PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between david tho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshi Kamikaze (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.

tho
vs
Kamikaze

170 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Attliction

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, david tho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Kamikaze!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamikaze throws a head kick but tho moves out of range.
tho shoots in but Kamikaze avoids the takedown attempt easily.
tho throws a big shot that misses.
Kamikaze misses with a double jab.
tho goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Yoshi Kamikaze has been cut.
tho looks for a takedown but Kamikaze sprawls well.

tho closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kamikaze tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Kamikaze manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kamikaze wants to get back to his feet.
Kamikaze makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kamikaze.
Kamikaze working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
tho trying to control but Kamikaze is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamikaze keeping full guard, as tho tries to pass.

Kamikaze throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kamikaze looking to hit a scissor sweep but tho is one step ahead there.
Kamikaze is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kamikaze bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in tho's guard.

That's two 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.
Kamikaze won't allow tho to sweep him here.
tho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kamikaze manages to get himself to full guard.
tho has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
tho is breathing heavily.

Kamikaze is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
tho throwing strikes but missing.
Kamikaze not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
tho advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamikaze manages to work his way to half guard, despite tho's best efforts.
tho missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kamikaze has one foot on tho's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
tho blocks a head kick by Kamikaze.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kamikaze.
Kamikaze tries to move into full mount but can't pass tho's legs.
tho can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
tho is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kamikaze's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kamikaze is looking to pass tho's guard but actually tho recovers to full guard.

tho has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kamikaze off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kamikaze misses with a straight left.
tho tries to clinch but Kamikaze is having none of it.
Kamikaze throws a right and a left that both miss.
tho tries for a takedown but Kamikaze circles away easily
and Kamikaze counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for david tho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
tho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kamikaze.
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 david tho will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yoshi Kamikaze's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

tho fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kamikaze throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
tho bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
tho is looking to clinch but Kamikaze is avoiding it.
Kamikaze misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
tho throws a series of punches but Kamikaze moves out of range.
tho shoots for a double leg takedown but Kamikaze sprawls well. He's pushed tho's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
tho misses with the combination.
Kamikaze throws a head kick that misses

and tho counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kamikaze's guard now.
Kamikaze tries to strike from the bottom.
Kamikaze is trying to keep tho in close.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kamikaze has control of tho's left arm, preventing tho from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kamikaze has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but tho can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kamikaze working a defensive guard here.
Kamikaze looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kamikaze looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Kamikaze as tho shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for david tho. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.

tho shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kamikaze is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
tho lands a big shot there that rocks Kamikaze but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kamikaze in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
tho in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kamikaze is in all sorts of trouble here.
tho avoids the attempt from Kamikaze to control.
tho with shots to the head and body - Kamikaze looks very uncomfortable down there.

That has opened up Yoshi Kamikaze's cut even more.
tho scores with a couple of good head shots there.

The cut above Yoshi Kamikaze's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kamikaze swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kamikaze wants to control but tho is having none of it.
Kamikaze gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
tho prevents Kamikaze from standing back up.
Kamikaze is trying to get back to full guard.
tho missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kamikaze wants to improve his position but tho is controlling well.
tho landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kamikaze wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
tho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kamikaze is fending him off so far but tho persists. Nope, Kamikaze circles away and we're back to standing.
Kamikaze fails with the takedown

and tho counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kamikaze!
tho sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kamikaze is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kamikaze regains half guard.
Kamikaze manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

david tho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yoshi Kamikaze'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!

Kamikaze feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kamikaze forces his way into half guard.
tho wants to get back to his feet.

Kamikaze postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for tho to stand up.
tho with a lazy takedown attempt
and tho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kamikaze drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
tho throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kamikaze takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kamikaze throws a strike but tho rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kamikaze trying to keep a closed guard but tho is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
tho throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kamikaze works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kamikaze trying to keep a closed guard but tho is proving a slippery customer.
tho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kamikaze swivels though and keeps the full guard.
tho wants to control from the top but Kamikaze keeps moving.
Kamikaze utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
tho tries for a takedown but Kamikaze circles away easily

and Kamikaze counters with a single leg into guard. tho didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamikaze wants to pass the guard but tho is keeping the position.
tho manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kamikaze manages to get himself to full guard.
tho distracts Kamikaze with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kamikaze controls tho momentarily but tho frees himself.
tho prevents Kamikaze from getting back to his feet.
tho postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kamikaze wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamikaze keeping moving, preventing tho from controlling successfully.
Kamikaze looking for a sweep. Not yet Kamikaze, not yet.

Kamikaze has his foot on tho's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. tho works his way back into a safe position though.

Kamikaze has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think tho should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Kamikaze has tightened it up now! tho should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yoshi Kamikaze!