PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saul Trejo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rin Itoshiki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trejo comes to the cage accompanied by Red Flag by Billy Talent. Itoshiki has chosen Hito toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru (SZS Mod. Rap ver.) as his entrance music. Saul Trejo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Trejo
vs
Itoshiki

192 cm
25
270 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

195 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saul Trejo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rin Itoshiki!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trejo doesn't manage to clinch there - Itoshiki circles away.

Itoshiki closes the distance and clinches.
Trejo misses with a knee to the head.

Itoshiki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Itoshiki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Itoshiki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Itoshiki has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Itoshiki lands a head kick!
Itoshiki tries a head kick but it misses.
Trejo tries to clinch
and Itoshiki counters with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Trejo tries to clinch but Itoshiki moves out of range.
Trejo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Itoshiki to score with a decent uppercut.
Itoshiki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Trejo is fending him off so far but Itoshiki persists. Nope, Trejo circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trejo closes the distance but Itoshiki moves to the side
and Itoshiki counters with a head kick.

Trejo clinches.

Trejo manages to break the clinch.

Trejo rushes Itoshiki and presses him up against the cage.
Trejo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Itoshiki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Trejo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Itoshiki can't fight it off and eventually Trejo manages to take the fight to the floor. Itoshiki looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trejo trying to control but Itoshiki is working from the bottom.

Trejo has gone for a leg lock! Itoshiki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Trejo's guard.
Itoshiki looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Trejo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Itoshiki uses it to pass to side control.

Itoshiki decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Itoshiki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Trejo defends it nicely.
Saul Trejo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rin Itoshiki.

Trejo moves into the clinch.
Trejo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itoshiki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Trejo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Itoshiki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Itoshiki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Trejo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Trejo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Trejo swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Itoshiki is now in Trejo's guard. A big mistake from Trejo there, giving up the dominant position!
Itoshiki advances position into side control!
Itoshiki is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Trejo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Itoshiki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itoshiki taking a breather here.

Itoshiki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Trejo, who protects the arm well.
Itoshiki trying to control the action but Trejo is working from the bottom.
Trejo is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Itoshiki 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.
Trejo manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rin Itoshiki dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Trejo misses with a double jab
and Itoshiki counters with an outside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Itoshiki or perhaps it was just good defense by Trejo which made him look bad.
A combination from Itoshiki does no damage.
Trejo darts in trying to clinch

and Itoshiki moves into the clinch.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Trejo.
Itoshiki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Trejo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Trejo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Rin Itoshiki has been cut.
Trejo trying to land knees to the body.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
Trejo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Trejo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Itoshiki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Trejo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Itoshiki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Itoshiki manages to pull guard.
Itoshiki is pulling down on Trejo's head. It's preventing any offense from Trejo, at least for the moment.
Itoshiki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Trejo!
Itoshiki controlling the pace for now.
Trejo is squirming around, avoiding Itoshiki's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itoshiki misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Trejo is trying to escape the mount.

Itoshiki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Itoshiki thowing shots but they're missing.
Trejo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Trejo can't escape the position.
Trejo regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trejo looking for submissions off his back.
Trejo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Itoshiki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Itoshiki trying to pass the guard but Trejo defending well.
Trejo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Trejo keeping moving, preventing Itoshiki from controlling successfully.
Trejo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Trejo is looking for a triangle but Itoshiki pushes his legs off easily.

Trejo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Itoshiki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Trejo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Trejo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Itoshiki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Itoshiki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Itoshiki counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trejo looks to clinch

and Itoshiki counters by moving into the clinch.
Itoshiki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Itoshiki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rin Itoshiki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rin Itoshiki's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. 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.

Itoshiki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Trejo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Trejo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Trejo prevents Itoshiki from breaking the clinch.
Trejo is trying to drag Itoshiki to the mat but Itoshiki just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Itoshiki breaks the clinch.
Rin Itoshiki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Itoshiki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Trejo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Itoshiki lands with a right hand.
Rin Itoshiki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Trejo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Itoshiki shoots in looking for a takedown. Trejo tries to sprawl out of it but Itoshiki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Trejo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Itoshiki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Trejo pinned against the cage. Trejo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trejo tries to clinch but Itoshiki moves away
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Itoshiki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Trejo counters by clinching up.
Saul Trejo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rin Itoshiki.
Itoshiki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Trejo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Trejo misses with a knee strike.
Itoshiki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
Trejo is pressed up against the cage. Itoshiki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Trejo down to the mat. Trejo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Itoshiki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Trejo moves into the clinch.
Trejo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Trejo with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Itoshiki pulls Trejo into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Itoshiki working for a triangle but Trejo defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itoshiki working a defensive guard but Trejo manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Itoshiki's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Itoshiki tries to improve position but can't.
Itoshiki is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Trejo has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Trejo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Itoshiki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Itoshiki is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Trejo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Trejo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Itoshiki has escaped the position, nice work there.

Trejo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Itoshiki, who protects the arm well.
Itoshiki tries to buck Trejo off but Trejo is having none of it.
Itoshiki manages to get back to half guard.
Itoshiki trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Trejo won't let Itoshiki get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Trejo goes for an armbar but Itoshiki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Itoshiki.

Trejo has his foot on Itoshiki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Itoshiki works his way back into a safe position though.

Itoshiki stands up from Trejo's guard - Itoshiki perhaps looking for a knockout.

Trejo forces Itoshiki back against the cage and clinches.
Saul Trejo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Itoshiki can't get the takedown.
Trejo tries to land a knee to the head but Itoshiki blocks with his arms.
Trejo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Itoshiki has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Trejo is trying to keep an underhook but Itoshiki manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Trejo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rin Itoshiki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Itoshiki stands up and beckons Trejo to join him on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rin Itoshiki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Itoshiki 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rin Itoshiki!