PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Louis Sutherland (ranked 3611 p4p, 3639 weight class) and Antwan Wang (ranked 381 p4p, 387 weight class). Sutherland kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Pressure. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Sutherland
vs
Wang

183 cm
25
185
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
198
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good elbows
Determined

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Louis Sutherland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antwan Wang!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sutherland closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wang is looking to escape.
Sutherland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sutherland definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Wang blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sutherland.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sutherland winds up and cracks Wang with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sutherland throws a strike but Wang avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Sutherland landing with the ground and pound.
Wang has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Tokyo. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Sutherland missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sutherland distracts Wang with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Wang is trying to control the position but Sutherland postures up.
Sutherland throwing strikes but missing.
Sutherland is in close to Wang's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sutherland stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wang has momentary wrist control but Sutherland slips an elbow through the middle.
Wang trying to keep a closed guard but Sutherland is proving a slippery customer.
Sutherland landing some decent shots from guard.
Wang wants to sweep but no luck.
Sutherland postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sutherland postures up.
Wang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sutherland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wang keeping full guard, as Sutherland tries to pass.
Sutherland with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sutherland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wang utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to keep Sutherland in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sutherland throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wang was covering up waiting for the punch and Sutherland finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sutherland throwing strikes from guard but Wang blocks nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sutherland stands up over Wang, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sutherland is working Wang over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sutherland throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sutherland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland is looking to work some ground and pound but Wang has wrist control.
Sutherland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sutherland is looking to work some ground and pound but Wang has wrist control.
Sutherland looking to pass the guard.
Wang working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sutherland.
Wang wants to sweep here but Sutherland controlling him for the moment.
Wang has momentary wrist control but Sutherland slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sutherland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sutherland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Sutherland dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sutherland closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sutherland lands with a punch from half guard.
Sutherland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wang can do to turn this around?

Wang has one foot on Sutherland's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Antwan Wang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wang shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sutherland pinned against the cage. Sutherland gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wang wants to clinch

and Sutherland counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Wang!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sutherland misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sutherland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wang keeps working.
Sutherland scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wang to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sutherland tries to score with some ground and pound. Wang controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sutherland working the ground and pound.
Sutherland cracks Wang with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Wang taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sutherland is putting a hurting on Wang here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sutherland lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Wang down.
Sutherland scores with a couple of short elbows.
Sutherland working the body and head with strikes.
Wang can't do much from the bottom here.
Sutherland is working Wang over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland is chipping away with strikes.
Sutherland is putting a hurting on Wang here, landing some big shots from side control.
Wang taking punishment in the form of punches.
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!
Sutherland working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sutherland scores with punches from side control.
Sutherland throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sutherland looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Wang is avoiding damage well.
Sutherland scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wang to see if he's OK.
Sutherland is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland is looking to take a break and control but Wang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wang takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sutherland connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wang some visible discomfort.

Sutherland is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wang knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sutherland cracks Wang with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Wang bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sutherland counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wang won't be happy with that.
Wang is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
You can see the frustration on Wang's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wang regains half guard, as Sutherland was trying to land strikes.
Sutherland throwing shots but Wang is blocking nicely.
Louis Sutherland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sutherland throwing shots but Wang is blocking nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Sutherland dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

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

Wang kicks off Sutherland and gets to his feet.
Wang swings for the body but Sutherland moves out of range.
Wang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sutherland shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wang's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sutherland is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sutherland lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sutherland is in close to Wang's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sutherland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sutherland working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sutherland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sutherland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Wang kicks Sutherland off and gets to his feet.
Wang tries to clinch there but Sutherland circles away.
Wang dives in for a single leg takedown but Sutherland sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sutherland shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wang's guard.
Sutherland throws an elbow that misses. Wang uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sutherland's guard. Nice move by Wang!

Sutherland wants to stand up but Wang is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Sutherland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sutherland wants to stand but Wang is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sutherland shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wang napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from Sutherland seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Wang struggling a bit here.

Sutherland thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sutherland working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Antwan Wang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sutherland is looking to take a break and control but Wang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sutherland in side control, throwing shots but Wang defends.
Wang avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sutherland.
Sutherland creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wang sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Louis Sutherland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sutherland blocks the strikes from Wang.

Wang sneaks out the side door and pushes Sutherland away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Sutherland closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wang did well to prevent Sutherland getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wang looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Louis Sutherland.
Well Sutherland has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louis Sutherland!