PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ippo makunouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cut Copy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cut Copy struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Ippo makunouchi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

makunouchi
vs
Copy

200 cm
21
192 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

182 cm
21
195 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo makunouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cut Copy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
makunouchi scores with a sloppy right hand. Copy should have avoided that one.

It looks like Cut Copy has been cut.
Copy swats away the attempt to clinch by makunouchi.
makunouchi fails with a takedown attempt.
makunouchi fails to land the takedown.
Copy stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippo makunouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from makunouchi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Copy has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Copy and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

makunouchi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Copy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Copy looking to hit a scissor sweep but makunouchi is one step ahead there.
makunouchi throwing strikes from guard but Copy blocks nicely.
Copy keeping moving, preventing makunouchi from controlling successfully.
makunouchi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Copy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but makunouchi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
makunouchi working away.
makunouchi trying to control the action but Copy is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Copy stuffs the takedown attempt from makunouchi. makunouchi gets slowly back to his feet.
makunouchi is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Copy shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
makunouchi holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
makunouchi tries to kick Copy off but Copy keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Copy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Copy wants to take a breather but makunouchi is having none of it.
makunouchi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
makunouchi is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
makunouchi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Copy is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Copy throws a wild body kick that makunouchi sees coming a mile off.

makunouchi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
makunouchi is looking to sweep but instead, Copy has passed into half guard.
makunouchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Copy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
makunouchi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Copy.
Copy wants to pass the guard but makunouchi is keeping the position.
Copy preventing the sweep.
Copy stops makunouchi from standing up.
Copy trying to control the position from guard on top but makunouchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
makunouchi misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Copy looks to land a left hand but makunouchi moved out of range nicely.
Copy tries to clinch but makunouchi moves out of range.
Ippo makunouchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
makunouchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Copy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Copy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. makunouchi is keeping the position for now.
makunouchi wants to stand and escape but Copy is having none of it.
Copy wants to control from the top but makunouchi keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Copy throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Copy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Copy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. makunouchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
makunouchi looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

makunouchi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
makunouchi is working Copy over with some ground and pound from side control.
Copy is looking for a sweep.
makunouchi lands an elbow.
Copy is looking to regain half guard here but makunouchi keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
makunouchi wants to control but Copy is keeping him busy.
makunouchi tries to advance to mount but Copy denies him.
makunouchi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Copy is avoiding damage well.
Copy is trying to control makunouchi's posture but makunouchi avoids it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

makunouchi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Copy!
Copy tries to hold on but makunouchi pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copy is looking to get to half guard.
Copy is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Copy is trying to reverse the position but instead makunouchi has taken his back - oops!
makunouchi gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Copy just trying to survive but makunouchi is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
makunouchi looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
makunouchi scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Copy tries to escape the position.
makunouchi scores with punches from the back.

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.
makunouchi is working the ground and pound. Can Copy escape?
makunouchi controls the action.
makunouchi punches the canvas rather than the man.
Copy tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
makunouchi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Copy is looking to escape.
Copy tries to lock up and control but makunouchi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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 Cut Copy's cut.
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.

makunouchi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Copy counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Copy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
makunouchi working a defensive guard but Copy manages to pass into side control anyway.

Copy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Copy wants to lay and pray for a moment but makunouchi keeps working.
Cut Copy has got the better of the ground game so far.
makunouchi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
makunouchi is looking to control Copy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can makunouchi avoid being mounted?
Copy moves into full mount! makunouchi won't be happy about that!
Copy wants to take makunouchi's back but he can't do it this time.

Copy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
makunouchi working to try and regain half guard.
Copy works his way to his opponent's back.

That's two 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.
Copy tries to get the hooks in deep but makunouchi pushed the leg off.
makunouchi trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Copy is persistently looking for the submission but makunouchi is defending it well.
Copy gets his hands free as makunouchi looks to control.
Copy punches the canvas rather than the man.
Copy trying to control.
Copy missing with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Copy trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Copy throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Copy gets his hands free as makunouchi looks to control.
Copy scores with punches and elbows.
Copy misses with punches from the back.
makunouchi trying to get back to his feet but Copy is in full control for now.

makunouchi showing good submission defense here.
makunouchi turns into Copy and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Copy looking to control.

Copy has his foot on makunouchi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. makunouchi works his way back into a safe position though.
makunouchi won't allow Copy to sweep him here.

Copy had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. makunouchi is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Copy Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take makunouchi's back instead.
makunouchi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cut Copy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Cut Copy!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Cut Copy!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Cut Copy!

Cut Copy wins by unanimous decision!