PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yoshihiro Iwamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miles Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Iwamura
vs
Connor

178 cm
23
153 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshihiro Iwamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Miles Connor!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jorge Garcia and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iwamura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Connor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Iwamura displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Connor.

Iwamura closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Iwamura lands in his opponent's guard.
Iwamura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iwamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Iwamura stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Iwamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Poor strikes thrown by Iwamura there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Connor is looking to get to half guard.
Iwamura lands a nice shot to the head.
Iwamura misses with some ground and pound and Connor recovers position to half guard.

Connor is defending against the submission attempts here by Iwamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwamura thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Connor trying to control here.
Connor wants to get back to his feet.
Iwamura throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Connor trying to control from the bottom.
Iwamura thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Connor's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Iwamura with a poor takedown

and Connor moves into the clinch.
Iwamura with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Iwamura lands a takedown into guard.
Iwamura is breathing heavily.
Iwamura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Iwamura wants to stand but Connor is controlling his posture from full guard.
Connor trying to control the position here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Connor wants to sweep here but Iwamura controlling him for the moment.
Iwamura postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Connor wants to sweep here but Iwamura controlling him for the moment.
Connor controls Iwamura momentarily but Iwamura frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Iwamura misses with a takedown attempt

and Connor counters with a shoot takedown. Iwamura fights it but they end up in guard.
Connor wants to control from the top but Iwamura keeps moving.
Iwamura is trying to keep Connor in close.
Connor controlling from the top position.
Iwamura controlling the position.
Iwamura trying to keep a closed guard but Connor is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor preventing the sweep.
Connor wants to get up but he can't break Iwamura's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Iwamura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connor pulls Iwamura in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Iwamura loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Iwamura wants to clinch
and Connor counters with an inside leg kick.
Iwamura tries to close the distance and clinch but Connor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Iwamura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Connor manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Connor ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Connor no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yoshihiro Iwamura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Iwamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Iwamura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Connor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Iwamura off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Iwamura doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Connor counters with a shoot takedown. Iwamura fights it but they end up in guard.
Iwamura is trying to control the position but Connor postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iwamura keeping moving, preventing Connor from controlling successfully.
Connor prevents Iwamura from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor throws a big right hand that misses.
Connor wants to control from the top but Iwamura keeps moving.
Connor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Iwamura is keeping the position for now.
Connor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Iwamura keeping moving, preventing Connor from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Connor darts in trying to clinch

and Iwamura counters by moving into the clinch.
Iwamura prevents the takedown attempt.

Connor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iwamura tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Connor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Iwamura tries to roll over but Connor keeps him under control.
Connor prevents Iwamura from standing back up.
Connor trying to control the action but Iwamura is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Iwamura kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Iwamura is looking to escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Iwamura fails to land the takedown.

Connor throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Iwamura was covering up waiting for the punch and Connor finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Connor trying to move into half guard but instead Iwamura has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Connor wants to sweep here but Iwamura controlling him for the moment.
Iwamura throwing strikes but missing.
Connor has control of Iwamura's left arm, preventing Iwamura from doing any damage.
Connor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Iwamura. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Iwamura cracks Connor with a solid left hand.
Connor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Connor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Connor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Iwamura to the mat! Iwamura manages to get full guard.
Connor trying to control the position from guard on top but Iwamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Connor wants to stand but Iwamura is controlling his posture from full guard.
Iwamura manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Connor manages to get himself to full guard.
Iwamura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Connor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwamura trying to control but Connor is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Connor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Iwamura preventing the sweep.

Connor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Iwamura scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Iwamura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Connor pulls Iwamura in close to prevent any damage.
Iwamura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connor 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.

That's two 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.
Iwamura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Iwamura preventing the sweep.
Iwamura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Connor trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Iwamura feints and as Connor raises his hands in defense, Iwamura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Connor is trying to keep Iwamura in close.
Iwamura stopping the sweep attempt from Connor.
Iwamura throwing strikes from guard but Connor blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura preventing the sweep.
Iwamura wants to control from the top but Connor keeps moving.
Connor is pulling down on Iwamura's head. It's preventing any offense from Iwamura, at least for the moment.
Iwamura is in close to Connor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Iwamura throws and elbow that misses. Connor uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Iwamura's guard. Nice move by Connor!
Connor trying to control the position from guard on top but Iwamura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Connor wants to pass the guard but Iwamura is keeping the position.
Connor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Iwamura keeping moving, preventing Connor from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Iwamura controlling Connor's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshihiro Iwamura showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Iwamura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshihiro Iwamura!