PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hideaki Murakami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naoki Masatoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Murakami
vs
Masatoshi

171 cm
24
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hideaki Murakami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Naoki Masatoshi!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murakami looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Masatoshi has managed to clinch.

Masatoshi drags the fight down to the ground.
Murakami throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Murakami tries to stand but Masatoshi is controlling from the bottom.
Murakami has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Murakami looking to pass the guard.
Masatoshi punching to the body, from the bottom.
Murakami preventing the sweep.
Masatoshi is trying to keep Murakami in close.
Murakami wants to pass the guard but Masatoshi is keeping the position.

Masatoshi manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami tries to close the distance and clinch but Masatoshi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murakami fails with the takedown.

Masatoshi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murakami, pushing him back against the cage.

Murakami escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Masatoshi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Murakami sprawls well initially but Masatoshi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Murakami is refusing to be controlled, as Masatoshi sits in half guard.
Murakami keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Murakami is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Murakami is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Masatoshi decides to stand up.

Murakami has taken the fight to the clinch.

Murakami pulls guard effortlessly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Murakami is trying to control the position but Masatoshi postures up.

Masatoshi gets to his feet. Murakami looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Masatoshi closes the distance and clinches.
Masatoshi tries to work over Murakami's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Masatoshi lands a shoulder strike.

Masatoshi has clasped his hands together around Murakami's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Masatoshi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hideaki Murakami seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murakami gets caught napping as Masatoshi dives in and scores a takedown. Murakami manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masatoshi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Murakami is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Murakami thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Masatoshi's head.

Murakami seems to be looking for submissions.
Masatoshi controlling the position for now.
Masatoshi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Murakami's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Murakami's back!
Murakami is in bad spot here.
Masatoshi throwing damaging strikes from the back! Murakami could be in trouble here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murakami trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Masatoshi looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masatoshi is trying to stick to Murakami's back but Murakami is turning into Masatoshi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Masatoshi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Murakami.
Murakami wants to get up but he can't break Masatoshi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Masatoshi keeping full guard, as Murakami tries to pass.
Masatoshi striking off his back.
Masatoshi keeping moving, preventing Murakami from controlling successfully.
Murakami trying to stand up but can't free himself from Masatoshi's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Masatoshi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Murakami postures up and lands a big shot to Masatoshi's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Masatoshi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Masatoshi looks for the body kick but Murakami saw that one coming.
Murakami fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murakami shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Masatoshi defends it nicely.
Masatoshi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Hideaki Murakami has been cut.
Masatoshi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Masatoshi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Masatoshi working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Masatoshi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Murakami is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Masatoshi decides to stand back up. Masatoshi steps back and let's Murakami get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masatoshi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Murakami to the mat! Murakami manages to get full guard.

Murakami looking for subs off his back but Masatoshi has passed one foot through into half guard.
Masatoshi trying to control the pace.
Masatoshi wants to free his trapped foot but Murakami is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Masatoshi is looking to take a break and control but Murakami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Masatoshi stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Murakami to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murakami moves away.

Masatoshi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Murakami looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Murakami is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Masatoshi off and has taken his back!
Masatoshi trying to control the action but Murakami just sinks the hooks in.
Masatoshi is really stuck here.

Murakami is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Masatoshi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Masatoshi for a finish.

Murakami tightening his grip on Masatoshi, looking for the choke.

Murakami patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi tries to roll but Murakami sticks to his back.

Murakami is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Masatoshi knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Masatoshi for a finish.

Masatoshi preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Murakami.

Masatoshi defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Masatoshi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Murakami's guard. Nice work there by Masatoshi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Murakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Masatoshi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Murakami has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Masatoshi has managed to get both his arms back between Murakami's legs - danger averted.
Masatoshi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Murakami looking for a guillotine here but Masatoshi defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Masatoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Murakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Hideaki Murakami will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hideaki Murakami's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Murakami misses with a takedown

and Masatoshi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Murakami's guard now.
Murakami wants to sweep but no luck.
Masatoshi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Murakami looking for a guillotine here but Masatoshi defends easily.
Masatoshi works over Murakami with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masatoshi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masatoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Murakami is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masatoshi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Masatoshi drops back looking for a leg! Murakami is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Murakami manages to kick Masatoshi off! Masatoshi jumps back into Murakami's guard.
Murakami wants to sweep here but Masatoshi controlling him for the moment.
Masatoshi advances position into side control!
Murakami is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Masatoshi is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masatoshi trying to control the action but Murakami is working from the bottom.

Masatoshi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Masatoshi dives in and scores a takedown into Murakami's guard.
Murakami bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Masatoshi's guard.
Murakami trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Naoki Masatoshi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murakami trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!
Murakami wants to control from the top but Masatoshi keeps moving.

Masatoshi is looking for a triangle but Murakami pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murakami slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Masatoshi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Masatoshi is looking to take a break and control but Murakami is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Murakami trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Murakami manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Murakami manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Murakami working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Murakami looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Murakami tries to control but Masatoshi wriggling away.
Murakami in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Murakami looking to secure an arm triangle but Masatoshi defends it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Murakami moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Masatoshi has worked his arm free - good work by Masatoshi!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masatoshi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naoki Masatoshi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Masatoshi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naoki Masatoshi!