PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tadayoshi Ishimaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillipe Nover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishimaru comes to the cage accompanied by Break. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ishimaru
vs
Nover

168 cm
21
147 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tadayoshi Ishimaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phillipe Nover!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nover tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ishimaru paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nover tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ishimaru swivels and escapes.
Ishimaru throws a series of punches but Nover moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Ishimaru - just one landing.
Nover with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ishimaru counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ishimaru swinging wildly here.
Ishimaru swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ishimaru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ishimaru misses with a double jab.
Nover lands a high kick!
Tadayoshi Ishimaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ishimaru misses with a straight right.
Ishimaru misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nover is defended easily by Ishimaru.
Tadayoshi Ishimaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phillipe Nover.

Nover has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Ishimaru.
Nover misses with a knee to the head.
Nover looking to throw knees to the head but Ishimaru is blocking nicely.
Nover tries to land knees in the clinch but Ishimaru avoids the damage to the body.
Nover looking to throw knees to the head but Ishimaru is blocking nicely.
Nover with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nover wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ishimaru is leaning against Nover and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nover stalling.
Ishimaru taking a breather.
Ishimaru drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ishimaru lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ishimaru lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nover backwards.
Nover is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ishimaru is leaning against Nover and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nover throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ishimaru blocks it with crossed arms.
Nover takes a shot to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nover just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ishimaru's brow.
Nover tries to land a knee to the head but Ishimaru blocks with his arms.
Nover with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nover looks gassed!
A nice right hand lands inside from Ishimaru.
Ishimaru lands with a light punch inside.

Ishimaru tightens his grip and picks Nover up, before dumping him to the ground. Nover manages to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nover wants to sweep here but Ishimaru controlling him for the moment.
Ishimaru connects with a couple of short punches.

Ishimaru stands up from Nover's guard - Ishimaru perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ishimaru throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nover fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ishimaru is out of range.
Ishimaru looks to score with a jab to the body but Nover is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nover is looking to clinch but Ishimaru is avoiding it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ishimaru darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ishimaru misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nover.

Ishimaru closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nover did well to prevent Ishimaru getting side control.
Ishimaru working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ishimaru is pressing down on Nover's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nover is holding on for now.
Nover trying to hold on to Ishimaru's head to control him but Ishimaru postures up.
Ground and pound from Ishimaru.

Ishimaru decides to stand up.
Ishimaru works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ishimaru keeps the fight on the outside.
Nover wants to land a leg kick but Ishimaru is out of range.
Ishimaru misses the shot to the body.
Ishimaru scores with a one two! Nover had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nover takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nover, right into the meat.
Nover is looking to clinch but Ishimaru is avoiding it.
Ishimaru fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nover on the side of the head.
Ishimaru's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ishimaru duly obliges.
The crowd cheers as Ishimaru lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nover doesn't seem phased though.
Ishimaru throws a series of punches but Nover avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ishimaru wants to slow Nover down by chopping away at his legs.
Ishimaru lands a nice looking body shot.

Ishimaru shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nover manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadayoshi Ishimaru dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ishimaru throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ishimaru throws out a loose jab but Nover uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ishimaru swats away the attempt to clinch by Nover.
Nover misses with a head kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Nover enables Ishimaru to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Nover manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ishimaru chips away with some ground and pound.
Nover is controlling Ishimaru's posture.
Nover is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ishimaru stands up over Nover, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ishimaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Nover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ishimaru advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishimaru trying to control the action but Nover is working from the bottom.
Nover tries to buck Ishimaru off but Ishimaru is having none of it.
Tadayoshi Ishimaru overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nover sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ishimaru takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ishimaru sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nover defending well though.
Ishimaru looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nover with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nover is looking for a sweep. Ishimaru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ishimaru seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nover does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nover won't allow Ishimaru to pass to mount.
Nover is trying to control but can't.
Nover gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ishimaru trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nover manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Ishimaru knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nover on the ground.
Ishimaru 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ishimaru is working hard here to advance position.
Nover trying to control but Ishimaru is working from the bottom.
Ishimaru on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ishimaru tries to get out of the position.
Ishimaru wants to control the position but Nover says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Nover has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ishimaru working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nover tries to control but Ishimaru wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nover prevents Ishimaru from getting the reversal.
Nover tries to control but Ishimaru wriggling away.
Ishimaru tries to hold on but Nover pushes him away.
Ishimaru tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ishimaru flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Nover trying to control but Ishimaru is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Nover working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ishimaru wants to control but Nover is having none of it.
Nover prevents Ishimaru from getting the reversal.
Ishimaru is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nover is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ishimaru to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ishimaru shrugs it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ishimaru is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tadayoshi Ishimaru dominated that second round.
That's time! Ishimaru's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nover throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Phillipe Nover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ishimaru avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nover tries to clinch but Ishimaru moves out of range.
Ishimaru lands with a shot to the body.
Nice cross by Ishimaru.
Nover walks into a stiff left hand from Ishimaru.
Ishimaru 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.
Ishimaru scores with a jab to the body.
Nover misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ishimaru lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ishimaru connects with a body shot.
Tadayoshi Ishimaru is winning the standup battle so far.

Nover drives through and clinches with Ishimaru against the cage.
Nover trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ishimaru pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ishimaru misses with the combination.
Nover fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ishimaru checks it well.

Ishimaru closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nover gets back to half guard.
Nover takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nover gets back to full guard.
Nover working a defensive guard here.
Ishimaru loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ishimaru lands a couple of digs.
Tadayoshi Ishimaru is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru preventing the sweep.
Nover can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ishimaru controls the pace.
Ishimaru trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nover manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ishimaru keeping full guard, as Nover tries to pass.
Ishimaru wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nover manages to pass to side control.
Ishimaru is looking to improve his position.
Ishimaru is looking to control Nover's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ishimaru avoid being mounted?
Nover is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Phillipe Nover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ishimaru is holding on to half guard well.
Nover is keen to just control but Ishimaru is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ishimaru jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A swing and a miss from Ishimaru.
Ishimaru throws a body punch but Nover moves out of range.
Nover throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nover shoots in and drives through. Ishimaru sprawls well.
Decent striking displayed by Ishimaru there.
Ishimaru throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishimaru stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nover.
Nover takes one to the side of the head.
Ishimaru lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Ishimaru as he connects with a hook.
Nover lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nover connects with a solid leg kick.
Ishimaru lands with a good body shot.
Nover connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nover throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ishimaru scores with a body shot.
Ishimaru lands a right hook to the body.
Ishimaru checks a leg kick nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tadayoshi Ishimaru showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ishimaru, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tadayoshi Ishimaru!
In his post fight interview, Tadayoshi Ishimaru started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.