PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Isamu Katsumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcello Tocci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Katsumi
vs
Tocci

187 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Isamu Katsumi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcello Tocci!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Tocci both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Isamu Katsumi has been cut.
Tocci throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tocci misses with a wild combination.

Tocci shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Katsumi wants to sweep here but Tocci controlling him for the moment.
Katsumi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tocci must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Katsumi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tocci stopping the sweep attempt from Katsumi.
Tocci trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Katsumi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tocci's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tocci can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Katsumi prevents Tocci from getting back to his feet.
Katsumi wants to control from the top but Tocci keeps moving.
Tocci looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tocci looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Katsumi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tocci trying to strike off his back.

That's two 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.
Katsumi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Katsumi prevents Tocci from getting back to his feet.
Tocci keeping moving, preventing Katsumi from controlling successfully.
Katsumi won't allow Tocci to get back to his feet.
Katsumi passes into half guard.
Tocci looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katsumi trying to control from half guard but Tocci is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tocci fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tocci looks to land a combination but Katsumi avoids it well.
Tocci looks gassed!
Katsumi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tocci defends it nicely.
Tocci misses with a double jab.
Tocci lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Katsumi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tocci.
Tocci works over Katsumi's head and body with a nice combination.
Marcello Tocci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Katsumi thumps Tocci with a low kick.
Katsumi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tocci misses with the combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Katsumi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsumi fails to land the takedown.
Tocci throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Katsumi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Katsumi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tocci counters with a left and a right that stings Katsumi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isamu Katsumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tocci scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Tocci throws a right hand that Katsumi ducks under and follows up with a left that Katsumi also avoids with ease.

Katsumi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Tocci napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Katsumi tries to advance to mount but can't.
Tocci is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Katsumi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tocci keeps working.
Tocci is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Tocci dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Isamu Katsumi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tocci misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tocci throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Katsumi was covering up waiting for the punch and Tocci finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Katsumi trying to keep a closed guard but Tocci is proving a slippery customer.
Tocci sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tocci throwing strikes but missing.
Katsumi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tocci throws a big right hand that misses.
Tocci throws and elbow that misses. Katsumi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tocci's guard. Nice move by Katsumi!
Katsumi wants to control from the top but Tocci keeps moving.
Tocci is trying to control the position but Katsumi postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tocci throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Katsumi.
Katsumi moves out of range of the strikes.
Tocci looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Katsumi dodges the punch combination from Tocci.
Katsumi with a poor takedown
enabling Tocci to counter with a crisp jab.
Tocci loads up on a big right hand but Katsumi slips the punch.
Katsumi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tocci takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tocci swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Katsumi shoots in looking for a takedown. Tocci tries to sprawl out of it but Katsumi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tocci manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Katsumi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tocci but Tocci pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isamu Katsumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katsumi fails with a takedown attempt.

Tocci looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tocci throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katsumi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tocci wants to control from the top but Katsumi keeps moving.
Tocci with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tocci loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tocci throws a strike but Katsumi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Katsumi won't allow Tocci to get back to his feet.
Katsumi wants to control from the top but Tocci keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Katsumi is looking to clinch.
Tocci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Katsumi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tocci moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Katsumi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tocci tries to bum rush Katsumi with a series of wild strikes but Katsumi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Katsumi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tocci throws a right and a left that Katsumi avoids nicely.
Tocci ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tocci throws a nice looking combination but Katsumi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Katsumi slips a jab and a cross from Tocci.
Katsumi lands a high kick!
Katsumi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A jab from Tocci does it's job there.
Tocci takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tocci fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tocci stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcello Tocci showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Isamu Katsumi's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Tocci lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Katsumi tries for a takedown but Tocci circles away easily

and Tocci counters with a shoot takedown. Katsumi fights it but they end up in guard.
Katsumi is trying to keep Tocci in close.
Tocci missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tocci trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tocci throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tocci loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Katsumi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tocci is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tocci working some strikes from top position.
Katsumi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tocci drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tocci jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tocci throwing strikes but missing.
Tocci trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tocci postures up in Katsumi's guard and throws a big left but Katsumi blocks it.
Katsumi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Tocci with a nice head shot there.
Katsumi keeping moving, preventing Tocci from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tocci closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Katsumi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Katsumi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tocci keeps working.
Tocci tries to roll over but Katsumi keeps him under control.
Tocci is staying active underneath Katsumi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tocci holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Tocci is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tocci is staying active underneath Katsumi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tocci wants to get back to his feet.
Katsumi stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tocci with a poor takedown

and Katsumi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tocci drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Katsumi successfully pulls guard.
Tocci postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Marcello Tocci is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tocci controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tocci postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tocci trying to control but Katsumi is working from the bottom.
Katsumi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcello Tocci comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tocci 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcello Tocci!