PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ouji Ichisake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sinner Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ichisake
vs
Savage

181 cm
25
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ouji Ichisake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sinner Savage!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ichisake shoots in looking for a takedown but Savage manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ichisake's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Savage dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Savage ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Savage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Savage misses its intended target.
Savage connects with a jab.
Savage misses with an uppercut. Ichisake saw that one coming.
Ichisake changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ichisake keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Savage.
Ichisake tries to counter with a takedown but Savage is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage cracks Ichisake with an open hand slap.
Sinner Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Savage misses.
Savage throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ichisake closes the distance and clinches up with Savage, looking for a takedown. Ichisake pushes Savage against the cage but Savage circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichisake moves out of range of the strikes.
Savage looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Savage misses the jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Savage as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Ouji Ichisake has been cut.
Ichisake on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Savage loads up on a big right hand but Ichisake slips the punch.
A jab from Savage misses.
Savage rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ichisake counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Savage!
Ichisake happy to just control the position for now.
Ichisake seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Savage for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichisake trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.
Ichisake content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Savage really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ichisake. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ichisake is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Savage knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ichisake wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Savage, who protects the arm well.
Savage wants to get back to his feet but Ichisake drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichisake wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savage keeps working.
Ichisake controlling the position from side mount.
Savage is not content to let Ichisake control the position.
Savage is trying to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Savage can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ichisake tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ichisake is looking to take a break and control but Savage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ichisake taking a breather here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savage is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ichisake has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sinner Savage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ouji Ichisake's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ichisake shoots in and drives through. Savage sprawls well.
Savage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Savage misses with a hook

so Ichisake counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ichisake controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ichisake trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ichisake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Savage swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ichisake won't allow Savage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichisake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Savage swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Savage misses with an uppercut

and Ichisake counters with a nice double leg into side control. Savage won't be happy with that.

Ichisake is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Savage has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here as Ichisake stalls from top position.
Ichisake trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ichisake asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ichisake controls the position.
Ichisake prevents Savage from escaping the position.
The referee asks Ichisake politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ichisake prefers to stall for the moment though.
Ichisake has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Savage is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ichisake asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ouji Ichisake overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Savage misses the jab.
Ichisake changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Savage comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ichisake blocks a jab.
Savage misses with a straight left.
Good shot there by Savage.
Savage throws a jab but it's blocked by Ichisake.
Ichisake shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Savage but Savage pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a hook to the side of Ichisake's head but Ichisake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Savage lands a jab to Ichisake's midsection.
Ichisake takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Savage swings for the body but Ichisake moves out of range.
Ichisake moves away from the strike by Savage.
Ichisake displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Savage throws out the jab.
Ichisake ducks under a wild hook from Savage.
Ichisake appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Savage throws a hook to the side of Ichisake's head but Ichisake sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ichisake attempts a counter takedown but Savage avoids it well and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savage connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ichisake takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sinner Savage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ouji Ichisake's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Savage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Savage looks to land a left hand but Ichisake moved out of range nicely.
Nice defenses there by Ichisake.
Ichisake avoids the body shot from Savage.
Ichisake attempts a counter takedown but Savage avoids it well and moves away.
Savage throws a jab but it's blocked by Ichisake.

Ichisake looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ichisake looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Savage looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ichisake looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage is trying to stand up here but Ichisake is controlling him well.
Ichisake trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ichisake stops Savage from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sinner Savage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Savage leaves Ichisake with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Savage keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Savage scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ichisake ducks under a wild hook from Savage.
Ichisake drops down looking for a counter takedown but Savage sprawls and moves away.
Savage bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ichisake's head backwards.
Ichisake misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ouji Ichisake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage misses with a right hand

and Ichisake counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Savage wants to stand up but Ichisake is controlling him.
Ichisake 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.
Ichisake sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savage's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichisake prevents Savage from standing back up.
Ichisake performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Savage looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sinner Savage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ichisake trying to control the pace.
Savage pushes Ichisake off looking to stand but Ichisake dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sinner Savage seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ichisake ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ichisake tries to counter with a takedown but Savage is quick to defend against it.
Nice uppercut lands for Savage. That snapped Ichisake's head back.
Savage might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Savage takes a swing at Ichisake's ribcage but misses.
Ichisake half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ichisake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Savage pinned against the cage. Savage gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Savage lands with a hook. Ichisake tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ouji Ichisake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Savage bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ichisake's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sinner Savage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Savage 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 for Sinner Savage!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Sinner Savage!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Sinner Savage!

Sinner Savage wins by unanimous decision!