PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phil Hellmuth Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hellmuth Jr
vs
Tsuruta

188 cm
32
260 lbs
24 - 3 - 0

192 cm
25
255 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill
Lion Fightwear

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Hellmuth Jr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomi Tsuruta!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsuruta shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Tsuruta has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Nice defenses there by Tsuruta.
Hellmuth Jr tries to clinch up.
Tsuruta is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hellmuth Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tsuruta.
Hellmuth Jr misses with a looping left.
Tsuruta looks to land a left hand but Hellmuth Jr moved out of range nicely.
Hellmuth Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Tsuruta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tsuruta takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hellmuth Jr misses with an uppercut.
Tsuruta swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tsuruta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tsuruta doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hellmuth Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hellmuth Jr throws a hook but Tsuruta blocks it.

Hellmuth Jr sends Tsuruta crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Hellmuth Jr is motioning to the referee to let Tsuruta up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Tsuruta is rocked!

It looks like Tomomi Tsuruta has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hellmuth Jr avoids the body shot from Tsuruta.
Hellmuth Jr is looking to counter punch.

Hellmuth Jr rushes Tsuruta and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hellmuth Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hellmuth Jr lands a shoulder strike.

Tsuruta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hellmuth Jr misses the jab.
Hellmuth Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hellmuth Jr wants it to stay on the feet.
Phil Hellmuth Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomomi Tsuruta.
Tsuruta dives in and grabs Hellmuth Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hellmuth Jr pushes down on Tsuruta's head and hops out.
Tsuruta misses with a hook. Hellmuth Jr ducked under it nicely.
Tsuruta looks to score with a jab to the body but Hellmuth Jr is just out of range.
Hellmuth Jr throws a looping overhand right but Tsuruta ducks down to avoid it.

Hellmuth Jr lands a big right hand that sends Tsuruta crashing to the mat! Hellmuth Jr stays standing though and waves Tsuruta back to his feet!
Tsuruta is still on wobbly legs! Can Hellmuth Jr finish him?
Tomomi Tsuruta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsuruta ducks under a wild hook from Hellmuth Jr.
Tsuruta seems to have recovered his senses.
Tsuruta circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Hellmuth Jr. Tsuruta falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Hellmuth Jr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Phil Hellmuth Jr!
Phil Hellmuth Jr retains his heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Phil Hellmuth Jr started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.