PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daichi Kishimoto (ranked 334 p4p, 40 weight class) and Philip Ziskie (ranked 870 p4p, 105 weight class). Daichi Kishimoto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kishimoto
vs
Ziskie

170 cm
22
145 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

173 cm
21
156 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daichi Kishimoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Philip Ziskie!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Darius Henderson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziskie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kishimoto on the side of the head.
Ziskie throws a hook to the side of Kishimoto's head but Kishimoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Ziskie misses.
Kishimoto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ziskie has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ziskie leaves Kishimoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ziskie throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ziskie connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ziskie. Kishimoto shrugs it off though.
Kishimoto definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kishimoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ziskie sprawls well. Ziskie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kishimoto gets slowly back to his feet.
Ziskie misses with a series of wild punches.
Ziskie lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kishimoto backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Ziskie.
Ziskie lands a jab to the nose.

Kishimoto looking to score a takedown here. Ziskie is defending well but Kishimoto drives through and ends up in Ziskie's guard.
Kishimoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ziskie can't keep his opponent in guard - Kishimoto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura here.

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

Kishimoto is working for a submission of some sort.
Ziskie is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ziskie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kishimoto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ziskie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kishimoto.
Ziskie is trying to control but can't.

Kishimoto is looking for a kimura but Ziskie is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kishimoto to get the leverage.

Kishimoto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ziskie is just riding it out for now. Kishimoto eventually gives up the hold.

Kishimoto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kishimoto is working for a kimura here but Ziskie manages to reverse the position and he's now in Kishimoto's guard.

Kishimoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ziskie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kishimoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ziskie has managed to get both his arms back between Kishimoto's legs - danger averted.
Ziskie is looking to stand up but Kishimoto won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kishimoto working a defensive guard here.
Ziskie wants to stand but Kishimoto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Kishimoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ziskie wants to stand but Kishimoto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ziskie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kishimoto avoids the body shot from Ziskie.
Kishimoto has his takedown stuffed
and Ziskie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Ziskie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ziskie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ziskie cracks Kishimoto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kishimoto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big left from Ziskie misses.
Kishimoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ziskie.
Kishimoto with a poor takedown
and Ziskie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ziskie lands a nice shot that snaps Kishimoto's head back.
Kishimoto has a takedown stuffed.
Ziskie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Philip Ziskie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kishimoto blocks the body kick.
Kishimoto feinted with a counter takedown.
Kishimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ziskie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daichi Kishimoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ziskie lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Ziskie.
Kishimoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ziskie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kishimoto.
Philip Ziskie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ziskie lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Ziskie's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ziskie duly obliges.
Kishimoto shoots and misses
and Kishimoto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ziskie throws a jab when Kishimoto was well out of range.
Kishimoto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ziskie.
Ziskie scores with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ziskie walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kishimoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ziskie throws an overhand right that lands on Kishimoto's shoulder, as Kishimoto tries to avoid the shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ziskie.

Kishimoto is rocked!
Ziskie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kishimoto shoots and misses
and Ziskie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Oh Kishimoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kishimoto.
Kishimoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Ziskie lands with a straight right. Kishimoto didn't see that one coming.
Ziskie misses with a head kick.
Ziskie misses with a hook

so Kishimoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Ziskie has his foot on Kishimoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kishimoto works his way back into a safe position though.
Kishimoto won't allow Ziskie to sweep him here.
Kishimoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ziskie is keeping the position for now.

Kishimoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ziskie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kishimoto has managed to get both his arms back between Ziskie's legs - danger averted.
Kishimoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ziskie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kishimoto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ziskie dives on top into guard.

Ziskie wants to stand but Kishimoto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Kishimoto is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Ziskie has his hands clasped together but Kishimoto extends and breaks Ziskie's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kishimoto.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daichi Kishimoto!
Daichi Kishimoto retains his featherweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Daichi Kishimoto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.