PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Roth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ippo Makunouchi will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Roth
vs
Makunouchi

181 cm
18
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

176 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makunouchi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makunouchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Roth.
Makunouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Roth.
Makunouchi lands a nice shot to the body.
Makunouchi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Roth pinned against the cage. Roth gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Makunouchi has Roth up against the cage in a clinch.
Makunouchi wants a takedown but no success here.
Roth really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Makunouchi is trying to pull guard but Roth has him pressed against the cage.
Shawn Roth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ippo Makunouchi.

Makunouchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makunouchi connects with a single shot there.
Roth checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Makunouchi fails with the takedown
and Roth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Makunouchi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Makunouchi.
Roth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Roth breaks from the clinch.
Roth missing with a left hand there. Makunouchi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Makunouchi catches Roth with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Makunouchi gets caught napping as Roth dives in and scores a takedown. Makunouchi manages to retain guard.
Roth is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Roth drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Makunouchi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Roth has Makunouchi in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Makunouchi tries to roll over but Roth keeps him under control.

Roth seems to be looking for submissions.
Makunouchi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi wants to get back to full guard.
Makunouchi is trying to control but can't.
Roth seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Makunouchi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Roth tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Makunouchi.
The fighters are battling for position here. Makunouchi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Makunouchi trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth sitting in guard here, content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Shawn Roth wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Roth sprawls well. Roth wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Makunouchi gets slowly back to his feet.
Roth dives in and grabs Makunouchi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Makunouchi pushes down on Roth's head and hops out.
Roth stuffs the takedown attempt from Makunouchi. Makunouchi gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roth wants to clinch
and Makunouchi counters with a left and a right that stings Roth.
Roth tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ippo Makunouchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Shawn Roth's cut.
That's time! Roth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Makunouchi shoots for a takedown but Roth saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.

Makunouchi has managed to clinch.

Roth breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roth uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Makunouchi.
Makunouchi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roth is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Makunouchi.
Roth blocks a head kick by Makunouchi.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roth as he avoids it easily.
Makunouchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Roth.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roth as he avoids it easily.
Shawn Roth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ippo Makunouchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Makunouchi is breathing heavily.

Makunouchi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Roth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Makunouchi instigates a clinch.
Roth wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Makunouchi working hard to break the clinch.
Roth wants to stall.
Roth is trying to break free.
Makunouchi lands a shoulder strike.
Makunouchi avoiding damage.
Makunouchi working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth stalling against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Roth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Makunouchi stuffs the takedown.
Makunouchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Roth.
Makunouchi dives in for a single leg takedown but Roth sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Makunouchi is working for takedown but Roth is calmly controlling the position for now.
Makunouchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roth tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Roth shoots in for a takedown but Makunouchi shows good takedown defense.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makunouchi tries a head kick but it misses.

Roth looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Roth is trying to work for a kimura but Makunouchi is defending well.

Roth wants to work for an arm triangle but Makunouchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth trying to control the action but Makunouchi is working from the bottom.

Roth is looking for a kimura but Makunouchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Roth to get the leverage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makunouchi wants to control but Roth is keeping busy.
Roth stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Roth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Shawn Roth's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Makunouchi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Roth defends well and Makunouchi ends up having to push Roth into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Roth prevents Makunouchi from breaking the clinch.
Roth is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Roth misses with a short punch on the inside.

Roth breaks the clinch.

Makunouchi rushes Roth and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Makunouchi wants to take the fight to the mat but Roth manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Roth manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Makunouchi scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roth as he avoids it easily.
Shawn Roth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ippo Makunouchi.
Makunouchi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Makunouchi closes the distance and pushes Roth back into the cage.
Roth is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Makunouchi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Makunouchi can't break the clinch.
Makunouchi looking to slow down the pace here.
Makunouchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Roth won't allow it.

Roth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roth throws a looping overhand right but Makunouchi ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makunouchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Roth is trying to trip Makunouchi. He has hold of a leg but Makunouchi is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Roth persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Makunouchi wants to stand up but Roth is controlling him.
Roth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roth is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makunouchi trying to keep a closed guard but Roth is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roth drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roth jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roth postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Roth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Makunouchi wants to stand but Roth is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ippo Makunouchi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Makunouchi shoots for a takedown but Roth saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Makunouchi is predictable there
and Roth counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roth looks to land a right hand but Makunouchi moved out of range.

Makunouchi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Makunouchi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Roth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Makunouchi moves out of range of the strikes.

Roth shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Roth showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Shawn Roth.
I think Roth has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Roth!