PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hiroto Ito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Phillips will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ito
vs
Phillips

175 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroto Ito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phillips stuffs the takedown.
Phillips takes a swing at Ito's ribcage but misses.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phillips connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Phillips pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ito moves forwards but Phillips connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ito fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroto Ito. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phillips scores with a shot to the body.
Phillips lands a nice hook to Ito's body. Ito takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ito changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phillips tries to avoid it but Ito manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phillips to the ground. Phillips escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phillips misses with a wild body shot.
Phillips defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ito.
Phillips looks to score with a jab to the body but Ito is just out of range.
Phillips throws a hook to the side of Ito's head but Ito sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phillips is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ito rather than just go for the knockout.
Good standup being displayed there by Phillips as he connects with a hook.
Horrible takedown by Ito or perhaps it was just good defense by Phillips which made him look bad.
Phillips stuffs the takedown attempt from Ito. Ito gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Phillips.
Phillips thows a body shot but no joy.
Ito fails to land the takedown.
Ito is breathing heavily.
Phillips tries to score with a low kick but Ito moves his leg out of the way.
Ito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phillips.
Phillips scores with a body shot.
Phillips lands a glancing blow to the side of Ito's head.
Phillips lands a nice shot that snaps Ito's head back.
Phillips lands with a straight right. Ito didn't see that one coming.
Phillips digs a good hook to Ito's body.
Phillips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ito manages to avoid it.
Phillips lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Phillips shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A right-left combo lands from Phillips.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phillips lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ito shoots in but Phillips avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ito will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Phillips lunges at Ito with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ito's hand.
Phillips lands a head shot.
Phillips lands with a nice body punch.
Phillips scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ito's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Phillips connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ito scrambles back to his feet.
Phillips ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Phillips darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ito takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Phillips throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ito stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Phillips catches Ito with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Phillips scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hiroto Ito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phillips lands a jab to the nose.
Phillips connects with a right hand. Ito shakes it off.
Phillips with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito avoids the body shot from Phillips.
Phillips feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Itos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Phillips dips to his left and cracks Ito with an uppercut!
Phillips cracks Ito with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Phillips scores with a hook.
Phillips keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ito avoids the head kick by Phillips.
Phillips scores with a jab to the head.
Phillips scores with a punch to the head.
Phillips is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ito had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Phillips scores with a sloppy right hand. Ito should have avoided that one.
Phillips scores with a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Phillips. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Phillips.
Ito has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ito there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ito looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Phillips scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ito shoots in and drives through. Phillips sprawls well.
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!
Phillips throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Phillips to score with a decent uppercut.
Ito takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Phillips thuds a left hand into Ito's body.
Phillips looks to score with a jab to the body but Ito is just out of range.
Phillips takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Phillips throws a sloppy head kick and Ito moves out of range easily.
Donk. Phillips catches Ito right on the button with a cross.
Phillips comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Phillips scores with a decent looking hook.
Ito tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phillips sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ito somewhat.
Ito needs to keep his hands up - Phillips had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phillips connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ito gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Phillips.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Phillips dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Phillips lands with a shot to the body.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Ito. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Phillips bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ito's head backwards.
Ito fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Phillips throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phillips throws a wild body kick that Ito sees coming a mile off.
Phillips misses with a looping left.
Ito avoids the body shot from Phillips.
Ito moves out of range as Phillips throws a body kick.
Phillips throws a shot to the body.
Phillips lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ito ducks under a wild hook from Phillips.
Ito fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phillips swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phillips 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.
Ito shoots in looking for a takedown. Phillips tries to sprawl out of it but Ito keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Phillips manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroto Ito. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ito dives in and grabs Phillips's left leg, looking for a takedown. Phillips pushes down on Ito's head and hops out.
Ito takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ito looks for a takedown but Phillips sprawls well.
Phillips thows a body shot but no joy.
Phillips pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Phillips lands a nice looking body shot.
Phil Phillips seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Phillips cracks Ito with a right hand to the side of the head.
Phillips lands with a good body shot.
Phillips lands with a hook. Ito tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Phillips.
Donk. Phillips catches Ito right on the button with a cross.
The fighters circle momentarily. Phillips darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ito shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips catches Ito with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Phillips jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Phillips dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ito takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Good standup being displayed there by Phillips as he connects with a hook.
Ito takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ito shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Phillips comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Ito might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Phillips lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Phillips.
Ito moves forwards but Phillips connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Phillips throws a body punch but Ito moves out of range.
Hiroto Ito is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ito walks into a straight right hand from Phillips.
Decent striking displayed by Phillips there.
Phillips lands with a good body shot.
Phillips comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phillips.
Ito closes this distance looking for a takedown but Phillips circles away.
Ito takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Phillips lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ito at a distance.
Phillips ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Phillips bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ito's head backwards.
Ito takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ito takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice body punch from Phillips.
Phillips dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ito's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Phillips connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ito scrambles back to his feet.
Phillips tries to work over Ito's front leg with a kick but Ito checks it.
Ito tries for a takedown but Phillips sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Phillips scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ito blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips digs a good body shot into Ito's ribs.
Ito needs to keep his hands up - Phillips had a free shot at his head there.
Phillips lands with a nice body punch.
Phillips lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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!
Ito with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Phillips to score with a decent uppercut.
Phillips throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ito on the side of the head.
Phillips lands a jab to Ito's midsection.
Phillips jabs Ito right on the nose. Ito blinks but takes it well.
Phillips connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Phillips keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phillips jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phillips jabs Ito to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ito walks into a straight right hand from Phillips.
Phillips lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Phillips.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Phillips showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Phillips throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ito gets a double leg takedown into Phillips's guard.
Phillips is trying to control the position but Ito postures up.
Phillips is pulling down on Ito's head. It's preventing any offense from Ito, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ito accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ito stopping the sweep attempt from Phillips.
Ito is working Phillips over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Phillips really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ito. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ito is in close to Phillips's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Phillips takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ito lands a couple of elbows.
Phillips controls Ito momentarily but Ito frees himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ito prevents Phillips from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ito lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ito's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ito stops Phillips from standing up.
Ito working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ito loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Phillips preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Phillips looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ito is one step ahead there.
Ito makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ito chips away with some ground and pound.
Phillips not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ito's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ito is working Phillips over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phillips has momentary wrist control but Ito slips an elbow through the middle.
Ito advances to half guard.
Ito seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Phillips is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ito lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Phillips looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ito has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ito is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ito lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ito drops an elbow to the side of Phillips's head.
Phillips wants to control but Ito is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Phillips is trying to get back to full guard.
Phillips is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ito slips a nice elbow through Phillips's hands, connecting with Phillips's forehead.
Phillips tries to roll over but Ito keeps him under control.
Ito prevents Phillips from standing back up.
Ito is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ito seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ito sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Phillips defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips wants to get back to his feet.
Phillips on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Phillips wants to improve his position but Ito is controlling well.
Ito working the head and body with strikes.
Phillips has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phillips has hold of Ito's hands but Ito slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Phillips trying to control from the bottom.
Phillips is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phillips trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroto Ito showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Phillips 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Phillips!