PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zick VanDan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurosaki Ichigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

VanDan
vs
Ichigo

150 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

160 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zick VanDan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kurosaki Ichigo!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Ichigo. No joy for VanDan on that attempt.
VanDan shoots in and drives through. Ichigo sprawls well.
A chopping leg kick lands by VanDan.
Ichigo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but VanDan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
VanDan misses with a combination

and Ichigo moves into the clinch.

VanDan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

VanDan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ichigo is aware though and is defending well.
Ichigo wants to get up but he can't break VanDan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VanDan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
VanDan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if VanDan tries to get out of the position.
Ichigo throws and elbow that misses. VanDan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ichigo's guard. Nice move by VanDan!
VanDan wants to control from the top but Ichigo keeps moving.
Ichigo wants to stand but VanDan is controlling the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Zick VanDan wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ichigo throws a right hand that VanDan ducks under and follows up with a left that VanDan also avoids with ease.
Zick VanDan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichigo slaps away a takedown attempt from VanDan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zick VanDan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
VanDan shoots in looking for a takedown but Ichigo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing VanDan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ichigo closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichigo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has VanDan pinned against the cage. VanDan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
VanDan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ichigo counters with a one-two to the body.
VanDan is breathing heavily.
Ichigo tries to clinch up.
Ichigo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ichigo closes the distance but VanDan moves to the side

and VanDan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by VanDan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
VanDan looking for a takedown.
VanDan goes for a takedown attempt but Ichigo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ichigo stalks VanDan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into VanDan's face. VanDan staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
VanDan misses with a takedown
and Ichigo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurosaki Ichigo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ichigo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ichigo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and VanDan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ichigo is trying to break the clinch but VanDan is controlling him.
VanDan tries for a takedown. No joy.
VanDan tries to score a body lock takedown but Ichigo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ichigo wants to get back to striking at distance but VanDan won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichigo stops a takedown attempt from VanDan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zick VanDan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ichigo is trying to push VanDan away but VanDan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Ichigo has had enough of the clinch but VanDan keeps him there for the moment.
Ichigo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ichigo is trying to break the clinch but VanDan is controlling him.
VanDan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ichigo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
VanDan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ichigo pinned against the cage. Ichigo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
VanDan dodges the punch combination from Ichigo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichigo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. VanDan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

VanDan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanDan wants to control but Ichigo is keeping him busy.
Ichigo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
VanDan controlling from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
VanDan trying to control the action but Ichigo is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zick VanDan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from VanDan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurosaki Ichigo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Horrible takedown by VanDan or perhaps it was just good defense by Ichigo which made him look bad.
VanDan shoots in but Ichigo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
VanDan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VanDan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ichigo avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zick VanDan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ichigo tries to clinch

and VanDan moves into the clinch.
Ichigo is trying to break the clinch but VanDan has him pressed against the cage.
VanDan is working for takedown but Ichigo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ichigo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ichigo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ichigo has had enough of the clinch but VanDan keeps him there for the moment.
VanDan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ichigo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ichigo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ichigo takes the fight into the clinch.
Ichigo tries to break free but VanDan pushes him back against the cage.
Ichigo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ichigo can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VanDan has Ichigo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ichigo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ichigo prevents the takedown attempt.
Ichigo can't break the clinch.
Ichigo is trying to force a seperation but VanDan has the dominant position.
Ichigo wants to break free but VanDan has control.
Ichigo is trying to break the clinch but VanDan is controlling him.
Ichigo gets underhooks to prevent VanDan's takedown attempt.
VanDan has Ichigo pressed against the cage, preventing Ichigo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ichigo has had enough of the clinch but VanDan keeps him there for the moment.
Ichigo is trying to break free.
Ichigo is looking to break free of the clinch but VanDan has double underhooks.
Ichigo can't break the clinch.
Ichigo is trying to force a seperation but VanDan has the dominant position.
VanDan slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Ichigo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ichigo wants to break free but VanDan has control.
A frustrated look appears on Ichigo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ichigo working hard to break the clinch.
VanDan has Ichigo pressed against the cage, preventing Ichigo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ichigo tries to circle away but VanDan has him pinned against the cage.
VanDan has Ichigo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ichigo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zick VanDan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

VanDan gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
VanDan wants to control from the top but Ichigo keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ichigo wants to get back to his feet but VanDan is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurosaki Ichigo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ichigo 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurosaki Ichigo!
Kurosaki Ichigo took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.