PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanaka Sushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddard Stark (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.

Sushi
vs
Stark

225 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tanaka Sushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eddard Stark!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stark has a takedown stuffed.

Sushi has managed to clinch.
Stark looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stark misses with a double jab.
Stark throws a series of punches but Sushi moves out of range.
Sushi looks for a takedown but Stark sprawls well.
Stark tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stark shoots in but Sushi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sushi is looking to counter the offense by Stark and move into the clinch.
Sushi darts in looking for a takedown but Stark gets double underhooks and turns Sushi into the cage.
Stark keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stark throws a right and a left that both miss.
It appears Sushi was looking to counter with a kick there.

Sushi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stark to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Sushi pushes Stark off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stark.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stark misses with a two punch combination.
Stark tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sushi was well out of range. Poor timing from Stark.
Stark fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sushi shoots in but Stark avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stark is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Sushi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sushi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Eddard Stark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sushi moves into the clinch successfully.

Sushi breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Stark misses.
Stark's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stark duly obliges.
Sushi tries to clinch up.
Despite the aggression on Stark's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Sushi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sushi tries to clinch up but Stark circles away and keeps his distance.

Stark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sushi wants to control but Stark postures up.
Stark throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark cracks Sushi with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Sushi throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Stark feints a jab promting Sushi to slip. Stark then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sushi slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sushi is breathing heavily.
Stark misses with a wild combination.

Sushi has closed the distance and engaged Stark in a clinch.

Stark manages to break the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Sushi.
Sushi dives in and grabs Stark's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stark pushes down on Sushi's head and hops out.
Sushi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Stark instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stark's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stark misses with a wild combination.
Stark scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Stark has Sushi up against the cage in a clinch.

Stark breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sushi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.

Stark moves into range and clinches up with Sushi.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sushi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddard Stark dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stark misses with the combination.

Sushi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Stark manages to break the clinch.
Sushi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.
No luck for Sushi with that takedown attempt.
Stark tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sushi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As Stark looks to move away, Sushi throws a big counter combo but Stark just gets out of the way.
Stark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stark punishes Sushi's body with a nice straight punch.
Sushi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stark as he jumps to the side.
Eddard Stark seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sushi clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stark breaks the clinch.
Tanaka Sushi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark wants to clinch.
Sushi fails with the takedown.
As Sushi backs off Stark throws a huge counter combo but Sushi manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Sushi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sushi circles away quickly and effectively.
A left and a right from Stark both land. Nice combination.
Sushi shoots in looking for a takedown. Stark tries to sprawl out of it but Sushi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stark manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stark darts in looking for a takedown but Sushi gets double underhooks and turns Stark into the cage.
Sushi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stark's waist but Stark gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sushi off to one side.

Stark drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sushi is trying to keep Stark in close.
Stark slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sushi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sushi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stark postures up in Sushi's guard and throws a big left but Sushi blocks it.
Sushi has a closed guard, preventing Stark from standing up.
Sushi is adopting a defensive guard.
Sushi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark tries to free his leg and advance position but Sushi is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stark looks to land a combination but Sushi avoids it well.
No luck for Stark with that takedown attempt.
Stark fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stark darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Stark or perhaps it was just good defense by Sushi, which made it look bad.
Sushi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.
Sushi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A punch combination from Stark misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jab from Sushi.
Sushi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stark.
An attempted straight right counter from Sushi misses the target.
Sushi tries to clinch but Stark moves out of range.
Stark lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Stark shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sushi sprawls well. Sushi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stark gets slowly back to his feet.

Sushi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stark, pushing him back against the cage.
Stark is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Stark breaks the clinch.
Stark rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sushi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddard Stark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sushi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stark moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Tanaka Sushi has been cut.
A head kick misses from Sushi.
Sushi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Stark counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stark.

Stark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stark shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sushi is trying to defend but Stark finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Sushi kicks off Stark and gets to his feet.
Stark takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stark swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sushi counters with a nice uppercut.
Stark stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stark gets a double leg takedown into Sushi's guard.

Sushi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sushi moves in looking to clinch but Stark pushes him off.
Sushi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stark.
Sushi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Sushi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stark rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sushi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sushi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sushi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stark but Stark pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanaka Sushi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stark swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stark throws a right and a left that Sushi avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sushi clinches with his opponent.
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!
Sushi jumps guard but Stark stands there with Sushi around his waist. Sushi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sushi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stark gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A right hook to the body lands for Stark.

Stark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stark is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sushi rather than just go for the knockout.
Stark goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A big left from Stark misses.
Sushi is looking for a counter combo.
Stark fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sushi avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sushi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A punch combination from Stark misses.
Sushi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stark misses with a series of wild punches.

Stark closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sushi quickly recovers to half guard.

Sushi kicks off Stark and gets to his feet.
Stark lands with a nice combination. Sushi backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Sushi digs a good hook to Stark's body.

Stark has Sushi up against the cage in a clinch.
Sushi tries for a takedown. No joy.

Stark breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Stark. No joy for Sushi on that attempt.
Stark with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Some wild striking there from Stark.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Sushi. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Sushi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tanaka Sushi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Stark breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddard Stark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Stark 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Eddard Stark!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Eddard Stark!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Eddard Stark!

Eddard Stark wins by unanimous decision!