PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ippoo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Yakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakuza comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Legend of Zelda, Overworld kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ippoo Makunouchi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ichi Yakuza's chin.

Makunouchi
vs
Yakuza

164 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
25
120 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippoo Makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Yakuza!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Makunouchi clinches.
Yakuza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Makunouchi has Yakuza up against the cage in a clinch.
Yakuza keeps control of Makunouchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Makunouchi is controlling him.
Yakuza working hard to break the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to push Yakuza away but Yakuza has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Makunouchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Makunouchi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yakuza up against the cage.
Makunouchi keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Makunouchi has him pinned against the cage.
Makunouchi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Makunouchi jumps guard but Yakuza stands there with Makunouchi around his waist. Makunouchi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippoo Makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Makunouchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but Yakuza moves out of range.
Yakuza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ichi Yakuza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yakuza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Makunouchi tries to clinch up but Yakuza circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Makunouchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakuza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Makunouchi closes the distance and clinches up with Yakuza, looking for a takedown. Makunouchi pushes Yakuza against the cage but Yakuza circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yakuza looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakuza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Yakuza shows good takedown defense.
Yakuza keeps the fight on the outside.
Yakuza fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makunouchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakuza circles away.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi tries to clinch there but Yakuza circles away.
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!

Makunouchi gets a double leg takedown into Yakuza's guard.
Makunouchi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Yakuza wriggles free and stands up.
Yakuza moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Yakuza tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Makunouchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Makunouchi tries to keep at a distance but Yakuza has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza is trying to push Makunouchi away but Makunouchi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Yakuza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makunouchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've been informed that Yakuza has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Makunouchi is looking to clinch.

Yakuza has taken the fight to the clinch.

Makunouchi drags the fight down to the ground.

Yakuza decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Yakuza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Makunouchi, pushing him back against the cage.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yakuza swats away the attempt to clinch by Makunouchi.
Yakuza tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yakuza clinches up against the cage.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Makunouchi prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yakuza breaks from the clinch.

Makunouchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Makunouchi is controlling the position.
Makunouchi is working for takedown but Yakuza is calmly controlling the position for now.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yakuza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yakuza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Makunouchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yakuza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Yakuza as Makunouchi shoots in.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Yakuza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ichi Yakuza will probably get the nod.
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.

Yakuza gets a clinch.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Makunouchi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yakuza has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yakuza is trying to force a seperation but Makunouchi has the dominant position.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Makunouchi has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to break free.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Makunouchi won't allow it.
Yakuza blocks an elbow strike from Makunouchi.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Makunouchi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yakuza or not.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Yakuza in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Makunouchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Makunouchi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Makunouchi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Makunouchi has him pressed against the cage.
Makunouchi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yakuza walks away with a smile on his face. Makunouchi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippoo Makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi is having none of it.

Makunouchi instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi pushes Yakuza back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Yakuza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yakuza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Makunouchi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right from Makunouchi on the inside.
Makunouchi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yakuza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Makunouchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Makunouchi.
Yakuza can't break the clinch.

Yakuza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yakuza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Makunouchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yakuza manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi fails with the takedown.
Yakuza tries to clinch up.
Yakuza doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.

Yakuza drives through and clinches with Makunouchi against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi stalling in the clinch but Yakuza improves position.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Yakuza moves into the clinch.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Yakuza wants to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makunouchi wants to clinch.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makunouchi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yakuza fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yakuza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Makunouchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakuza swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Makunouchi lands a jab-cross combination.
Yakuza tries to clinch up.

Yakuza instigates a clinch.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to clinch up but Yakuza keeps it at a distance.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.
Yakuza moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.
Makunouchi tries to clinch but Yakuza is having none of it.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Makunouchi fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakuza.
Yakuza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Yakuza shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakuza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Yakuza closes the distance and clinches.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yakuza is looking to clinch but Makunouchi is avoiding it.
Makunouchi tries to clinch there but Yakuza circles away.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Makunouchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi Yakuza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi fails with the takedown.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but Yakuza moves out of range.
Makunouchi wants to clinch up but Yakuza keeps it at a distance.
Yakuza avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Yakuza closes the distance and pushes Makunouchi back into the cage.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch but Yakuza keeps him there for the moment.
Makunouchi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yakuza can't break the clinch.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi is looking to clinch.
Makunouchi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakuza tries to clinch up.
Makunouchi throws a right hand that Yakuza ducks under and follows up with a left that Yakuza also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi is having none of it.
Yakuza wants to clinch.
Yakuza moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Yakuza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakuza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Yakuza has taken the fight to the clinch.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Makunouchi shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippoo Makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakuza.
Makunouchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yakuza is fending him off so far but Makunouchi persists. Nope, Yakuza circles away and we're back to standing.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Makunouchi is having none of it.
Makunouchi wants to clinch up but Yakuza keeps it at a distance.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.

Yakuza forces Makunouchi back against the cage and clinches.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yakuza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Makunouchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakuza circles away.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yakuza is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Yakuza closes the distance and pushes Makunouchi back into the cage.
Yakuza takes a shot to the head.
Makunouchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yakuza prevents Makunouchi from breaking the clinch.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Yakuza breaks from the clinch.
Yakuza moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Yakuza doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Yakuza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Makunouchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ippoo Makunouchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Makunouchi moves into the clinch successfully.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Makunouchi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yakuza doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Makunouchi clinches.

Yakuza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yakuza tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Yakuza shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yakuza pushes Makunouchi up against the cage in a clinch.

Yakuza breaks from the clinch.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.

Yakuza has Makunouchi up against the cage in a clinch.

Yakuza breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichi Yakuza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yakuza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichi Yakuza!
Ichi Yakuza took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'This has been most honorable. Maguro Yata!'.