PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Juta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ippo Makunochi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makunochi has chosen Ippo's theme as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Juta
vs
Makunochi

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Juta!
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 Makunochi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Juta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Makunochi is fending him off so far but Juta persists. Nope, Makunochi circles away and we're back to standing.
Juta shoots in for a takedown but Makunochi shows good takedown defense.
Makunochi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Makunochi wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Juta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Juta shoots in but Makunochi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juta avoids a punch combination nicely.
Juta shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Juta shoots in but Makunochi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Juta shoots in for a takedown but Makunochi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Makunochi stuffs the takedown attempt from Juta. Juta gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juta has a takedown stuffed.
Juta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Makunochi's waist but Makunochi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Juta off to one side.
Juta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Makunochi as he avoids it easily.
Juta shoots in for a double leg but Makunochi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Juta is breathing heavily.
Juta throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Juta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Makunochi but Makunochi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Juta dives in and grabs Makunochi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Makunochi pushes down on Juta's head and hops out.
Juta shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Makunochi defends it nicely.
Juta has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makunochi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Juta napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Juta is looking for a sweep.
Makunochi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Juta tries to improve position but can't.
Makunochi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Makunochi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Juta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Makunochi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juta tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Makunochi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Juta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Makunochi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Juta tries to bench press Makunochi off him but Makunochi keeps the position.
Makunochi wants to stand but Juta is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juta wants to control but Makunochi postures up.
Juta tries to buck Makunochi off but Makunochi is having none of it.
Juta is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Makunochi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Makunochi prevents Juta from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunochi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Juta throws a head kick that misses.
Juta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Makunochi.
Juta gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Makunochi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Juta is rocked!

Makunochi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Oh Juta is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Juta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Juta is looking to stand up but Makunochi isn't so interested in that idea.
Juta seems to have got his legs back now.

Juta is looking for a triangle but Makunochi pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juta looking for a sweep. Not yet Juta, not yet.
Makunochi is looking to stand up but Juta won't let him.
Juta wants to sweep here but Makunochi controlling him for the moment.
Juta is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Makunochi would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Juta throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Juta looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Juta shoots and misses
and Makunochi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Juta doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Makunochi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Juta!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Juta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juta tries to reverse the position but Makunochi maintains control.
Juta is working hard here to advance position.
Makunochi tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Juta keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Juta regains half guard.
Juta is looking for a sweep. Makunochi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Makunochi blocks the strikes from Juta.
Juta gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ippo Makunochi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Juta gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Makunochi counters with a single leg into guard. Juta didn't expect that.
Ippo Makunochi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Makunochi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Juta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Makunochi is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juta pushes a forearm under Makunochi's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Makunochi is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jeff Juta!