PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gunji Koizumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Duffy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zak Duffy will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Koizumi
vs
Duffy

176 cm
28
193 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

210 cm
21
197 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunji Koizumi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zak Duffy!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duffy closes the distance but Koizumi moves to the side

and Koizumi counters with a takedown into side control.
Koizumi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Koizumi throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Duffy gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koizumi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Koizumi dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koizumi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koizumi raining down shots from the mount!
Koizumi raining down shots from the mount!

Koizumi is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Duffy is surviving well by controlling Koizumi's body position as best he can.
Koizumi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Duffy looks a forlorn figure.
Koizumi controlling the pace for now.
Duffy tries to lock up and control but Koizumi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koizumi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Koizumi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Duffy wants to hold on but Koizumi pushes him away.
Koizumi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koizumi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Duffy is in all sorts of trouble here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duffy can do anything to dispel that myth.
Koizumi working Duffy over with strikes here.
Koizumi with shots to the head and body - Duffy looks very uncomfortable down there.
Koizumi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koizumi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Koizumi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Duffy's face.

It looks like Zak Duffy has been cut.
Duffy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Koizumi wants to control but Duffy has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Koizumi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Duffy!

Koizumi wants to finish this one by submission but Duffy is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Koizumi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Koizumi.
Koizumi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Koizumi controlling his opponent.
Duffy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koizumi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koizumi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Koizumi is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Koizumi extends the arm and Duffy is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gunji Koizumi!
Gunji Koizumi retains his middleweight title!