PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cat Kifo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideo Tokoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokoro has chosen World's End Rhapsody as his entrance music. Hideo Tokoro told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kifo
vs
Tokoro

168 cm
26
142 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

171 cm
21
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Granite chin

Springfield HW Nutrition

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cat Kifo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hideo Tokoro!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tokoro clinches with his opponent.

Tokoro gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Tokoro is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tokoro is just content to waste time from the top position. Kifo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Tokoro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kifo dives on top into guard.
Tokoro is adopting a defensive guard.
Kifo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tokoro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tokoro is trying to keep Kifo in close.

Kifo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tokoro dives on top into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro wants to control from the top but Kifo keeps moving.
Tokoro tries to free his leg and advance position but Kifo is retaining full guard.
Tokoro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tokoro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kifo dives on top into guard.

Tokoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tokoro is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Kifo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tokoro looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tokoro looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tokoro!
Tokoro trying to control the action but Kifo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tokoro goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kifo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tokoro's guard! Nice work there by Kifo!

Tokoro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kifo drops back looking for a leg! Tokoro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tokoro manages to kick Kifo off! Kifo jumps back into Tokoro's guard.

Tokoro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Kifo drops back looking for a leg! Tokoro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tokoro manages to kick Kifo off! Kifo jumps back into Tokoro's guard.

Tokoro is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kifo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kifo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tokoro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kifo is trying to get back to half guard.

Tokoro swings around for an armbar but Kifo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tokoro's guard.
Tokoro wants to sweep here but Kifo controlling him for the moment.

Tokoro looking for a guillotine here but Kifo defends easily.

Kifo is sitting in close to Tokoro's body. Tokoro has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Kifo is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Kifo is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Tokoro.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Hideo Tokoro!
A relieved looking Hideo Tokoro thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.