PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sakura Chikono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bo Smith (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.

Chikono
vs
Smith

180 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sakura Chikono!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bo Smith!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chikono just misses with a punch to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Chikono.

Smith closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Chikono to the mat! Chikono manages to get full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Chikono keeps moving.
Chikono 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.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.
Smith has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Chikono is looking to improve his position but Smith isn't that keen on the idea.

Smith looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smith landing strikes, looking to finish!
Chikono is wriggling around trying to escape.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Chikono defends it well.
Smith looks gassed!

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.
Smith content just to control the position here.
Chikono gets back to half guard.
Chikono knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Smith prevents Chikono from improving his position.
Smith trying to pass the guard but Chikono defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chikono wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
Smith wants to free his trapped foot but Chikono is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Chikono is looking to improve his position.
Smith is tying to control. Chikono wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith avoids the body shot from Chikono.
Smith takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice cross by Chikono.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Chikono sprawls well.
Chikono scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Smith doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Chikono.
Chikono closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Some wild striking there from Chikono.
A combination from Chikono does no damage.
Chikono lands with a cross.
No joy there for Chikono, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith defending well as Chikono loads up on a big left hand.
Chikono lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sakura Chikono will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Chikono's head.
Chikono misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Chikono misses.
Chikono misses with a double jab.
Chikono looks to land a combination but Smith avoids it well.
Chikono misses with the combination.
Chikono misses with a few strikes there.
Chikono swinging wilding here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Chikono avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smith was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Chikono is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Smith has taken his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith looking for the RNC.

Chikono is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Smith keeps control of the position as Chikono tries to break free.
Smith is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Chikono up.
Chikono trying to control the action but Smith just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chikono tries to escape the position.
Chikono is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Smith has the hooks in. Chikono is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Smith working for a choke but Chikono is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith is hanging on to Chikono's back as he tries to escape.
Chikono turns into Smith and is now in his guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Chikono from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Chikono pushes his legs off easily.
Chikono slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Smith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Chikono trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Chikono wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Chikono is working to get back to half guard.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chikono is looking to escape.
Bo Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chikono takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chikono is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Chikono swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chikono scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Chikono. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Chikono moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Chikono rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Chikono which made him look bad.
Nice shot by Chikono.
Sakura Chikono is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Chikono.
Sakura Chikono seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chikono tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chikono misses with a series of wild punches.
Chikono fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Chikono keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith passes into half guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chikono defends it well.
Smith wants to control but Chikono is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is thwarting Chikono's attempts to control the position.
Chikono is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Chikono is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Chikono looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Smith is not going to allow Chikono to sit and survive in this position.
Smith is hanging on to Chikono's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is punishing Chikono with strikes - can he finish him?!
Smith is hanging on to Chikono's back as he tries to escape.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Chikono trying to control the action but Smith just sinks the hooks in.
Smith controlling from the back.
Smith is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Chikono up.
Smith not allowing Chikono to control his hands.
Smith thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to stick to Chikono's back but Chikono is turning into Smith. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Smith's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Chikono.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Chikono defends easily.
Smith pulls Chikono in close to his closed guard and prevents Chikono from doing any damage or advancing position.
Chikono passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smith is trying to control Chikono's posture but Chikono avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bo Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bo Smith!