PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sora Izanagi (ranked 1961 p4p, 4507 weight class) and Kevin Walters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Izanagi
vs
Walters

190 cm
32
187
20 - 7 - 0

180 cm
36
186
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sora Izanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kevin Walters!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walters keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Izanagi.
Walters closes the distance and clinches up with Izanagi, looking for a takedown. Walters pushes Izanagi against the cage but Izanagi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Izanagi throws a wild body kick that Walters sees coming a mile off.
Walters shoots in for a double leg but Izanagi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Izanagi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Walters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Izanagi tries to avoid it but Walters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Izanagi to the ground. Izanagi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sora Izanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Walters.

Walters shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Izanagi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Walters is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Izanagi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Izanagi tries to bench press Walters off him but Walters keeps the position.
Walters slows the pace down.
Izanagi can't do much from the bottom here.
Izanagi is looking for a sweep.
Izanagi is being controlled here.
Walters's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Walters working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi is looking for a sweep.

Walters wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Izanagi, who protects the arm well.
Izanagi tries to buck Walters off but Walters is having none of it.
Walters is staying tight to Izanagi's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Izanagi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Izanagi tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Izanagi is looking to regain half guard here but Walters keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Walters controlling the position.
Izanagi tries to improve position but can't.
Walters taking a breather here.
Izanagi can't do much from the bottom here.
Walters wants to control but Izanagi is keeping him busy.
Walters controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Walters has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Izanagi can't do much from the bottom here.
Izanagi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Izanagi holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Izanagi is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Izanagi wants to control but Walters postures up.
My spies in Hey Steves Fight Shack inform me that Walters has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Walters remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Walters working away.
Walters controlling from side mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Walters dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Walters shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Izanagi as he jumps to the side.
Walters looks for a takedown but Izanagi sprawls well.
Izanagi throwing a counter right hand but Walters manages to avoid it.
Walters looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Izanagi is fending him off so far but Walters persists. Nope, Izanagi circles away and we're back to standing.
Sora Izanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Walters.
Walters tries to score a power double leg takedown but Izanagi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Walters somewhat.
A head kick misses from Izanagi.

Walters looking to score a takedown here. Izanagi is defending well but Walters drives through and ends up in Izanagi's guard.
Izanagi is wriggling around but Walters manages to pass to half guard.

Walters controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Izanagi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Walters is working away from the top position though.
Walters content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Izanagi trying to control here.
Walters is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Izanagi is looking for a sweep. Walters is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Izanagi keeping hold of Walters's head, controlling as best he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walters fails with the takedown.
It looked like Izanagi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Walters fails with a takedown attempt.
Walters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Izanagi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Walters shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Izanagi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Walters fails with the takedown.

Walters scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Walters controls the position.
Walters working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izanagi wants to get back to his feet.
Izanagi holding on.

Walters looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Walters controls the position.
Izanagi is looking for a sweep.
Walters happy to just control the position for now.

Walters tries for a kimura but Izanagi is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Izanagi is looking to regain half guard here but Walters keeps moving and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kevin Walters will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Izanagi as Walters shoots in.
Izanagi misses with a looping right.

Walters shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Walters stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Izanagi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Walters showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Izanagi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walters 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.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Walters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izanagi pulls Walters in to control the position.
Walters controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Izanagi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Walters moves out of range as Izanagi strikes.
Walters shoots in but no luck this time.
Walters fails with a takedown attempt.
Sora Izanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Walters.
Walters misses with a takedown attempt
and Izanagi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Izanagi leaves Walters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Izanagi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice sprawl there from Izanagi as Walters shoots in.
Izanagi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Walters tries for a takedown but Izanagi circles away easily
and Izanagi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Walters thinking.
Walters takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Izanagi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Walters's head backwards.
Walters dodges the punch combination from Izanagi.
Sora Izanagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Izanagi tries to avoid it but Walters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Izanagi to the ground. Izanagi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Izanagi swings for the body but Walters moves out of range.
Walters checks a low kick from Izanagi.
Walters throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Izanagi's waist but Izanagi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Walters off to one side.
Izanagi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Izanagi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Walters sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Walters looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
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!
Izanagi misses with a head kick.
Izanagi thumps Walters with a low kick.
Izanagi tries to close the distance and clinch but Walters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Walters misses with a takedown attempt - Izanagi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Izanagi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walters shoots for a takedown but Izanagi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Izanagi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
No luck for Walters with that takedown attempt.
Izanagi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Walters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Izanagi tries to avoid it but Walters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Izanagi to the ground. Izanagi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sora Izanagi is winning the standup battle so far.
Walters misses with a takedown attempt - Izanagi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Walters shoots in for a takedown but Izanagi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Izanagi misses its target.
Walters doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Izanagi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Izanagi wants to clinch.
Kevin Walters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walters shoots in but Izanagi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walters misses with a takedown attempt
and Izanagi counters with a straight right hand.
Sora Izanagi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Walters tries to keep at a distance but Izanagi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Izanagi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Izanagi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Walters backwards.
Walters is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Knees to the body from Izanagi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Izanagi prevents the takedown attempt.
Izanagi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Izanagi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Izanagi has a couple of punches blocked by Walters.
Walters drops down looking for an ankle pick but Izanagi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kevin Walters is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Walters ducks under a wild hook from Izanagi.
Izanagi throws a looping overhand right but Walters ducks down to avoid it.
Walters changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sora Izanagi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Walters 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kevin Walters!
Kevin Walters very nearly forgot to thank Conviction amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.