PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Winai Montri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo Makunouchi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Makunouchi
vs
Montri

175 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

186 cm
23
194 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makunouchi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Winai Montri!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Montri darts in and clinches Makunouchi up against the cage.

Montri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Montri ducks under a wild hook from Makunouchi .
Montri takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Montri tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi looks to throw the jab but Montri is out of range.
Montri moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Montri tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Good exchange - Makunouchi coming out on top.
Montri tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi throws a hook to the side of Montri's head but Montri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Montri uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Makunouchi .
Montri is looking to clinch but Makunouchi is avoiding it.

Makunouchi tries to keep at a distance but Montri has taken the fight into the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Montri won't allow it.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but Montri has double underhooks.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but Montri has double underhooks.
Makunouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Makunouchi can't break the clinch.
Makunouchi stops a takedown attempt from Montri.

Montri's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Makunouchi throws a jab when Montri was well out of range.
Makunouchi loads up on a big right hand but Montri slips the punch.
Montri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makunouchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Makunouchi misses with a straight right.
Makunouchi throws a big shot that misses.
Montri wants to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Makunouchi .
Makunouchi thuds his right hand into Montri's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Montri ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Makunouchi misses with a hook. Montri ducked under it nicely.
Makunouchi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Montri tries a head kick but it misses.
Montri ducks under a wild hook from Makunouchi .
Montri tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Makunouchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Montri takes the fight into the clinch.

Montri manages to pull guard.
Makunouchi is looking to stand up but Montri won't let him.

Montri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Makunouchi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montri has control of Makunouchi 's left arm, preventing Makunouchi from doing any damage.
Makunouchi wants to stand but Montri is controlling his posture from full guard.
Makunouchi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Montri on the ground.
Montri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Montri has a closed guard, preventing Makunouchi from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makunouchi won't allow Montri to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Montri is on top in guard.

Montri gets to his feet - Makunouchi follows without any prompting.
Makunouchi throws a good cross that connects.

Makunouchi tries to keep at a distance but Montri has taken the fight into the clinch.
Montri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montri has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Makunouchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Makunouchi wants to break free but Montri has control.

Montri wants the takedown. Makunouchi is fighting it off but Montri persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Makunouchi 's guard against the cage.
Montri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Montri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Makunouchi wants to stand but Montri is controlling the position.
Montri trying to control but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.
Montri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makunouchi keeping full guard, as Montri tries to pass.
Montri looks gassed!
Makunouchi is looking to stand up but Montri isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Montri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montri doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Montri fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makunouchi scores with a jab.
Makunouchi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Montri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Montri moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Montri blocks a jab.
Montri doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Montri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Montri throws a head kick that half lands.
Montri on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Makunouchi connects with a crisp jab.

Montri moves into the clinch successfully.
Makunouchi tries to break free but Montri pushes him back against the cage.

Montri has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Makunouchi uses from the top position.
Montri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Makunouchi wanted to stand there but Montri had control of the position.

Montri working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Makunouchi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Makunouchi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winai Montri 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.

Montri is looking to clinch.
Montri walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Montri tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Montri is looking to clinch.
Montri is looking to clinch.
Montri moves out of range of the strikes.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Montri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Makunouchi throws an overhand right that lands on Montri's shoulder, as Montri tries to avoid the shot.
Makunouchi avoids the head kick by Montri.
Montri tries to move into range but Makunouchi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montri tries to clinch up.
Montri tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Makunouchi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Montri tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Montri moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Montri moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
Montri wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Montri.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Montri is looking to clinch but Makunouchi is avoiding it.
Montri takes a jab right on the kisser.
Montri tries to clinch there but Makunouchi circles away.
Nice straight punches there by Makunouchi . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Makunouchi .
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Montri in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A punch combination from Montri misses.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Winai Montri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Montri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.
A big right from Makunouchi misses.
Montri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makunouchi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A lazy left from Makunouchi finds it's target.
Nice shot by Makunouchi .
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Makunouchi avoids the body shot from Montri.

That's two 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.
Montri looks for the body kick but Makunouchi saw that one coming.
Montri tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Montri fails to land with a series of punches.
Montri is breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Montri.
Makunouchi jabs Montri right on the nose. Montri blinks but takes it well.
Makunouchi cracks Montri with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Montri misses with a head kick.
Makunouchi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Makunouchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Montri throws a head kick but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Makunouchi sizes up Montri with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Montri thows a body shot but no joy.
Montri is looking to clinch but Makunouchi is avoiding it.
Montri tries a head kick but it misses.
Makunouchi with a nice cross.
Montri has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Makunouchi with a jab.
Montri wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Makunouchi there.
Montri ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Montri is looking to clinch but Makunouchi is avoiding it.
Montri slips a jab from Makunouchi .
Makunouchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Montri moves into the clinch.

Montri has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Makunouchi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Makunouchi is trying to stand back up.

Montri is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Makunouchi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Montri is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
Montri lands strikes to the head.

Makunouchi defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Montri's arms.

Montri has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Makunouchi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Makunouchi fending off the submission attempt from Montri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winai Montri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Makunouchi .
Montri tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Montri tries to clinch up.
Montri tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Montri slips under a jab from Makunouchi .

Montri moves into the clinch successfully.
Montri lands a hook to the side of the head.

Montri jumps into guard, dragging Makunouchi to the mat.

Makunouchi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Montri has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Makunouchi has managed to get both his arms back between Montri's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Montri has his foot on Makunouchi 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Makunouchi works his way back into a safe position though.
Makunouchi wants to stand but Montri has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Montri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Makunouchi defends it easily.
Makunouchi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makunouchi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Montri is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montri throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Montri has a closed guard, preventing Makunouchi from standing up.
Montri manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Makunouchi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Montri.
Makunouchi is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Montri is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Makunouchi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Makunouchi trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montri with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Montri with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Montri jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Makunouchi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Montri tries to score with some ground and pound. Makunouchi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Montri is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Makunouchi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Montri stands up and beckons Makunouchi to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Makunouchi .
Montri ducks under a wild hook from Makunouchi .
Makunouchi misses with a straight left.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Montri.
Makunouchi blocks a head kick by Montri.

Montri closes the distance and clinches.
Makunouchi tries to break free but Montri pushes him back against the cage.
Montri lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Montri.

Montri manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi looks to throw the jab but Montri is out of range.
Montri throws a nice head kick!
Montri misses with a few strikes there.

Montri drives through and clinches with Makunouchi against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Montri manages to break the clinch.
Montri doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Makunouchi cracks Montri with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Montri.
Makunouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Montri tries to clinch up.
Montri tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Montri doesn't manage to clinch there - Makunouchi circles away.
Makunouchi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Makunouchi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Montri tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Montri moves away from the strike by Makunouchi .
Makunouchi lands with an overhand left.

Montri clinches up against the cage.
Montri is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Makunouchi pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Montri gets control of Makunouchi 's arms and successfully pulls guard. Montri will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Makunouchi tries to stand but Montri is controlling from the bottom.
Ippo Makunouchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Winai Montri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Makunouchi throws and elbow that misses. Montri uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Makunouchi 's guard. Nice move by Montri!

And that's the end of the fight!
Winai Montri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Montri 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 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Winai Montri!