PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Ehrenholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yushi Tatizu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ehrenholm
vs
Tatizu

172 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
137 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Ehrenholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushi Tatizu!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ehrenholm moves into the clinch.

Ehrenholm drags the fight down to the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ehrenholm keeping moving, preventing Tatizu from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Yushi Tatizu hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tatizu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ehrenholm manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tatizu on the wrong end of a nice hook.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tatizu enables Ehrenholm to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tatizu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ehrenholm is looking to advance position but Tatizu has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tatizu looking to control but Ehrenholm is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ehrenholm wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Tatizu missing with strikes.

Ehrenholm fending off the submission attempt from Tatizu.

Ehrenholm is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tatizu gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ehrenholm staying busy and making it hard for Tatizu to control.
You can see the frustration on Ehrenholm's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tatizu is trying to stick to Ehrenholm's back but Ehrenholm is turning into Tatizu. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tatizu's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ehrenholm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ehrenholm won't allow Tatizu to get back to his feet.
Tatizu working a defensive guard here.
Ehrenholm is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ehrenholm landing with the ground and pound.
Ehrenholm wanted to stand there but Tatizu had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ehrenholm missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ehrenholm controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ehrenholm has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tatizu is proving hard to escape from.
Ehrenholm engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ehrenholm pushes Tatizu up against the cage in a clinch.

Ehrenholm jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tatizu 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.
Ehrenholm will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tatizu wants to control from the top but Ehrenholm keeps moving.

Ehrenholm working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tatizu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tatizu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tatizu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatizu tries to stand but Ehrenholm is controlling from the bottom.
Tatizu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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 Marcus Ehrenholm will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tatizu avoids the head kick by Ehrenholm.
Tatizu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ehrenholm sprawls well. Ehrenholm wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tatizu gets slowly back to his feet.
Tatizu shoots for a double leg takedown but Ehrenholm sprawls well. He's pushed Tatizu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tatizu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tatizu digs a good hook to Ehrenholm's body.
Tatizu throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ehrenholm counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ehrenholm's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Ehrenholm pulls guard effortlessly.
Ehrenholm on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ehrenholm tries to get out of the position.
Tatizu tries to free his leg and advance position but Ehrenholm is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ehrenholm looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tatizu wants to control from the top but Ehrenholm keeps moving.
Ehrenholm knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tatizu on the ground.
Tatizu pushes down on Ehrenholm's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tatizu is pressing down on Ehrenholm's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ehrenholm is holding on for now.
Tatizu is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Tatizu is trying to work for a kimura but Ehrenholm is defending well.
Tatizu is looking to take a break and control but Ehrenholm is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tatizu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ehrenholm defending well though.
Ehrenholm is trying to maintain the position but Tatizu is very close to passing his half guard.
Tatizu trying to control the action but Ehrenholm is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Yushi Tatizu wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ehrenholm is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tatizu's half guard.
Ehrenholm perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tatizu trying to control but Ehrenholm postures up.

Ehrenholm is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tatizu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ehrenholm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ehrenholm with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ehrenholm trying to pass the guard but Tatizu defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yushi Tatizu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tatizu tries to keep at a distance but Ehrenholm has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ehrenholm manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tatizu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tatizu advances position into side control!
Ehrenholm manages to get back to half guard.
Tatizu throwing shots but Ehrenholm is blocking nicely.
Ehrenholm is pressing down on Tatizu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ehrenholm keeping moving, preventing Tatizu from controlling successfully.
Tatizu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ehrenholm keeping moving, preventing Tatizu from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yushi Tatizu was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Ehrenholm gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ehrenholm pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Ehrenholm with that takedown attempt.
Tatizu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ehrenholm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ehrenholm counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ehrenholm got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tatizu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ehrenholm has managed to get both his arms back between Tatizu's legs - danger averted.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tatizu seems keen to control Ehrenholm's posture.
Ehrenholm scoring with some ground and pound.
Ehrenholm looking to pass the guard.
Ehrenholm wants to control from the top but Tatizu keeps moving.
Ehrenholm looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ehrenholm trying to control the position from guard on top but Tatizu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yushi Tatizu has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tatizu manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tatizu wants to clinch but Ehrenholm slips to the side

and Ehrenholm counters by moving into the clinch.
Tatizu tries to pull guard but Ehrenholm holds him up against the cage and eventually Tatizu drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ehrenholm has Tatizu pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ehrenholm pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Tatizu tumbling to the mat - Ehrenholm dives into Tatizu's guard.
Ehrenholm has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu keeping full guard, as Ehrenholm tries to pass.
Tatizu looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yushi Tatizu was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Tatizu looks for a takedown but Ehrenholm sprawls well.
Marcus Ehrenholm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yushi Tatizu.
Tatizu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatizu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ehrenholm avoids it really well and circles away.
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!

Ehrenholm moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Ehrenholm showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ehrenholm has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Ehrenholm!