PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaxon James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hatiko Arigato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Arigato

170 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jaxon James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hatiko Arigato!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arigato misses with a few strikes there.
James rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Arigato moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arigato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James stalks Arigato and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Arigato's face. Arigato staggers backwards, shaken.
Arigato scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Arigato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arigato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from James.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
James misses with a combination
and Arigato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

James feints and as Arigato raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
James won't allow Arigato to sweep him here.
Arigato is trying to control the position from the bottom.
James prevents Arigato from getting back to his feet.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Arigato on the ground.
James cracks Arigato with a solid left hand.
Arigato is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arigato throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arigato not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to roll over but Arigato keeps him under control.
James is breathing heavily.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Arigato.
Arigato thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James looks like he's trying to stand up.

Arigato is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
James on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if James tries to get out of the position.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Arigato throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
Arigato throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
Arigato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
Arigato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arigato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James takes a jab right on the kisser.
Arigato misses with a combination

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Arigato keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arigato is on top in guard.
James keeping full guard, as Arigato tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arigato wanted to stand there but James had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James wants to stand but Arigato is controlling the position.
Arigato passes into half guard.
Arigato is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.
Arigato passes the guard and advances to mount!
Arigato looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Arigato is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Arigato throwing strikes here but James is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Arigato sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
James is wriggling around trying to escape.
Arigato sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Arigato throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
James is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
James avoids a series of strikes thrown by Arigato.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arigato won't let James get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Arigato misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
James wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Arigato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatiko Arigato dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

James walks into a jab.
Arigato lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Arigato.
Jaxon James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arigato throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
Arigato throws out a powerful jab.
Arigato wants to clinch but James slips to the side

and James counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arigato is looking to improve his position.
Arigato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Arigato missing with punches from the bottom.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arigato trying to control here.
James lands with a punch from half guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Arigato defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arigato flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Arigato tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hatiko Arigato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to de liver by Arigato. Beautiful body shot.
Arigato lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Arigato lands with a hook. James tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jab, jab by Arigato - just one landing.
Arigato lands with a nice combination. James backs away looking to recover.
Arigato has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Arigato throws out a powerful jab.
Arigato lands with an uppercut that bounces James off the cage and back into rage.
Arigato tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Arigato lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arigato lands with a cross.
Arigato stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arigato lands a head shot.
Arigato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Arigato lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a wild combination.
Arigato goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arigato swinging wildly here.
Nice shot by Arigato.
Hatiko Arigato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

James feints and as Arigato raises his hands in defense, James changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
James postures up in Arigato's guard and throws a big left but Arigato blocks it.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Arigato has wrist control.
Arigato trying to control the position.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arigato's head.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arigato is keeping the position for now.
James is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Arigato is on top in guard.
Arigato passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Arigato tries to score with some ground and pound. James controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Arigato has just dragged him back down to the mat.
James parries the strikes from Arigato easily there. Arigato is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.
James defending against the ground and pound.
Arigato trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
James is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Arigato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Arigato tries to clinch up.
James keeps the fight on the outside.

James changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Arigato looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Arigato dodges the ground and pound from James.
James lands a nice forearm strike.
Arigato gets back to half guard.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Arigato has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. James is working away from the top position though.
James trying to mount his opponent but Arigato defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arigato missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hatiko Arigato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Arigato wants to clinch up but James keeps it at a distance.
Arigato stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Arigato stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
Arigato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arigato's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Arigato duly obliges.
Arigato tries to clinch up

and James counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arigato is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arigato avoid being mounted?
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Arigato is looking to control James's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arigato avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to pass the guard but Arigato is defending well.
Arigato blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
James not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice body punch from Arigato.
Arigato lands with a nice combination. James backs away looking to recover.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Arigato sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A punch lands to the side of James 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Arigato moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arigato.
James misses with a two punch combination.
Arigato lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as James backs up against the cage.
Arigato getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James scores a takedown into full mount!
James with the ground and pound from mount.
James landing strikes, looking to finish!
Arigato wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by James.
James avoids the attempt from Arigato to control.
James raining down shots from the mount!
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by James there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
James unloads with some shots from mount but Arigato bucks and avoids them well.
James thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Arigato tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
James misses with a head shot.
Arigato can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by James there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Arigato tries to hold on but James postures up.
James is landing with some decent strikes but Arigato is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
A nice elbow there by James.
James throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Arigato is trying to escape the mount.
Arigato wants to hold on but James pushes him away.
Jaxon James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Arigato regains half guard.
James scoring with strikes to the body and head.
James throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arigato wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
James throws a strike but Arigato avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arigato is keeping the position for now.
Arigato manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James wants to stand and escape but Arigato is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hatiko Arigato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arigato winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hatiko Arigato!