PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eikichi Onizuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Rose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rose has chosen Soothsayer as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Onizuka
vs
Rose

183 cm
23
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eikichi Onizuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Rose!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Rose misses

and Onizuka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Onizuka trying to control from half guard but Rose is working away.

Rose is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Onizuka pulls his head out easily.
Onizuka is keen to just control but Rose is a slippery customer.
Onizuka lands with a punch from half guard.
Rose really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Onizuka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Onizuka thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rose to regain full guard.
Onizuka has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Onizuka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Onizuka throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rose looking for a sweep. Not yet Rose, not yet.
Rose preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Onizuka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Onizuka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Onizuka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rose trying to hold on to Onizuka's head to control him but Onizuka postures up.
Onizuka lands strikes from half guard.

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.
Onizuka prevents Rose from improving his position.
Rose has hold of Onizuka's hands but Onizuka slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Onizuka is trying to control. Rose wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Onizuka throws a strike but Rose avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Onizuka looking to sit in guard and control but Rose gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rose passes Onizuka's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka tries to get to full guard but Rose has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Rose there.

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.
Rose is looking to pass Onizuka's guard but actually Onizuka recovers to full guard.
Rose wants to pass the guard but Onizuka is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Onizuka keeping moving, preventing Rose from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eikichi Onizuka dominated that round.
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.

Onizuka tries to clinch up.
Onizuka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rose misses the shot to the body.
Rose rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Onizuka counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rose wants to sweep here but Onizuka controlling him for the moment.
Onizuka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Onizuka scoring with some ground and pound.
Onizuka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rose utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Onizuka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rose swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rose is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Onizuka wants to control from the top but Rose keeps moving.
Rose is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Rose hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Horrible takedown by Rose or perhaps it was just good defense by Onizuka which made him look bad.

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.

Rose closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rose lands in his opponent's guard.
Onizuka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rose.
Rose is in close to Onizuka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rose must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose connects with a couple of short punches.
Rose trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Onizuka manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Onizuka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Onizuka has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rose is proving hard to escape from.
Onizuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rose is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Onizuka drops back looking for a leg! Rose is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rose manages to kick Onizuka off! Onizuka jumps back into Rose's guard.
Onizuka postures up in Rose's guard and throws a big left but Rose blocks it.
Onizuka preventing the sweep.
Onizuka throwing strikes but missing.
Onizuka tries to free his leg and advance position but Rose is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eikichi Onizuka dominated that second round.
That's time! Onizuka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Onizuka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rose counters with a nice double leg into side control. Onizuka won't be happy with that.
Rose tries to score with some ground and pound. Onizuka controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rose fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rose advances to full mount.
Eikichi Onizuka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rose avoids the attempt from Onizuka to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Rose not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rose missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rose is looking to advance position but Onizuka won't allow it.

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.
Rose is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Onizuka moves into full guard.
Rose is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rose is looking to work some ground and pound but Onizuka has wrist control.
Billy Rose has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rose with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Onizuka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Onizuka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rose wants to control from the top but Onizuka keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Eikichi Onizuka wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rose misses with a jab to the body

and Onizuka counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Onizuka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rose wants to improve his position but Onizuka is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Billy Rose.
Well Onizuka 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eikichi Onizuka!