PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between kurt pike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ippo Makunouchi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

pike
vs
Makunouchi

190 cm
21
165 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

165 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, kurt pike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Makunouchi misses.
pike digs a good hook to Makunouchi's body.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi misses with the combination.
Makunouchi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

pike gets in close and instigates a clinch.
pike taking a breather.
pike really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
pike has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Makunouchi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
pike has Makunouchi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Makunouchi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, pike creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

pike breaks the clinch.
Makunouchi looks to land a combination but pike avoids it well.
Makunouchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but pike moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Makunouchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but pike moves away.
pike looks to score with a jab to the body but Makunouchi is just out of range.
Makunouchi cracks pike with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Makunouchi misses with a double jab.
Makunouchi scores with a one two! pike had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
pike rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Makunouchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Makunouchi misses with a combination

and pike counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Makunouchi's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
pike thows a big elbow that misses.
pike postures up in Makunouchi's guard and throws a big left but Makunouchi blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi being controlled here, momentarily.
pike stops Makunouchi from standing up.
pike throws a big right hand that misses.
Makunouchi wants to stand but pike is controlling the position.
Makunouchi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and pike dives into side control.
pike is looking to take a break and control but Makunouchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Makunouchi throws a lazy right hand but pike sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from pike is defended easily by Makunouchi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kurt pike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makunouchi misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Makunouchi lands a jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Makunouchi!
Makunouchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but pike moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Makunouchi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

pike fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Makunouchi sprawls well initially but pike persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Makunouchi is looking to escape.
pike controlling the action here.
Makunouchi is trying to stand back up but pike is controlling him
pike trying to control from half guard but Makunouchi is working away.
Makunouchi is trying to stand up here but pike is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pike trying to control the action but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.
pike is really struggling to control Makunouchi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
pike is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
pike closes the distance and pushes Makunouchi back into the cage.
Makunouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Makunouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
pike has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Makunouchi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
pike slowing the pace effectively.
pike drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Makunouchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.

pike's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Makunouchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but pike circles away quickly and effectively.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
pike tries for a takedown but Makunouchi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
pike uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
pike fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Makunouchi misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws a right and a left that pike avoids nicely.
A nice combination there by Makunouchi.
Makunouchi misses the jab.

pike has managed to clinch.
pike keeps control of Makunouchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Makunouchi tries to circle away but pike has him pinned against the cage.
pike keeps control of Makunouchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but pike has double underhooks.

pike breaks from the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Makunouchi scores with a four punch combination!
Makunouchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Makunouchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps pike's head backwards.
Makunouchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
pike avoids a punch combination nicely.
pike looks to land a right hand but Makunouchi moved out of range.

pike closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Makunouchi did well to prevent pike getting side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ippo Makunouchi will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

pike tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Makunouchi was well out of range. Poor timing from pike.
Makunouchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
pike tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makunouchi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten pike somewhat.
Makunouchi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Makunouchi misses with a hook.
Makunouchi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Makunouchi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as pike backs up against the cage.
Makunouchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent pike stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Makunouchi misses with a double jab

so pike counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Makunouchi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst pike is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
pike pushes down on Makunouchi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi wants to get back to his feet.
pike will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Makunouchi is not content to let pike control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Makunouchi looks to land a right hand but pike moved out of range.
pike throws a body punch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
pike avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
pike lands a jab.
Makunouchi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Makunouchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two 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.
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but pike moves out of range.
Makunouchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
pike's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and pike duly obliges.
Makunouchi throws a right hand that pike ducks under and follows up with a left that pike also avoids with ease.
pike fails with a takedown attempt.
Makunouchi swings for the body but pike moves out of range.

pike fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Makunouchi, pushing him back against the cage.
pike dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Makunouchi is trying to break the clinch but pike is controlling him.

pike breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi throws a nice looking combination but pike bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Makunouchi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Makunouchi misses with a combination

and pike counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from pike.
pike has Makunouchi pressed against the cage, preventing Makunouchi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Makunouchi can't break the clinch.
pike looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kurt pike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
pike prevents Makunouchi from breaking the clinch.
Makunouchi is pressed up against the cage. pike has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Makunouchi down to the mat. Makunouchi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
pike uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Makunouchi.
kurt pike is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

pike clinches up with Makunouchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Makunouchi takes a shot to the head.
Makunouchi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Makunouchi is pressed up against the cage. pike has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Makunouchi down to the mat. Makunouchi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Makunouchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
pike walks into a jab.
Makunouchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
pike is looking to wear down Makunouchi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Makunouchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Makunouchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but pike moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
pike uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Makunouchi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pike shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Makunouchi as he avoids it easily.
Makunouchi scores with a punch to the head.
pike shoots in and drives through. Makunouchi sprawls well.
pike on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Makunouchi misses with an uppercut.
Makunouchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Makunouchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from pike.
Makunouchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Makunouchi takes a swing at pike's ribcage but misses.
Makunouchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

pike scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Makunouchi looks like he's trying to stand up.
pike is keen to just control but Makunouchi is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
pike missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Makunouchi is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that kurt pike will probably get the nod.
That's time! pike's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Makunouchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. pike sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.
Makunouchi misses with a looping right.
pike fails with a takedown attempt.
A big left from Makunouchi misses.
Makunouchi 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.
Makunouchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but pike was well out of range. Poor timing from Makunouchi.
pike fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Makunouchi avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Makunouchi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makunouchi throws a right and a left that pike avoids nicely.

pike gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
pike is working Makunouchi over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
pike drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Makunouchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for kurt pike. That's going to take a lot out of him.
pike is working for takedown but Makunouchi is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to force a seperation but pike has the dominant position.
Makunouchi is trying to break the clinch but pike has him pressed against the cage.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but pike has double underhooks.
pike keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Makunouchi's efforts to push away.

pike has picked Makunouchi up - he's going for a ride! pike dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Makunouchi is trying to stand.
Makunouchi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
pike throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Makunouchi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Makunouchi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch combination from Makunouchi misses.
pike lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by pike.
Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Makunouchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and pike counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Makunouchi wants to stand and escape but pike is having none of it.
pike trying to control but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.
Makunouchi wants to stand and escape but pike is having none of it.
pike is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pike wants to pass the guard but Makunouchi is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Makunouchi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Makunouchi throws a combination that misses

so pike counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
pike has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
pike trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Makunouchi pushes pike off and scrambles back to his feet.
pike fails with a takedown attempt.

pike fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Makunouchi, pushing him back against the cage.
Makunouchi tries to circle away but pike has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Makunouchi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to break the clinch but pike is controlling him.
Makunouchi wants to get back to striking at distance but pike won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi tries to break free but pike pushes him back against the cage.
Makunouchi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
pike is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Makunouchi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
pike taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Makunouchi is looking to break free of the clinch but pike has double underhooks.
Makunouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Makunouchi tries to break the clinch but pike is controlling the position.

pike 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!
pike controlling the position well here. Makunouchi rolled but pike kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
pike missing with strikes from the back.
pike throwing wild punches that miss their target.
pike punches the canvas rather than the man.
pike avoiding Makunouchi 's attempts to control his hands.
Makunouchi controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

And that's the end of the fight!
kurt pike showed his dominance in that final round.
I think pike has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... kurt pike!