PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hatsu Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ishikawa
vs
Rua

180 cm
24
182 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

187 cm
30
185 lbs
9 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatsu Ishikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Rua!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishikawa tries to clinch up but Rua circles away and keeps his distance.

Ishikawa gets a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Ishikawa.
Ishikawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ishikawa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rua or not.
Ishikawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Ishikawa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left hand lands to the body for Ishikawa.
Rua looks gassed!
Ishikawa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Rafael Rua has been cut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ishikawa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ishikawa pulls his leg out and moves away.

Ishikawa clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Ishikawa on the inside.
Ishikawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rua backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua wants a takedown but no success here.
Ishikawa stops a takedown attempt from Rua.
Hatsu Ishikawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Rua.
Ishikawa lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ishikawa.
Ishikawa lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ishikawa turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Ishikawa manages to end up in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ishikawa working the ground and pound from side control.

Ishikawa looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ishikawa working the head and body with strikes.
Ishikawa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Rua is rocked!
Ishikawa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rua is still in real trouble! Can Ishikawa finish him?
A big shot lands for Ishikawa! That's hurt Rua! Will he recover? Ishikawa fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hatsu Ishikawa!
Hatsu Ishikawa decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.