PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoto Haramushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryce Thurstan (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.

Haramushi
vs
Thurstan

180 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Mustang Fight Food
Mustang Fight Food

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoto Haramushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryce Thurstan!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haramushi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thurstan tries to roll over but Haramushi keeps him under control.
Thurstan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Haramushi stands up from Thurstan's guard - Haramushi perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thurstan has his takedown stuffed

and Haramushi counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thurstan!
Haramushi moves to the back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thurstan is in bad spot here.
Haramushi looking to hold on to the position here but Thurstan rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Haramushi trying to control but Thurstan is working from the bottom.
Haramushi stays in close to Thurstan's body and controls the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Haramushi forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurstan is trying to stand up here but Haramushi is controlling him well.
Haramushi wants to pass to mount but Thurstan is defending the position.
Haramushi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thurstan's head.
Haramushi prevents Thurstan from improving his position.

Haramushi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thurstan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thurstan regains full guard. Nicely done.

Thurstan working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Haramushi has passed into half guard!
Thurstan looks gassed!
Haramushi prevents Thurstan from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thurstan is trying to maintain the position but Haramushi is very close to passing his half guard.
Haramushi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Haramushi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Haramushi trying to advance position but Thurstan counters by regaining guard.
Haramushi trying to control the position from guard on top but Thurstan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thurstan being controlled here, momentarily.
Haramushi forces his way into half guard.

Haramushi seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haramushi is looking to take a break and control but Thurstan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thurstan is trying to control but can't.
Thurstan tries to get to full guard but Haramushi has control of the leg.
Thurstan is trying to maintain the position but Haramushi is very close to passing his half guard.
Haramushi wants to pass the guard but Thurstan is defending well.
Thurstan tries to roll over but Haramushi keeps him under control.
Thurstan trying to hold on to Haramushi's head to control him but Haramushi postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Haramushi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thurstan counters with a shoot takedown. Haramushi fights it but they end up in guard.
Thurstan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Haramushi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haramushi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thurstan's guard.
Thurstan has a closed guard, preventing Haramushi from standing up.
Thurstan keeping moving, preventing Haramushi from controlling successfully.
Thurstan has a closed guard, preventing Haramushi from standing up.
Haramushi is looking to advance position but Thurstan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Thurstan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Haramushi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Haramushi and Thurstan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Haramushi is trying to improve his position.
Thurstan wants to stand but Haramushi is controlling his arm.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Thurstan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haramushi keeps working.
Thurstan wants to stand but Haramushi has his arm trapped.
Haramushi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haramushi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thurstan's best efforts.
Haramushi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thurstan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thurstan's back!
Thurstan rolls, trying to escape but Haramushi keeps control of the position.
Haramushi is looking to control Thurstan but Thurstan is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Haramushi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Haramushi connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Thurstan to escape the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Haramushi has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Thurstan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Thurstan trying to control the hands but Haramushi won't let him.
Haramushi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Haramushi just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Thurstan preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Haramushi.
Haramushi gets his hands free as Thurstan looks to control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thurstan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Haramushi's guard. Nice work there by Thurstan.
Thurstan trying to control but Haramushi is working from the bottom.
Thurstan passes into half guard.
Haramushi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thurstan is working away from the top position though.
Thurstan stalling.
Thurstan trying to control from half guard but Haramushi is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Thurstan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haramushi defends it well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Haramushi is staying active underneath Thurstan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thurstan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Haramushi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thurstan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Haramushi.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thurstan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Haramushi looking for submissions off his back.

Thurstan is working for a kimura but Haramushi is defending it quite comfortably.
Haramushi trying to control here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Haramushi keeping control of the position.
Haramushi is trying to maintain the position but Thurstan is very close to passing his half guard.
Thurstan trying to control from half guard but Haramushi is working away.
Thurstan wants to stand but Haramushi has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Haramushi trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haramushi throws a leg kick

so Thurstan counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Haramushi 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 crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Haramushi seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Thurstan is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Yoto Haramushi!