PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hermanni Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holopainen has chosen Black&Yellow as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Makunouchi
vs
Holopainen

205 cm
32
280 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

196 cm
24
280 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ippo Makunouchi !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hermanni Holopainen!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holopainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Makunouchi tries to sprawl out of it but Holopainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Makunouchi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Makunouchi , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holopainen tries to clinch but Makunouchi is having none of it.
Makunouchi misses with a two punch combination.
Holopainen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Makunouchi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Holopainen thinking.

Makunouchi drives through with a takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Makunouchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Makunouchi throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen keeping full guard, as Makunouchi tries to pass.
Makunouchi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Makunouchi passes Holopainen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Makunouchi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holopainen's head.
Makunouchi trying to advance position but Holopainen counters by regaining guard.
Holopainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Holopainen manages to mount him!
Holopainen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Makunouchi because Holopainen loaded up on that one.
Holopainen looking to finish with strikes here!
Holopainen lands a big elbow.
Holopainen with shots to the head and body - Makunouchi looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Holopainen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Makunouchi working to try and regain half guard.
Holopainen landing strikes, looking to finish!

It looks like Ippo Makunouchi has been cut.
Holopainen blocks Makunouchi 's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Makunouchi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Makunouchi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Makunouchi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Holopainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Makunouchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Holopainen is retaining full guard.
Makunouchi throws a strike but Holopainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holopainen throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hermanni Holopainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ippo Makunouchi 's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Makunouchi throws a low kick but Holopainen moves out of range easily.
Makunouchi throws a hook but Holopainen blocks it.
Makunouchi misses with a combination
enabling Holopainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Makunouchi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.
Holopainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No joy there for Makunouchi , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice defenses there by Holopainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Makunouchi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Holopainen doesn't seem bothered though.
Holopainen throws a half hearted mid kick.
A left lands for Makunouchi .
Holopainen throws out a powerful jab.
Holopainen with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Makunouchi counter with a right hand.
Holopainen blocks a head kick by Makunouchi .
Makunouchi tries to bum rush Holopainen with a series of wild strikes but Holopainen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Makunouchi closes the distance and clinches up with Holopainen, looking for a takedown. Makunouchi pushes Holopainen against the cage but Holopainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Makunouchi throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Holopainen counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Holopainen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makunouchi tries to land a front kick but Holopainen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Holopainen with a nice cross.
No joy there for Makunouchi , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Holopainen tries to clinch up but Makunouchi circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice shot by Makunouchi .
Makunouchi looks for a takedown but Holopainen sprawls well.
Holopainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Holopainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen wants to clinch.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.
Ippo Makunouchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holopainen looks to land a left hand but Makunouchi moved out of range nicely.
Holopainen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Makunouchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makunouchi avoids the body shot from Holopainen.
Makunouchi misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi throws a right and a left that Holopainen avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Holopainen.
Holopainen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hermanni Holopainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Holopainen tries to clinch

and Makunouchi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Makunouchi tries to pass to full mount but Holopainen defends it.
Makunouchi works his way into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makunouchi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ippo Makunouchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ippo Makunouchi 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Makunouchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Makunouchi misses.
Ippo Makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holopainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Makunouchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makunouchi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Makunouchi swinging wildly here.
Holopainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick misses from Holopainen.
Makunouchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Makunouchi misses with a leg kick
and Holopainen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Makunouchi throws a sloppy head kick and Holopainen moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makunouchi looks to throw a body kick
and Holopainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Makunouchi thinking.
Makunouchi throws a series of punches but Holopainen moves out of range.
Makunouchi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Holopainen swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Holopainen tries to clinch up
and Makunouchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Holopainen moves to clinch but Makunouchi breaks away
and Makunouchi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Holopainen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Makunouchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Holopainen is fending him off so far but Makunouchi persists. Nope, Holopainen circles away and we're back to standing.
Holopainen fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Holopainen.
Holopainen shoots in but no luck this time.
Makunouchi shoots for a double leg takedown but Holopainen sprawls well. He's pushed Makunouchi 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippo Makunouchi . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makunouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holopainen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A jab from Holopainen misses.
Holopainen tries to clinch but Makunouchi moves out of range.
Makunouchi misses with a body kick.
Makunouchi tries to land a body kick

and Holopainen counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen being controlled against the cage.
Holopainen tries to pull guard but Makunouchi holds him up against the cage and eventually Holopainen drops back down to his feet.
Makunouchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Holopainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holopainen stalling in the clinch but Makunouchi improves position.
Holopainen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Makunouchi lands with a left to the head.
A hook to the body from Makunouchi .
Holopainen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Makunouchi walks away with a smile on his face. Holopainen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A punch combination from Makunouchi misses.
Holopainen tries to clinch but Makunouchi is having none of it.
Makunouchi jabs Holopainen right on the nose. Holopainen blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makunouchi lands a body shot.
Holopainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Makunouchi .
Holopainen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Makunouchi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Makunouchi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Holopainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holopainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holopainen lands a leg kick that knocks Makunouchi off balance momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ippo Makunouchi .
I think Makunouchi 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ippo Makunouchi !
Ippo Makunouchi took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.