PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manunu Igi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Do (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Igi
vs
Do

182 cm
22
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manunu Igi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruce Do!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Igi has his takedown stuffed

and Do counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Do escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Do is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Igi's half guard.
Igi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Do.
Do sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Igi defending well though.
Do not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Igi trying to hold on to Do's head to control him but Do postures up.
Do thows a huge punch but Igi dodges it nicely.
Do thows a huge punch but Igi dodges it nicely.
Igi looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Do not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Do sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Igi defending well though.
Do thows a huge punch but Igi dodges it nicely.
Do not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Do.
Igi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Igi tries to get out of the position.
Do not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Igi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Igi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Do on the ground.
Do controlling the action here.
Do is looking to advance position but Igi won't allow it.
Do thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Do scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Do missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Do tries to pass to full mount but Igi defends it.
Do is trying to control. Igi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Do throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Do takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Igi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Do.
Do scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Do throwing shots but Igi is blocking nicely.
Do wants to lay and pray for a moment but Igi keeps working.
Do works his way into side control.
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.
Igi is looking to regain half guard here but Do keeps moving and retains side control.
Do fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The strikes coming from Do are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Do misses with the ground and pound.
Do has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Igi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Igi is looking to control Do's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Igi avoid being mounted?
Do missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Do is trying to control. Igi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Igi is looking for a sweep. Do is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Do lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Igi tries to get to full guard but Do has control of the leg.
Do missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Igi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Do.
Do sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Igi defending well though.
Do lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Do thows a huge punch but Igi dodges it nicely.
Do working Igi over with strikes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Do looks to land a strike but Igi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Igi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Do.
Do trying to control but Igi is working from the bottom.
Do thows a big elbow that misses.
Do working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Igi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Do is looking to work some ground and pound but Igi has wrist control.
Igi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Igi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Do.

That's six 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.
Do loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Igi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Igi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Do.
Do throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Do throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Do accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Do trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Igi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Do seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Do postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Do throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Do postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Igi keeping moving, preventing Do from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Do accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Do with a flurry of punches that miss.
Do trying to control but Igi is working from the bottom.
Do with a flurry of punches that miss.
Igi keeping moving, preventing Do from controlling successfully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Igi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Do stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Igi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Igi shoots in for a double leg but Do sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Do has closed the distance and engaged Igi in a clinch.
Igi can't break the clinch.
Do crunches a lovely knee into Igi's ribcage.
Do is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Igi is defending well for now.
Igi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Do breaks from the clinch.
Igi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Do counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manunu Igi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Do escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Do shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Do thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Igi's head.
Do works his way into full mount!
Igi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Igi is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Do dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Do showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Igi.
Igi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Do shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Igi defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Igi circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Igi looks to clinch

and Do holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Do breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Igi misses.
Igi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Do pinned against the cage. Do gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Igi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Do.
The fight stays on the outside here - Do looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Do stuffs the takedown attempt from Igi. Igi gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manunu Igi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Igi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Igi lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Igi keeps the fight on the outside.
Igi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Do moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Igi is fighting off a takedown attempt but Do is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Igi to the mat. Igi regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Do throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Igi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Do advances to half guard.
Igi is staying active underneath Do, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Igi trying to control from the bottom.
Igi wants to get back to his feet.
Do lands strikes from half guard.
Do thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Igi's head.
Do scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Igi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Do is thwarting Igi's attempts to control the position.
Do throwing shots but Igi is blocking nicely.
Do throwing shots but Igi is blocking nicely.
Do not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Do is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Do moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Igi has worked his arm free - good work by Igi!
Igi is trying to get back to half guard.
Igi dodges the ground and pound from Do.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Do tries to score with some ground and pound. Igi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ground and pound from Do seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Igi defending against the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Do.
The strikes coming from Do are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Do is looking to take a break and control but Igi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Do fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Do fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Igi is not content to let Do control the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Do sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Igi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Do in side control, throwing shots but Igi defends.
Do wants to lay and pray for a moment but Igi keeps working.
Igi is looking for a sweep.
Do trying to control the action but Igi is working from the bottom.
Igi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Do is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Igi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Do looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Igi is avoiding damage well.
Igi is not content to let Do control the position.
Do postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Do creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Igi sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Do tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Do has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Do controlling the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Do.
Do throws an elbow but Igi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Igi dodges the ground and pound from Do.
The strikes coming from Do are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Do tries to score with some ground and pound. Igi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
You can see the frustration on Igi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Do crashes against the mat.
Do tries to score with some ground and pound. Igi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Igi is trying to get back to half guard.
Do working away.
Do wants to lay and pray for a moment but Igi keeps working.
An elbow from Do crashes against the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Do throws an elbow but Igi slips to the side and avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Igi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manunu Igi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Igi tries to bench press Do off him but Do keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Do comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Do has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Bruce Do!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Bruce Do!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Bruce Do!

Bruce Do wins by unanimous decision!