PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Inoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Dass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Inoki
vs
Dass

215 cm
22
193 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

187 cm
19
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Inoki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Dass!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Dass with that takedown attempt.
A jab lands there for Dass.
Dass tries to clinch there but Inoki circles away.
Inoki closes the distance and clinches up with Dass, looking for a takedown. Inoki pushes Dass against the cage but Dass circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dass chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Inoki swats away the attempt to clinch by Dass.
Inoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dass is fending him off so far but Inoki persists. Nope, Dass circles away and we're back to standing.
Inoki has his takedown stuffed

and Dass counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Inoki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dass not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dass is looking to advance position but Inoki won't allow it.
Inoki is looking for a sweep. Dass is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dass tries to pass the half guard into mount. Inoki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoki is trying to control but can't.
Inoki slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dass must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dass throws a big right hand that misses.
Dass trying to stand up but can't free himself from Inoki's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Inoki with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dass counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Inoki is breathing heavily.
Dass with a flurry of punches that miss.

Inoki had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Dass is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Inoki Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Dass's back instead.
Inoki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dass trying to control the position but Inoki manages to sink in the hooks.
Dass is in bad spot here.
Inoki punches the canvas rather than the man.
Dass can't escape the position.
Dass trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Inoki trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dass rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Inoki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for Dass with that takedown attempt.

Dass has managed to clinch.
Inoki takes an elbow to the temple.
Dass landing knees to the body.
Inoki wants a takedown but no success here.

Dass decides to pull guard.
Inoki looking to pass the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Inoki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Inoki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Inoki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Inoki wants to control from the top but Dass keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inoki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dass's guard.
Inoki wants to take a breather but Dass is having none of it.

Inoki wants to work for an arm triangle but Dass is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Inoki thows a huge punch but Dass dodges it nicely.
Dass trying to hold on to Inoki's head to control him but Inoki postures up.
Inoki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Dass is refusing to be controlled, as Inoki sits in half guard.
Inoki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Inoki passes the guard and advances to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dass tries to lock up and control but Inoki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Dass that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Dass is bucking up trying to escape but Inoki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Inoki works his way to his opponent's back.
Inoki scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Dass is looking for a way out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoki trying to control momentarily.
Dass trying to control the position but Inoki manages to sink in the hooks.

Dass won't enjoy being in this position. Inoki looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Dass is tapping - it's over boys! Inoki picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antonio Inoki!