PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jin Sukaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Irwin Iota (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.

Sukaka
vs
Iota

187 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jin Sukaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Irwin Iota!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iota scores with a jab to the head.

Iota closes the distance and clinches.
Iota wants to get back to striking at distance but Sukaka won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Sukaka.

Sukaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sukaka scores with a head kick.

It looks like Irwin Iota has been cut.
Sukaka slips a jab and a cross from Iota.

Iota has managed to clinch.
Iota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Iota missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sukaka.
Iota scores with a shoulder strike.
Iota wants to break free but Sukaka has control.
Sukaka looking for a takedown.
Sukaka connects with a knee to the head.
Sukaka tries to score a body lock takedown but Iota shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sukaka prevents a takedown attempt there.

Iota is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sukaka is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Iota to the mat. Iota regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sukaka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Iota trying to control the position.
Sukaka postures up and lands a big shot to Iota's brow.
Sukaka is standing up over Iota. Iota looks to escape but Sukaka dives into side control.
Sukaka controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iota tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sukaka seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Iota for as long as he can get away with.
Sukaka creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sukaka prevents Iota from escaping the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sukaka is breathing heavily.
Iota tries to escape but Sukaka is in control.
Iota is trying to control Sukaka's posture but Sukaka avoids it.
Sukaka is looking to take a break and control but Iota is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Iota tries to escape but Sukaka is in control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sukaka fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Sukaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sukaka lands with a nice body kick.

Sukaka shoots in and bounces Iota off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sukaka advances to half guard.
Iota is trying to stand.
Sukaka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Iota tries to get to full guard but Sukaka has control of the leg.
Sukaka is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iota is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Sukaka seems content to control.
Iota won't allow Sukaka to pass to mount.
Sukaka looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jin Sukaka just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Sukaka pushes Iota up against the cage in a clinch.
Sukaka tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sukaka is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Iota gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sukaka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Iota working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Iota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sukaka lands a knee to the head.
Iota wants to break the clinch but can't.
Iota wants a takedown but no success here.
Sukaka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Iota avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sukaka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sukaka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Iota lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sukaka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Iota gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Iota throws a knee to the head but misses.
Iota has Sukaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sukaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sukaka can't get the takedown.
Iota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iota has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sukaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sukaka scores with a knee to the head.
Iota takes a knee right on the jaw!

Sukaka has picked Iota up - he's going for a ride! Sukaka dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sukaka performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Sukaka is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Iota has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Sukaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Irwin Iota's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sukaka throws a head kick that misses.
Iota throws a jab but it's blocked by Sukaka.
Iota throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sukaka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sukaka tries to clinch up

and Iota counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Sukaka pushes Iota off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Iota throws a right and a left that Sukaka avoids nicely.
Sukaka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jin Sukaka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iota has a takedown stuffed.

Sukaka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sukaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sukaka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sukaka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sukaka tries to pull guard but Iota holds him up against the cage and eventually Sukaka drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Sukaka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sukaka scores with a knee to the head.
Sukaka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iota tries to break the clinch but Sukaka is controlling the position.
Iota takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iota lands a takedown into guard.

Iota decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sukaka, up you get!
Iota throws a head kick that misses

and Sukaka counters by moving into the clinch.
Iota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sukaka is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Iota has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sukaka is trying to keep an underhook but Iota manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Sukaka is pressing down on Iota's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sukaka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Iota manages to get himself to full guard.
Sukaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Iota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sukaka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sukaka not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sukaka preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iota wants to hit a switch here but Sukaka passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Iota there!
Iota keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sukaka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Iota wants to control but Sukaka is having none of it.
Iota keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sukaka with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iota is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Iota is trying to stand up.
Sukaka landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sukaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Iota wants to control but Sukaka is having none of it.
Sukaka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Iota wants to control but Sukaka is having none of it.
Sukaka content just to control the position 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.
Iota can't escape the position.
The referee warns Iota that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Iota is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sukaka controlling the position easily from mount.
Iota working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Irwin Iota will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Irwin Iota's cut.
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!

Sukaka looks for a takedown but Iota sprawls well.
Iota blocks a head kick by Sukaka.
Iota blocks a head kick by Sukaka.

Iota pushes Sukaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Sukaka misses with a knee strike.
Iota wants to get back to striking at distance but Sukaka won't allow it.
Iota wants to break free but Sukaka has control.
Iota wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Iota tightens his grip and picks Sukaka up, before dumping him to the ground. Sukaka manages to land in guard.

Iota stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sukaka looks for a takedown but Iota sprawls well.

Iota bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sukaka regains half guard.
Sukaka is trying is best to control the position here.
Sukaka moves into full guard.
Sukaka pulls Iota in close to prevent any damage.
Iota stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sukaka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sukaka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Iota doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Iota manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sukaka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Iota is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sukaka trying to keep a closed guard but Iota is proving a slippery customer.
Iota stopping the sweep attempt from Sukaka.
Sukaka has a closed guard, preventing Iota from standing up.
Sukaka working a defensive guard here.
Iota wants to control from the top but Sukaka keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sukaka controls Iota momentarily but Iota frees himself.
Iota stands up over Sukaka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sukaka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iota's guard.
Sukaka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sukaka postures up and lands a big shot to Iota's brow.
Sukaka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sukaka is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ground and pound from Sukaka.
Sukaka sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sukaka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sukaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iota wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sukaka with the ground and pound from mount.
Sukaka looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Sukaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Iota is looking to get to half guard.
Sukaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Iota wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Iota tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sukaka landing strikes from the mount.
Jin Sukaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Iota is squirming around, avoiding Sukaka's attempts to control the action.
Iota can't escape the position.
Iota is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Iota tries to lock up and control but Sukaka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Sukaka goes for an armbar but Iota turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Iota.
Iota pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sukaka is keeping the position for now.
Sukaka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jin Sukaka.
Well Sukaka 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jin Sukaka!