PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunochi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and zihas fahabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Makunochi
vs
fahabi

190 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ippo Makunochi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, zihas fahabi!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
fahabi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makunochi.
Makunochi misses with a takedown attempt - fahabi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Makunochi wants to clinch up but fahabi keeps it at a distance.
fahabi tries to clinch but Makunochi moves out of range.
fahabi misses with a takedown attempt

and Makunochi moves into the clinch.
fahabi lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Makunochi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makunochi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Makunochi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Makunochi keeps the fight on the outside.
fahabi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
fahabi tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunochi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
fahabi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Makunochi counters with a thumping low kick.
fahabi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Makunochi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makunochi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Makunochi closes the distance and clinches.

Makunochi decides to pull guard.
Makunochi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Makunochi is looking to stand up but fahabi isn't so interested in that idea.
fahabi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
fahabi looking to pass the guard.
fahabi won't allow Makunochi to get back to his feet.
Makunochi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
fahabi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Makunochi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

fahabi stands and steps away. Makunochi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
fahabi wants to clinch but Makunochi slips to the side

and Makunochi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Makunochi is breathing heavily.
fahabi is trying to stand.
Makunochi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
fahabi is trying to stand back up but Makunochi is controlling him
Makunochi thows a huge punch but fahabi dodges it nicely.
fahabi wants to improve his position but Makunochi is controlling well.
fahabi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Makunochi wants to stand but his hand is trapped. fahabi uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fahabi is trying to keep Makunochi in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
fahabi tries to clinch up but Makunochi circles away and keeps his distance.
Makunochi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Makunochi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
fahabi looks to clinch
and Makunochi counters with a three punch combo that has fahabi backing up. fahabi nods at Makunochi to acknowledge the strikes.
Makunochi circles away from the clinch attempt.
fahabi cracks Makunochi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Makunochi swats away the attempt to clinch by fahabi.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
fahabi throws a right hand that Makunochi ducks under and follows up with a left that Makunochi also avoids with ease.
Jab by fahabi.

That's four 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.

fahabi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

fahabi stands up and waves to Makunochi to follow him.
Makunochi shoots for a double leg takedown but fahabi sprawls well. He's pushed Makunochi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

fahabi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - fahabi lands in his opponent's guard.
fahabi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
fahabi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Makunochi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but zihas fahabi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Makunochi has fahabi up against the cage in a clinch.

fahabi successfully pulls guard.

Makunochi stands up from fahabi's guard - Makunochi perhaps looking for a knockout.
fahabi fails with the takedown

and Makunochi counters by moving into the clinch.

Makunochi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from fahabi misses.

fahabi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. fahabi lands a nice short elbow.
fahabi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
fahabi prevents Makunochi from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunochi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
fahabi is trying to control. Makunochi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
fahabi passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
fahabi lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
fahabi controlling the pace for now.
fahabi lands with some strikes.
fahabi raining down shots from the mount!
fahabi is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fahabi looking to control and managing it successfully.

fahabi is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Makunochi is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Makunochi flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. fahabi anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Makunochi and secures both hooks! This could be bad! fahabi slips an arm under Makunochi chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. fahabi has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. fahabi is squeezing on Makunochi like an anaconda would it's prey. Makunochi fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). zihas fahabi!