PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akira Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Bannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishikawa comes to the cage accompanied by mindshift genki sudo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ishikawa
vs
Bannon

150 cm
35
147 lbs
33 - 21 - 0

160 cm
27
140 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Bellum Dominum

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 33 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Ishikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeremy Bannon!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ishikawa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bannon!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bannon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ishikawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bannon tries to escape but Ishikawa is in control.
Bannon sneaks back into half guard.
Ishikawa is looking to advance position but Bannon won't allow it.
Ishikawa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bannon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bannon manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bannon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bannon is looking for a triangle but Ishikawa pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bannon has an active guard here but Ishikawa has managed to pass into half guard.
Ishikawa is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Bannon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ishikawa defends well.
Ishikawa works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bannon is defending against the submission attempts here by Ishikawa.
Ishikawa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bannon keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa is working for a kimura but Bannon is defending it quite comfortably.

Bannon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ishikawa pulls his head out easily.
Bannon is looking to get back to full guard here but Ishikawa has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon struggling a bit here.
Bannon regains half guard.

Ishikawa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bannon is just riding it out for now. Ishikawa eventually gives up the hold.

Bannon looking for submissions off his back.
Ishikawa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bannon tries to kick Ishikawa off but Ishikawa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bannon tries to get to full guard but Ishikawa has control of the leg.

Ishikawa moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Bannon.

Ishikawa is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bannon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bannon pushes Ishikawa away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ishikawa gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in 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 Akira Ishikawa will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bannon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ishikawa fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bannon keeps the fight on the outside.
Bannon throws a hook but Ishikawa avoids it easily.
Bannon lands with a cross.

It looks like Akira Ishikawa has been cut.

Ishikawa instigates a clinch.
Ishikawa landing knees to the head.

It looks like Jeremy Bannon has been cut.
Bannon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ishikawa is keeping busy.
A short uppercut from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ishikawa looking for a takedown.
Ishikawa slowing the pace effectively.
Ishikawa stops a takedown attempt from Bannon.
Ishikawa stalling in the clinch.
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!
Ishikawa pushes Bannon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bannon is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Ishikawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bannon blocks an elbow strike from Ishikawa.
Bannon is trying to maintain a safe position but Ishikawa gets an underhook and turns Bannon into the cage.
Ishikawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ishikawa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bannon looking to stall.
Bannon just leaning against Ishikawa, taking a breather.
Ishikawa misses with a knee strike.
Ishikawa looking to stall.
Bannon blocks an uppercut.
Bannon trying to control the position but instead, Ishikawa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bannon into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bannon is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Ishikawa has denied him.
Ishikawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ishikawa is looking to take this one to the mat.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ishikawa.
Bannon blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bannon trying to stall but Ishikawa improves his position.
Ishikawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ishikawa throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Bannon pulls Ishikawa into guard.
Ishikawa throwing strikes from guard but Bannon blocks nicely.
Ishikawa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa passes Bannon's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bannon is trying to get back to full guard.

Bannon looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ishikawa passes into side control!
Bannon is looking for a sweep.
Ishikawa wants to control but Bannon is keeping him busy.
Bannon is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ishikawa wants to control but Bannon is keeping him busy.
Bannon manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ishikawa manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bannon keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Bannon looking to slow down the pace here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ishikawa just leaning against Bannon, taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Ishikawa dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bannon throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ishikawa.
Bannon misses with a wild body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Bannon. No joy for Ishikawa on that attempt.
Bannon scores with a decent looking hook.
Ishikawa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bannon.

Bannon instigates a clinch.
Bannon stalling in the clinch but Ishikawa improves position.
Ishikawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ishikawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ishikawa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Bannon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bannon misses the body punch

and Ishikawa counters with a takedown into side control.
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!
Ishikawa is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bannon stops Ishikawa from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon sneaks back into half guard.

Bannon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ishikawa trying to control from Bannon's half guard. Bannon has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Bannon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ishikawa wants to stand and escape but instead Bannon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bannon throwing strikes from guard but Ishikawa blocks nicely.
Akira Ishikawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ishikawa landing strikes from the mount.
Jeremy Bannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ishikawa controlling the pace for now.
Ishikawa avoids the attempt from Bannon to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Ishikawa controls the action.

Ishikawa has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
What can Bannon do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Bannon rolls, trying to escape but Ishikawa keeps control of the position.
Akira Ishikawa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Bannon taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Akira Ishikawa!
Akira Ishikawa took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Kemists ↑ 5x160Q for their support in the buildup to the fight.