PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kiba Inuzuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koshi Tatsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Inuzuka
vs
Tatsu

178 cm
20
166 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kiba Inuzuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koshi Tatsu!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Inuzuka throws a head kick that misses.

Inuzuka takes the fight into the clinch.

Inuzuka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Inuzuka as Tatsu shoots in.
Tatsu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Inuzuka.

Inuzuka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Inuzuka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Inuzuka manages to capitalize on a mistake by Tatsu to take his back!
Tatsu tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tatsu regains half guard.
Inuzuka lands strikes from half guard.
Inuzuka not doing much here.
Tatsu is pressing down on Inuzuka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inuzuka sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tatsu looking for a sweep. Not yet Tatsu, not yet.

Tatsu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Inuzuka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Tatsu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Inuzuka controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inuzuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tatsu is keeping the position for now.
Inuzuka stopping the sweep attempt from Tatsu.
Tatsu lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Inuzuka!
Tatsu unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatsu with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Tatsu avoids the attempt from Inuzuka to control.

Tatsu with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Inuzuka wants to hold on but Tatsu pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Inuzuka regains half guard.
Inuzuka is breathing heavily.
Tatsu tries to pass to full mount but Inuzuka defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tatsu is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Inuzuka as he works his way to full guard.

Tatsu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Inuzuka dives on top into guard.
Inuzuka is stalling in the full guard.
Inuzuka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kiba Inuzuka will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tatsu tries for a takedown but Inuzuka circles away easily

and Inuzuka moves into the clinch.

Inuzuka gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Inuzuka wants to control from the top but Tatsu keeps moving.
Inuzuka stopping the sweep attempt from Tatsu.
Tatsu keeping moving, preventing Inuzuka from controlling successfully.
Tatsu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Inuzuka's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsu stands up over Inuzuka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Inuzuka looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tatsu is one step ahead there.
Tatsu trying to control the position from guard on top but Inuzuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Inuzuka working a defensive guard but Tatsu passes into half guard.
Inuzuka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tatsu is looking to advance position but Inuzuka won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Inuzuka trying to control from the bottom.
Inuzuka is trying to get back to full guard.
Tatsu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Inuzuka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Tatsu wants to work for an arm triangle but Inuzuka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tatsu tries to pass to full mount but Inuzuka defends it.
Tatsu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Tatsu is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Inuzuka trying to control from the bottom.
Tatsu passes to side control.
Tatsu trying to control the action but Inuzuka is working from the bottom.
Tatsu cracks Inuzuka with an elbow. That is naaassty.

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.
Tatsu lands a few punches from side control.
Inuzuka tries to improve position but can't.

Tatsu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Inuzuka, who protects the arm well.

Tatsu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Inuzuka throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koshi Tatsu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Inuzuka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Inuzuka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Tatsu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Inuzuka.

Tatsu scores with a takedown into Inuzuka's guard.
Inuzuka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Inuzuka keeping full guard, as Tatsu tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tatsu scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Inuzuka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tatsu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Inuzuka can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tatsu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tatsu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Inuzuka tries to buck Tatsu off but Tatsu is having none of it.
The strikes coming from Tatsu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Inuzuka tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Inuzuka flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tatsu swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Inuzuka is now in Tatsu's guard. A big mistake from Tatsu there, giving up the dominant position!
Inuzuka is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tatsu keeping moving, preventing Inuzuka from controlling successfully.
Tatsu looking to control.
Inuzuka trying to control the position from guard on top but Tatsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tatsu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tatsu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tatsu is thwarting Inuzuka's attempts to control the position.

Tatsu is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Inuzuka has managed to free his arm - good work.
Koshi Tatsu has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tatsu is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koshi Tatsu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tatsu 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koshi Tatsu!