PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ikuhisa Minowa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vega
vs
Minowa

183 cm
25
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrei Vega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikuhisa Minowa!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vega misses with a takedown attempt
and Minowa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Vega tries to land a front kick but Minowa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Vega shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Minowa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vega in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Vega looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Minowa gets back to half guard.
Vega looks to land a strike but Minowa avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Minowa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vega gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vega looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minowa is trying to keep Vega in close.
Minowa wants to stand up but Vega is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minowa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vega doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vega manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vega preventing the sweep.
Vega trying to control the position from guard on top but Minowa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Minowa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vega won't allow Minowa to sweep him here.
Vega trying to control the position from guard on top but Minowa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Minowa looking for a sweep. Not yet Minowa, not yet.

Minowa pushes Vega off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minowa lands a left and a right that send Vega crashing to the mat, dazed. Minowa thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Vega is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vega tries for a takedown but Minowa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Minowa drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Oh Vega is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vega is breathing heavily.
Vega is not content to let Minowa control the position.
Vega is trying to control Minowa's posture but Minowa avoids it.
Vega seems to have got his legs back now.

Minowa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vega is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Minowa is chipping away with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Vega's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Minowa tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minowa stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Minowa stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Vega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vega takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Minowa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Minowa drops Vega with a beautiful combination! Vega stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Minowa is looking for the KO!

It looks like Andrei Vega has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Minowa throws an uppercut from hell that sends Vega clean off his feet! He's out cold! Minowa stands back and admires his work as he thinks about that KO of the night award that is surely being wrapped up for him back stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ikuhisa Minowa!
After winning the bout, Ikuhisa Minowa thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.