.
Miyazaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mathers walks away with a smile on his face. Miyazaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Miyazaki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Mathers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mathers fails with a takedown attempt.
Miyazaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Mathers sprawls well. He's pushed Miyazaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mathers tries for a takedown but Miyazaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mathers looks for the body kick but Miyazaki saw that one coming.
Miyazaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Miyazaki tries to clinch but Mathers is having none of it.
Miyazaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mathers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marshall Mathers.
I think Mathers has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Hayao Miyazaki!

The fight ends as a draw!