PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Lambert George (ranked 16862 p4p, 497 weight class) and Makunouchi Ippo (ranked 13344 p4p, 476 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think George might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ca fait mal. Ippo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Indestructible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

George
vs
Ippo

185 cm
33
159 lbs
27 - 6 - 2

173 cm
40
153 lbs
32 - 13 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 27 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lambert George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Makunouchi Ippo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ippo throws a looping overhand right but George ducks down to avoid it.
A punch lands to the side of George 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ippo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ippo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
George blocks a low kick nicely.
George fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ippo is out of range.
Ippo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ippo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ippo lands with a hook. George tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ippo has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as George is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Ippo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. George sees it coming and avoids it easily.
George is looking to counter punch.
George swings away with a leg kick that misses.
George throws a head kick but Ippo moves out of range.
George throws a combination that misses
and Ippo counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
George displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ippo throws out the jab.
Ippo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ippo throws a leg kick

and George counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
George swings wildly with an uppercut but Ippo uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ippo lands a good knee to the midsection. George won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George managing to block the knees to the body from Ippo.
George throws a punch but it's blocked by Ippo.
Ippo avoids a wild elbow strike from George.
George throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
George leaning his opponent against the ropes.
George misses with the head strike.
Ippo lands a right hand that snaps the head of George backwards.
Ippo misses with some punches.
Our sources have told us that George has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Ippo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
George misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Ippo.
George drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
George connects with a looping right hand.
An inside leg kick from Ippo misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ippo.
A swing and a miss from Ippo.
George lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
George uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ippo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ippo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
George jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ippo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
George tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ippo was well out of range. Poor timing from George.
Ippo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ippo scores with a leg kick.
George throws a hook to the side of Ippo's head but Ippo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slow jab from Ippo misses its intended target.
Ippo connects with a looping right hand.
George lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
George takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ippo throws a leg kick which misses George's front leg but catches the back leg as George tries to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
George misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ippo.
Ippo pivots, looking for a leg kick but George is out of range and Ippo settles back down.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

George clinches with his opponent.
George lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

George is looking to clinch.
George on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
George tries to close the distance and clinch but Ippo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A low kick from Ippo is predictable there

and George holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
George lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ippo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ippo blocks an elbow strike.
George lands a nice elbow.
Ippo tries to land a knee to the head but George blocks with his arms.
A head punch on the inside from George fails to land.
Ippo lands a knee to the body.
Ippo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ippo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Ippo breaks from the clinch.
George moves away from the strike by Ippo.
George throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
George scores with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
George needs to keep his hands up - Ippo had a free shot at his head there.
George has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ippo finds it's way round the side to connect with George's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George throws a looping overhand right but Ippo ducks down to avoid it.
George works the jab nicely.
Ippo throws a hook to the side of George's head but George sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ippo pivots, looking for a leg kick but George is out of range and Ippo settles back down.
Ippo throws a solid leg kick but George takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ippo.
Ippo throws a chopping leg kick but George manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ippo misses with an uppercut.
A clash of legs there as George blocks the low kick.
George swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
George missing with a left hand there. Ippo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
George ducks under a wild hook from Ippo.
Makunouchi Ippo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ippo throws a hook but George blocks it.
George throws the left hand but Ippo avoids the punch easily.
George tried to score with a low kick but Ippo checks it.
George lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ippo slips a jab from George.
George keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ippo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ippo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from George.
Ippo misses with a low kick as George jumps back.
Ippo looks to throw the jab but George is out of range.
George dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ippo. That did some damage!
Ippo throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
George slips a jab from Ippo.
Ippo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to George's calf.
Ippo moves out of range of the body kick from George.
Ippo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
George throws a leg kick
and Ippo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
George scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ippo swings widly with a right hand
and George connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
George slips under a jab.
Ippo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from George.
Ippo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
George swings for the body but Ippo moves out of range.
George connects with a jab.
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 Lambert George will probably get the nod.
That's time! George's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

George throws a lazy head kick
and Ippo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ippo throws a leg kick but George moved away.
Ippo scores with a hook.
George with a hook.
George scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
George getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
George checks the leg kick.
George fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ippo manages to avoid it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ippo checks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ippo, right into the meat.
Nice cross by Ippo.
George slips under a jab.
George looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
George is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ippo pivots, looking for a leg kick but George is out of range and Ippo settles back down.
An attempted straight right counter from George misses the target.
George lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ippo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and George is able to avoid easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ippo throws a hook but George avoids it easily.
George wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
George wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ippo moves into range and connects with a jab.
George just misses with a punch to the body.
Ippo looks to land a right hand but George moved out of range.
George misses with a body shot.
Ippo throws a leg kick which misses George's front leg but catches the back leg as George tries to avoid it.
Ippo throws a chopping leg kick but George manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
George moves out of range of the strikes.
George closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
George lands with a kick to the temple. Ippo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ippo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by George. George obviously looking to wear him down.
George slips a straight right by Ippo.
George tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ippo manages to circle out of the way.
George paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
George moves out of range as Ippo strikes.
Ippo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A bone on bone clash there as George blocks the leg kick.
George tries to counter by clinching up but Ippo breaks away and moves out of range.
Ippo blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Ippo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ippo drops his hands momentarily and George takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ippo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to George's calf.
Ippo misses the jab.
George misses with a low kick.
George looks to land a combination but Ippo avoids it well.
Ippo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before George can pounce on him.
A jab from George misses.
Ippo misses with a low kick as George jumps back.
Ippo scores with a nice head shot.
Jab, jab by Ippo - just one landing.
Ippo cracks George with a right hand to the side of the head.
A jab from George misses.
It seemed like Ippo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ippo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ippo tries to score with a low kick but George moves his leg out of the way.
Ippo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ippo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Makunouchi Ippo.
I think Ippo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Makunouchi Ippo!
A very excited looking Makunouchi Ippo made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Lambert George spoke after the fight, saying 'Gran chin'.