PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kujo Yoritsune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michel Thurtz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoritsune comes to the cage accompanied by JAPAN. The key to victory for Kujo Yoritsune has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Yoritsune
vs
Thurtz

155 cm
21
148 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

MADE IN GERMANY
MADE IN GERMANY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kujo Yoritsune!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michel Thurtz!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoritsune fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Yoritsune tries to keep at a distance but Thurtz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yoritsune tries to circle away but Thurtz has him pinned against the cage.
Yoritsune is trying to break free.

Thurtz gets control of Yoritsune's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thurtz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Yoritsune thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yoritsune has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thurtz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yoritsune is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoritsune trying to control but Thurtz is working from the bottom.

Yoritsune got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thurtz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yoritsune has managed to get both his arms back between Thurtz's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoritsune postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thurtz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yoritsune, into his guard.
Thurtz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoritsune controls Thurtz momentarily but Thurtz frees himself.
Thurtz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Yoritsune keeping moving, preventing Thurtz from controlling successfully.
Yoritsune might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yoritsune manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thurtz manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yoritsune prevents Thurtz from getting back to his feet.
Thurtz 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.
Yoritsune is looking to advance position but Thurtz has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Thurtz controlling from mount.
Thurtz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Let's hope that Thurtz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Yoritsune tries to lock up and control but Thurtz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoritsune is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yoritsune tries to hold on but Thurtz postures up.
Thurtz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yoritsune is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yoritsune is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thurtz controlling from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Michel Thurtz just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yoritsune steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thurtz.

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.
Yoritsune with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thurtz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Yoritsune rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thurtz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yoritsune. Thurtz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thurtz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thurtz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yoritsune as he avoids it easily.
Thurtz looks to land a left hand but Yoritsune moved out of range nicely.
Yoritsune dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yoritsune lands a right hook to the body.
Yoritsune lands with a good body shot.
Thurtz scores with a decent looking hook.
Thurtz misses with a hook.

Thurtz rushes Yoritsune and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thurtz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yoritsune up against the cage.
Yoritsune is trying to force a seperation but Thurtz has the dominant position.
Yoritsune wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yoritsune looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Thurtz dominated that round.
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.

Yoritsune ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yoritsune lands an overhand right.
Thurtz throws a jab when Yoritsune was well out of range.
Yoritsune lands a slapping body shot.
Yoritsune stalks Thurtz and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thurtz's face. Thurtz staggers backwards, shaken.
Thurtz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yoritsune.
Yoritsune slips a jab and a cross from Thurtz.
Yoritsune throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thurtz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoritsune moves away.
Yoritsune lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thurtz backs up against the cage.
Thurtz misses with a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Yoritsune.
Yoritsune throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yoritsune leaves Thurtz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kujo Yoritsune is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yoritsune moves away from the strike by Thurtz.
Yoritsune scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thurtz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yoritsune swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Thurtz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yoritsune ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thurtz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yoritsune manages to avoid it.
Yoritsune comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big right from Thurtz misses.
Yoritsune lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thurtz backs up against the cage.
Thurtz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yoritsune!
Thurtz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yoritsune moves away.
Yoritsune throws a one two combo.
Horrible takedown by Thurtz or perhaps it was just good defense by Yoritsune which made him look bad.
Thurtz is breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Yoritsune.
Yoritsune lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thurtz circles away quickly and effectively.
Yoritsune jabs at Thurtz's body.

Thurtz closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thurtz prevents Yoritsune from breaking the clinch.
Thurtz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yoritsune has him pressed against the cage.
Thurtz swings wildly with an uppercut but Yoritsune uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yoritsune throws a punch but it's blocked by Thurtz.

Thurtz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Yoritsune clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Yoritsune trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Yoritsune rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Yoritsune makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yoritsune.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yoritsune is on top in guard.
Thurtz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yoritsune throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurtz manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yoritsune is trying to escape the mount.
Yoritsune in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Thurtz looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thurtz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yoritsune is looking to escape.

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.
Thurtz controlling the position easily from mount.
Yoritsune is looking to get to half guard.
Thurtz controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kujo Yoritsune 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!

Yoritsune steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thurtz.
Thurtz throws a hook but Yoritsune avoids it easily.
Yoritsune scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yoritsune jabs at Thurtz's body.
A slow jab from Thurtz misses its intended target.
Yoritsune takes one on the button.
Thurtz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yoritsune was well out of range. Poor timing from Thurtz.
Thurtz misses with a shot to the body
and Yoritsune counters with a right hand to the body.

Thurtz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yoritsune is trying to keep Thurtz in close.
Thurtz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thurtz wants to get up but he can't break Yoritsune's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Thurtz stopping the sweep attempt from Yoritsune.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurtz slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thurtz postures up.
Yoritsune has a closed guard, preventing Thurtz from standing up.
Thurtz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Michel Thurtz.
Yoritsune takes a swing at Thurtz's ribcage but misses.
Thurtz misses with a body shot.
Thurtz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yoritsune.
Yoritsune works Thurtz's body with a nice hook.
Kujo Yoritsune is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yoritsune looks to land a combination. Thurtz sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A combination from Yoritsune does no damage.
Yoritsune swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thurtz misses with a shot to the body
and Yoritsune counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yoritsune lands a jab to Thurtz's midsection.
Yoritsune rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thurtz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thurtz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yoritsune.
Thurtz throws a hook but Yoritsune avoids it easily.
Thurtz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yoritsune scores with a punch to the head.
Yoritsune digs a good body shot into Thurtz's ribs.
Kujo Yoritsune seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yoritsune fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thurtz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thurtz misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yoritsune counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thurtz thinking.
Thurtz tries to clinch up.
Thurtz slips a jab and a cross from Yoritsune.
Thurtz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yoritsune.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoritsune lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Thurtz darts in and clinches Yoritsune up against the cage.
Yoritsune lands an uppercut.
Thurtz jumps guard but Yoritsune stands there with Thurtz around his waist. Thurtz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thurtz has had enough of the clinch but Yoritsune keeps him there for the moment.
Yoritsune has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thurtz pushes Yoritsune back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thurtz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yoritsune backwards.
Yoritsune looking to slow down the pace here.
Thurtz lands a shoulder strike.
Thurtz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thurtz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Thurtz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thurtz swings for the body but Yoritsune moves out of range.
Thurtz misses with an uppercut. Yoritsune saw that one coming.
Nice shot by Yoritsune.
Thurtz tries to clinch but Yoritsune is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoritsune misses with a body shot

and Thurtz counters with a single leg into guard. Yoritsune didn't expect that.
Thurtz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yoritsune looking to control.
Thurtz trying to control but Yoritsune is working from the bottom.
Thurtz controlling from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoritsune keeping moving, preventing Thurtz from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michel Thurtz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thurtz 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michel Thurtz!