PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelo Del Pilar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Ashida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Del Pilar
vs
Ashida

190 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcelo Del Pilar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Ashida!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Del Pilar with that takedown attempt.

Ashida has Del Pilar up against the cage in a clinch.
Ashida is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Del Pilar wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ashida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Del Pilar misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ashida.
Come on Ashida - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Del Pilar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ashida fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcelo Del Pilar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Del Pilar has a takedown stuffed.
Del Pilar tries for a takedown but Ashida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ashida moves into the clinch successfully.
A head punch on the inside from Del Pilar fails to land.
Del Pilar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ashida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ashida lands a right hand.
Del Pilar tries to pull guard but Ashida holds him up against the cage and eventually Del Pilar drops back down to his feet.
Ashida lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Pilar tries to score a body lock takedown but Ashida shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Ashida ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ashida no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ashida pulls Del Pilar in to control the position.

Del Pilar drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ashida dives on top into guard.
Del Pilar is breathing heavily.
Ashida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ashida's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Del Pilar keeping moving, preventing Ashida from controlling successfully.
Ashida must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ashida tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Pilar is retaining full guard.

Ashida drops back looking for a leg! Del Pilar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Del Pilar manages to kick Ashida off! Ashida jumps back into Del Pilar's guard.
Ashida trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Pilar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ashida feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ashida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Del Pilar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ashida trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Pilar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Del Pilar has a closed guard, preventing Ashida from standing up.
Del Pilar throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Pilar looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ashida passes into side control.
Ashida controls the position.
Del Pilar is trying to get back to half guard.
Ashida wants to control but Del Pilar is keeping him busy.
Del Pilar is being controlled here.
Ashida trying to control the action but Del Pilar is working from the bottom.

Ashida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Del Pilar, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Del Pilar manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ashida's best efforts.
Ashida is looking to take a break and control but Del Pilar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Del Pilar trying to control here.
Del Pilar is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ashida is trying to control the action in half guard but Del Pilar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Ashida dominated that round.
That's time! Del Pilar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Del Pilar closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ashida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ashida prevents Del Pilar from improving his position.
Del Pilar manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ashida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ashida would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Del Pilar has an active guard here but Ashida has managed to pass into half guard.
Ashida stops Del Pilar from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ashida tries to pass to full mount but Del Pilar defends it.
Ashida passes into side control, despite Del Pilar's attempt to control the position.
Ashida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Del Pilar keeps working.
Del Pilar is looking to regain half guard here but Ashida keeps moving and retains side control.
Del Pilar trying to remain calm as Ashida controls from the top position.
Del Pilar is not content to let Ashida control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ashida avoids the strikes from the bottom by Del Pilar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Del Pilar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ashida as he jumps to the side.

Del Pilar gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ashida wants to stand but Del Pilar is controlling his posture from full guard.

Del Pilar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ashida looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Pilar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Del Pilar keeping moving, preventing Ashida from controlling successfully.

Del Pilar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ashida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Del Pilar working for a triangle but Ashida defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Pilar looking to control.
Del Pilar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Del Pilar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ashida trying to control but Del Pilar is working from the bottom.

Del Pilar is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Del Pilar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manny Ashida will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Del Pilar shoots and misses

and Ashida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ashida is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ashida moves nicely into side control.
Ashida is looking to take a break and control but Del Pilar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ashida remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Del Pilar manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ashida's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Pilar wants to improve his position but Ashida is controlling well.

Ashida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Del Pilar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Del Pilar is looking to improve his position.
Ashida takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ashida is keen to just control but Del Pilar is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Del Pilar actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Del Pilar misses with a takedown attempt

and Ashida counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ashida.
Ashida trying to control the position from guard on top but Del Pilar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ashida showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Del Pilar looking for a triangle here. Ashida is fighting it but it looks tight! Del Pilar pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ashida is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Marcelo Del Pilar!