PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 2649 p4p, 1841 weight class) and Hiroki Tomori (ranked 273 p4p, 202 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dhelan
vs
Tomori

150 cm
38
145
28 - 18 - 1

171 cm
36
142
26 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 28 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhelan misses with a body shot.

Tomori fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dhelan, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tomori - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tomori is struggling to control the position.
Tomori's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tomori continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Good body shot from Tomori.
Dhelan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tomori backwards.
Dhelan is struggling to control the position.
Tomori trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dhelan holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dhelan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dhelan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tomori backwards.
Dhelan blocks an elbow strike.
Dhelan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tomori after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tomori backwards.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dhelan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dhelan showed some decent athleticism there.
Dhelan stops Tomori from getting back to his feet.
Dhelan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Tomori looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Tomori is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Dhelan has control of Tomori's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tomori regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tomori has given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhelan looking for the RNC.
Tomori is trying to stand back up.

Tomori showing good submission defense here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dhelan is looking for the choke from the back position but Tomori is controlling his hands well.
Tomori is trying to get back to his feet but Dhelan has full control of the position and if anything, Tomori has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Dhelan is not going to allow Tomori to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori is trying to stand back up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tomori manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Tomori looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tomori throws a series of punches but Dhelan avoids them all with ease.
Dhelan cracks Tomori with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tomori moves in looking to clinch but Dhelan pushes him off.
Tomori tries to clinch up but Dhelan circles away and keeps his distance.

Tomori clinches.
Dhelan avoids the elbow strike from Tomori, against the cage.

Tomori escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Tomori does no damage.
Tomori is looking to clinch but Dhelan is avoiding it.
Dhelan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tomori defends well and Dhelan ends up having to push Tomori into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tomori working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tomori lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dhelan prevents a body shot from Tomori.

Tomori breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dhelan loads up on a big right hand but Tomori slips the punch.
Dhelan shoots in looking for a takedown but Tomori manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dhelan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tomori drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dhelan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dhelan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tomori circles away.
Dhelan fails to land the takedown.

Tomori has taken the fight to the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dhelan.
Tomori misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zhan Dhelan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tomori moves into the clinch.
Dhelan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dhelan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Dhelan blocks an uppercut.
Dhelan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dhelan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dhelan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dhelan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tomori scores with a shoulder strike.
Dhelan leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tomori.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan misses with a punch on the inside.
Dhelan wants to stall.
Dhelan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dhelan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan pushes Tomori back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tomori is struggling to control the position.
Dhelan blocks the elbow strike.
Good body shot from Tomori.
Tomori tries to throw a body punch but Dhelan avoids it by throwing Tomori back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tomori.
A head punch on the inside from Dhelan fails to land.

Dhelan has Tomori pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dhelan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Tomori tumbling to the mat - Dhelan dives into Tomori's guard.
Zhan Dhelan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tomori controls Dhelan momentarily but Dhelan frees himself.

Tomori looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dhelan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori wants to sweep here but Dhelan controlling him for the moment.
Dhelan wants to control from the top but Tomori keeps moving.
Tomori wants to stand and escape but Dhelan is having none of it.
Dhelan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tomori uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dhelan.
Tomori fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dhelan keeps the fight on the outside.

Dhelan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tomori!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tomori tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori pushes Dhelan away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dhelan gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tomori is looking to reverse the position.
Tomori trying to remain calm as Dhelan controls from the top position.
Dhelan works to advance to full mount. Tomori defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dhelan wants to control the pace but Tomori is squirming around nicely.
Dhelan moves to the back position.
Tomori is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomori trying to control the action but Dhelan just sinks the hooks in.
Tomori is trying to stand back up.

Dhelan working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dhelan tightening his grip on Tomori, looking for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tomori is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zhan Dhelan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dhelan shoots in looking for a takedown. Tomori tries to sprawl out of it but Dhelan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tomori manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dhelan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tomori as he jumps to the side.

Dhelan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tomori napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dhelan working away.
Dhelan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tomori keeps working.

Dhelan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan wants to control but Tomori is keeping him busy.
Tomori tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tomori keeps working.
Tomori wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Dhelan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tomori is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tomori really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dhelan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tomori is pushing Dhelan's head away, looking to escape. Dhelan manages to hold on to the position though.
Dhelan trying to control the position but Tomori is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tomori is looking to reverse the position.

Dhelan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tomori, who protects the arm well.
Tomori is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tomori is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dhelan has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Tomori has closed the distance and engaged Dhelan in a clinch.
Tomori has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dhelan seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tomori can turn it around.
Tomori takes a shot to the head.
Tomori lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tomori lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tomori lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dhelan backwards.
Dhelan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tomori.
Tomori effectively controlling the action here.
Tomori lands a shoulder strike.
Dhelan prevents a body shot from Tomori.
Tomori is trying to maintain a safe position but Dhelan gets an underhook and turns Tomori into the cage.
Dhelan avoiding damage.
Dhelan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tomori misses with a knee to the head.
Hiroki Tomori seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tomori blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dhelan has a couple of punches blocked by Tomori.
Dhelan trying to control the position but instead, Tomori has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dhelan into the cage.
Dhelan dodges an elbow strike from Tomori.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tomori after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhan Dhelan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dhelan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tomori prevents it.
Dhelan tries to work over Tomori's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tomori blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dhelan has Tomori pushed against the cage.
Dhelan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tomori gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zhan Dhelan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tomori throws a punch but it's blocked by Dhelan.
Tomori throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tomori avoiding damage.
Tomori's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tomori has a couple of punches blocked by Dhelan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroki Tomori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dhelan 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zhan Dhelan!
Zhan Dhelan seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.