PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Hamilton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuuga Ikeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hamilton
vs
Ikeda

186 cm
27
182 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

189 cm
20
197 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Hamilton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yuuga Ikeda!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Ikeda.

Ikeda rushes Hamilton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ikeda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hamilton throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hamilton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ikeda pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ikeda throws a head kick that misses.
Ikeda shoots for a takedown but Hamilton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ikeda throws a shot to the body.
Ikeda is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hamilton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ikeda clinches up against the cage.
Hamilton wants to stall.
Ikeda has Hamilton pressed against the cage.

Ikeda gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ikeda throwing shots but Hamilton is blocking nicely.
Ikeda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ikeda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ikeda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ikeda trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ikeda is stalling here but it's allowed Hamilton to get half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ikeda stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Hamilton to get to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ikeda feints and as Hamilton raises his hands in defense, Ikeda changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ikeda postures up in Hamilton's guard and throws a big left but Hamilton blocks it.
Ikeda wants to control from the top but Hamilton keeps moving.

Hamilton is looking for a triangle but Ikeda pushes his legs off easily.
Ikeda postures up in Hamilton's guard and throws a big left but Hamilton blocks it.
Ikeda throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ikeda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ikeda working some strikes from top position.
Ikeda works over Hamilton with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda throwing strikes but missing.
Hamilton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ikeda.
Ikeda cracks Hamilton with a solid left hand.
Hamilton has a closed guard, preventing Ikeda from standing up.
Hamilton keeping full guard, as Ikeda tries to pass.
Ikeda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Hamilton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ikeda defends it easily.
Ikeda throwing strikes but missing.
Ikeda throwing strikes but missing.
Hamilton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda tries to free his leg and advance position but Hamilton is retaining full guard.
Ikeda advances to half guard.
Ikeda is nestled in close to Hamilton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hamilton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ikeda.
Ikeda missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hamilton looking for submissions off his back.
Hamilton is breathing heavily.
Ikeda wants to free his trapped foot but Hamilton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ikeda moves into full mount! Hamilton won't be happy about that!
Ikeda breaks from Hamilton's wrist control and lands an elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ikeda working Hamilton over with strikes here.
Ikeda trying to control but Hamilton is having none of it.
Ikeda lands a big shot there that rocks Hamilton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuuga Ikeda dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ikeda throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hamilton was covering up waiting for the punch and Ikeda finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Ikeda decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ikeda shoots in for a takedown but Hamilton shows good takedown defense.
Ikeda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hamilton is fending him off so far but Ikeda persists. Nope, Hamilton circles away and we're back to standing.
Ikeda throws a head kick but Hamilton moves out of range.
Ikeda closes the distance and clinches up with Hamilton, looking for a takedown. Ikeda pushes Hamilton against the cage but Hamilton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Paul Hamilton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuuga Ikeda.

Ikeda closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikeda lands a hook that snaps the head of Hamilton backwards.

Ikeda breaks from the clinch.

Ikeda closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hamilton did well to prevent Ikeda getting side control.
Hamilton is staying active underneath Ikeda, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yuuga Ikeda has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ikeda is working for a submission of some sort.
Ikeda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ikeda looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hamilton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ikeda.

Hamilton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hamilton won't allow Ikeda to pass to mount.
Ikeda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda drops an elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
Ikeda looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hamilton with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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!
Ikeda winds up and cracks Hamilton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ikeda connects with a nice short shot to Hamilton's temple.
Ikeda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ikeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ikeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hamilton's head.
Ikeda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hamilton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ikeda is trying to control the action in half guard but Hamilton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ikeda scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Ikeda there.
Ikeda not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hamilton with the active half guard here but Ikeda passes nicely into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ikeda lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hamilton takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ikeda landing strikes.
Hamilton takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ikeda scoring with punches from side control.
Ikeda working the ground and pound from side control.
Ikeda trying to control the action but Hamilton is working from the bottom.
Ikeda lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ikeda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hamilton is avoiding damage well.
Ikeda looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hamilton is avoiding damage well.
Hamilton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ikeda decides to stand back up.

Ikeda moves into range and clinches up with Hamilton.
Hamilton wants to stall.
Hamilton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ikeda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ikeda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ikeda is trying to trip Hamilton. He has hold of a leg but Hamilton is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ikeda persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ikeda working some strikes from top position.
Ikeda throws a big elbow that misses.
Ikeda working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hamilton's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuuga Ikeda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ikeda clinches.

Ikeda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yuuga Ikeda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ikeda shoots in for a double leg but Hamilton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ikeda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ikeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ikeda missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ikeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hamilton defending well though.

Ikeda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ikeda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikeda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Ikeda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hamilton is just riding it out for now. Ikeda eventually gives up the hold.
Ikeda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hamilton defending well though.
Ikeda working Hamilton over with strikes.
Ikeda thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hamilton's head.
Ikeda misses with a head shot. Hamilton uses the momentum to regain guard.

Hamilton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ikeda is looking to work some ground and pound but Hamilton has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hamilton actively working from the bottom here.
Ikeda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ikeda is nestled in close to Hamilton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ikeda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ikeda is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ikeda lands a nice short elbow.
Ikeda takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ikeda is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ikeda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ikeda moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hamilton some visible discomfort.
Hamilton takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ikeda lands a few punches from side control.
Ikeda has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hamilton!
Ikeda landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ikeda lands a big elbow.
Ikeda avoids the attempt from Hamilton to control.
Ikeda with shots to the head and body - Hamilton looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ikeda unloading with bombs!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hamilton is in a horrible position here. Ikeda smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ikeda looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

It looks like Paul Hamilton has been cut.
Ikeda looking to finish Hamilton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hamilton!
Ikeda landing strikes from the mount.

Hamilton is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikeda with the ground and pound from mount.
Oh Hamilton is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ikeda lands a big shot to the head and Hamilton winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Yuuga Ikeda!