PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vin Sear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Makunouchi
vs
Sear

170 cm
27
160 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

178 cm
25
180 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vin Sear!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Sear shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sear tries a head kick but it misses.
Sear misses the shot to the body.
Sear lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sear ducks under a wild hook from Makunouchi.
Sear pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Makunouchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sear is fending him off so far but Makunouchi persists. Nope, Sear circles away and we're back to standing.
Sear lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sear rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Makunouchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sear manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sear controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi is looking to improve his position but Sear isn't that keen on the idea.
Makunouchi is working hard here to advance position.

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.
Sear content just to control the position here.
Makunouchi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Makunouchi trying to control here.
Makunouchi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sear manages to mount him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Sear unloads with some shots from mount but Makunouchi bucks and avoids them well.
Sear looking to control and managing it successfully.
Makunouchi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Makunouchi tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vin Sear dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sear throws a push kick but Makunouchi slaps the foot to one side.
Makunouchi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sear wants to clinch up but Makunouchi keeps it at a distance.
Sear connects with a jab.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sear but Sear pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sear as he avoids it easily.
Sear tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sear swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippo Makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sear. Makunouchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vin Sear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Sear throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Makunouchi moves out of range of the body kick from Sear.
A head kick misses from Sear.
Makunouchi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sear tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi misses with a wild combination.

Sear clinches.
Sear lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sear gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sear is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Makunouchi is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sear just misses with a elbow thrown towards Makunouchi's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sear just misses with a elbow thrown towards Makunouchi's brow.
Makunouchi blocks the elbow strike.
Sear creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Makunouchi's defenses.

Makunouchi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sear wants to control from the top but Makunouchi keeps moving.
Sear might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Makunouchi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Makunouchi is trying to control the position but Sear postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sear preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vin Sear.
Makunouchi moves out of range of the body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sear, as that shot connected.
Sear scores with a punch to the head.
Sear scores with a nice head shot.

Makunouchi shoots in and gets a takedown into Sear's guard.
Sear is trying to control the position but Makunouchi postures up.
Makunouchi wants to control from the top but Sear keeps moving.
Sear is trying to keep Makunouchi in close.
Sear utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sear looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sear has momentary wrist control but Makunouchi slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makunouchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makunouchi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makunouchi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sear managing to control the position.
Sear is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makunouchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vin Sear showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Makunouchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sear but Sear pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sear misses with an uppercut. Makunouchi saw that one coming.
Makunouchi shoots in but Sear avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Makunouchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makunouchi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sear working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makunouchi.
Sear keeping moving, preventing Makunouchi from controlling successfully.
Sear working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Makunouchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sear looking for a sweep. Not yet Sear, not yet.
Sear is trying to control the position but Makunouchi postures up.
Makunouchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sear looking for a sweep. Not yet Sear, not yet.
Makunouchi 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.
Makunouchi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sear is not content to let Makunouchi control the position.
Ippo Makunouchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Makunouchi lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sear is looking to regain half guard here but Makunouchi keeps moving and retains side control.
Makunouchi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Makunouchi working the body and head with strikes.
Makunouchi is putting a hurting on Sear here, landing some big shots from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makunouchi scores with punches from side control.
Makunouchi working the body and head with strikes.
Makunouchi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sear sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sear parries the strikes from Makunouchi easily there. Makunouchi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sear to escape.
Makunouchi wants to control but Sear is keeping him busy.
Makunouchi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sear sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sear takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Makunouchi slows the pace down.
Makunouchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sear keeps working.
Sear manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Ippo Makunouchi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Makunouchi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippo Makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown but Sear shows good takedown defense.
Makunouchi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sear connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Makunouchi scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sear moves in looking to clinch but Makunouchi pushes him off.
A jab from Sear misses.
Makunouchi tries to bum rush Sear with a series of wild strikes but Sear uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makunouchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sear lands a leg kick that knocks Makunouchi off balance momentarily.
Sear looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sear. Makunouchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Makunouchi moves out of range of the leg kick from Sear.
Sear tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makunouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sear defending well as Makunouchi loads up on a big left hand.
Ippo Makunouchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Makunouchi fails with the takedown
and Sear counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ippo Makunouchi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sear 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vin Sear!
In his post fight interview, Vin Sear gave a big smile as he said 'Like to thank Milwaukkees Best energy supplements. My manager all my training partners at the Sweat Lodge best gym in New york'.