PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kurisu Ikora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle McCoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ikora
vs
McCoy

174 cm
25
167 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

175 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Defiance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurisu Ikora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyle McCoy!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCoy slips a straight right by Ikora.
Ikora misses with a double jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
McCoy shoots in for a double leg but Ikora sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McCoy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ikora throws a right and a left that both miss.
McCoy takes one on the button.
A punch combination from Ikora misses.
Ikora misses with a double jab.
Ikora looks to land a combination but McCoy avoids it well.
McCoy takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McCoy takes one on the button.
Ikora avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ikora uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCoy.
Ikora takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McCoy dodges the punch combination from Ikora.
Ikora throws a right hand that McCoy ducks under and follows up with a left that McCoy also avoids with ease.
McCoy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ikora throws out a loose jab but McCoy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ikora loads up on a big right hand but McCoy slips the punch.
Ikora takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A cross from McCoy lands.
Ikora keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McCoy walks into a jab.
Ikora throws a shot from downtown. McCoy moves away and avoids it.
McCoy throws a leg kick which misses Ikora's front leg but catches the back leg as Ikora tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy throws a hook but Ikora avoids it easily.
McCoy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ikora.
Ikora fails to land with a series of punches.
Ikora stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McCoy.
A punch combination from Ikora misses.

McCoy closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

McCoy tries for a kimura but Ikora is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McCoy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ikora manages to get back to half guard.
McCoy scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

McCoy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCoy prevents Ikora from improving his position.
McCoy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCoy 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.
Ikora wants to improve his position but McCoy is controlling well.

McCoy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McCoy dodges the punch combination from Ikora.
Ikora slips a jab and a cross from McCoy.
Ikora throws a right hand that McCoy ducks under and follows up with a left that McCoy also avoids with ease.
McCoy looks to land a right hand but Ikora moved out of range.
McCoy chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McCoy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McCoy.
McCoy thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCoy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ikora counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fighters circling - McCoy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McCoy throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ikora tests McCoy's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ikora uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCoy.
Ikora misses with the combination.
Ikora is breathing heavily.
Ikora throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ikora misses with a two punch combination.
Ikora misses with the combination.
McCoy misses with a body kick.
McCoy misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from McCoy misses.
McCoy throws a push kick but Ikora slaps the foot to one side.
Ikora steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McCoy.
McCoy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ikora.

McCoy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ikora!

McCoy looking for a guillotine from mount but Ikora is having none of it.
McCoy unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikora really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

McCoy has control of Ikora's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ikora regains control of the situation pretty easily.

McCoy is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ikora to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ikora shrugs it off.

McCoy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ikora can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ikora is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCoy landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle McCoy dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ikora avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCoy throws a push kick but Ikora slaps the foot to one side.
Ikora swinging wildly here.
Horrible takedown by Ikora or perhaps it was just good defense by McCoy which made him look bad.
McCoy thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ikora if he has to take too many more of those.
Ikora takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

McCoy scores a takedown into full mount!
McCoy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ikora is looking to escape.
McCoy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McCoy lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

McCoy working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ikora is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

McCoy looking to secure an arm triangle but Ikora defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCoy with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ikora sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ikora is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

McCoy wants to work for an arm triangle but Ikora is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ikora gets full guard.
McCoy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ikora's guard.
McCoy wants to pass to mount but Ikora is defending the position.
McCoy is trying to control. Ikora wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ikora manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCoy wants to pass the guard but Ikora is keeping the position.
McCoy trying to control the position from guard on top but Ikora is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ikora is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McCoy trying to control here.

Ikora is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McCoy sees it coming and defends easily.
Ikora is looking to take a break and control but McCoy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ikora is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikora is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ikora pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCoy is keeping the position for now.
McCoy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ikora's guard.
McCoy throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ikora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

McCoy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ikora preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McCoy passes Ikora's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ikora wants to get back to full guard.

McCoy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ikora sees it coming and defends easily.

McCoy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ikora sees it coming and defends easily.
McCoy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ikora's head.
McCoy tries to pass to full mount but Ikora defends it.
Ikora is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McCoy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McCoy's back!

Ikora patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Ikora has got his arm under McCoy's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! McCoy has spun round into Ikora's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Ikora looking to hit a scissor sweep but McCoy is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle McCoy 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McCoy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

McCoy is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ikora is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ikora has escaped and now he's on top!
Ikora looking to pass the guard.
McCoy wants to sweep here but Ikora controlling him for the moment.
Ikora stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCoy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikora trying to control the position from guard on top but McCoy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCoy looking for a sweep. Not yet McCoy, not yet.
McCoy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ikora!

McCoy is working for a guillotine from mount but Ikora frees his head quite easily.

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.
Ikora sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McCoy working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ikora is looking for a sweep. McCoy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

McCoy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ikora is just riding it out for now. McCoy eventually gives up the hold.
McCoy is nestled in close to Ikora, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ikora slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McCoy lands a couple of elbows.
Ikora has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McCoy has passed into side control.

McCoy tries for a kimura but Ikora is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikora is looking for a sweep.

McCoy working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

McCoy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCoy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

McCoy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ground and pound from McCoy seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kyle McCoy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ikora regains half guard.
Ikora trying to control from the bottom.
Ikora is not content to let McCoy control the position.
Ikora is looking to improve his position.
McCoy trying to control from half guard but Ikora is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jab from McCoy.
Kurisu Ikora has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCoy lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ikora circles away quickly and effectively.
McCoy goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ikora will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McCoy misses with the combination.
Kurisu Ikora is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ikora defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McCoy.
Ikora has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ikora missing with a left hand there. McCoy was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle McCoy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCoy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle McCoy!