PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Garza (ranked 3272 p4p, 439 weight class) and Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 3158 p4p, 426 weight class). Tomomisan Tsuruta will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Garza
vs
Tsuruta

180 cm
19
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
209 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Garza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garza looks to throw the jab but Tsuruta is out of range.
Tsuruta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tsuruta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Garza throws a lazy right hand but Tsuruta sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tsuruta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Tsuruta.
Tsuruta scores with a punch to the head.

Garza scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tsuruta wants to improve his position but Garza is controlling well.
Tsuruta avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Garza.
Tsuruta is pressing down on Garza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsuruta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Garza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garza wants to pass the guard but Tsuruta is keeping the position.
Tsuruta wants to sweep but no luck.
We've been hearing that Garza has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
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.
Tsuruta is still trying to improve position.
Tsuruta keeps trying to improve his position.
Garza trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsuruta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garza won't allow Tsuruta to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Garza drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tsuruta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Garza has Tsuruta in his guard.

Garza looking for a sweep. Not yet Garza, not yet.
Tsuruta passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Garza is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tsuruta off and has taken his back!
Tsuruta has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Garza.
Tsuruta covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Garza lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garza doesn't have the hooks in and Tsuruta manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tsuruta controls from within his opponent's guard.
Garza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Garza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garza on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Garza tries to get out of the position.
Tsuruta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garza's head.

Tsuruta got a little sloppy there for a moment and Garza has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tsuruta has managed to get both his arms back between Garza's legs - danger averted.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tsuruta is working Garza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Garza knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tsuruta on the ground.

Garza throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tsuruta escapes and throws Garza's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Tsuruta working the head with strikes.
Tsuruta lands a decent elbow from side control.
Garza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tsuruta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Garza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tsuruta working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tsuruta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tsuruta scoring with punches from side control.
Garza sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tsuruta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tsuruta is nestled in close to Garza, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Garza tries to get to full guard but Tsuruta has control of the leg.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Garza!
Tsuruta working the ground and pound effectively.
Tsuruta with the ground and pound from mount.
Tsuruta landing strikes, looking to finish!
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!
Garza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Tsuruta wants to sweep but no luck.
Garza is in close to Tsuruta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tsuruta is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tsuruta wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tsuruta is on top in guard.

Tsuruta stopping the sweep attempt from Garza.
Tsuruta is in close to Garza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garza has momentary wrist control but Tsuruta slips an elbow through the middle.
Tsuruta stopping the sweep attempt from Garza.
Tsuruta is pushing down on Garza's leg trying to pass to half guard. Garza is fighting to maintain full guard but Tsuruta has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tsuruta slips a nice elbow through Garza's hands, connecting with Garza's forehead.

Garza looking for submissions off his back.
Tsuruta lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta dominated that round.
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.

Garza throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tsuruta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Garza's waist but Garza gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tsuruta off to one side.
Tsuruta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tsuruta blocks a jab.
Garza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tsuruta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Garza swings widly with a right hand
and Tsuruta counters with a nice uppercut.
Tsuruta slips a jab from Garza.
Tsuruta cracks a nice hook into Garza's ribs.
Tsuruta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Garza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tsuruta.
Garza takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta scores with a hook to the body. Garza takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tsuruta pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tsuruta misses with a body shot.
Garza takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garza scores with a sloppy right hand. Tsuruta should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta throws an off balance right hand
enabling Garza to counter with a crisp jab.
Tsuruta slips under a jab from Garza.
Garza is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Tsuruta's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Tsuruta misses with a hook. Garza ducked under it nicely.
Tsuruta throws a predictable looking body shot
and Garza connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Garza instigates a clinch.
Garza tries to work over Tsuruta's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tsuruta creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Garza wants a takedown.
Tsuruta misses with a hook from the clinch.
Garza can't find room to land a body shot as Tsuruta controls the action.
Garza tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsuruta's elbow.
Tsuruta misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tsuruta wants to stall.
Tsuruta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tsuruta.
Tsuruta lands a hook that snaps the head of Garza backwards.
Garza blocks a body shot from Tsuruta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garza has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tsuruta is trying to keep an underhook but Garza manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tsuruta moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tsuruta is on top in guard.

Garza looking for a guillotine here but Tsuruta defends easily.
Garza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tsuruta is one step ahead there.
Tsuruta is working Garza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tsuruta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tsuruta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tsuruta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Garza tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tsuruta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garza looking for a sweep. Not yet Garza, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Garza's head.
Tsuruta is in close to Garza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Garza wants to sweep here but Tsuruta controlling him for the moment.
Tsuruta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tsuruta scoring with punches to the head and body.

Garza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tsuruta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tsuruta pushing down on Garza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Garza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tsuruta's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tsuruta's back!

Garza has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tsuruta has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Tsuruta is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Garza loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Tsuruta hold on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta turns into Garza and is now in his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tsuruta stands up over Garza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tsuruta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta is in close to Garza's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tsuruta works over Garza with some ground and pound from guard.

Garza working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tsuruta has passed into half guard!
Tsuruta looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Garza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Garza is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tsuruta scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tsuruta lands a nice short elbow.
Garza tries to roll over but Tsuruta keeps him under control.
Tsuruta is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tsuruta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta 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!

Tsuruta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Garza swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tsuruta is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Garza keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tsuruta staying out of range there.
Tsuruta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Garza blocks a jab.

Garza clinches up against the cage.
Garza is trying to stall.
Tsuruta goes for a takedown attempt but Garza pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Garza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tsuruta as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Garza manages to avoid it.

Garza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Garza showed some decent athleticism there.

Tsuruta manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Garza keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tsuruta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tsuruta lands an uppercut.
Tsuruta tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Tsuruta.
Garza tries a body shot but Tsuruta blocks it.
Garza misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Tsuruta.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tsuruta.
Garza misses with some punches.
Garza goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tsuruta prevents it.
Tsuruta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tsuruta struggles to land a body shot inside as Garza controls his hands.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tsuruta is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Garza can't fight it off and eventually Tsuruta manages to take the fight to the floor. Garza looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tsuruta with a nice head shot there.
Tomomisan Tsuruta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tsuruta won't allow Garza to sweep him here.
Tsuruta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Garza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tsuruta chips away with some ground and pound.
Garza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tsuruta connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Tsuruta preventing the sweep.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Garza looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tsuruta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tsuruta scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza wants to sweep but no luck.
Tsuruta distracts Garza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tsuruta forces his way into half guard.
Garza has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tsuruta prevents Garza from improving his position.
Garza is working hard here to advance position.
Garza is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tsuruta scores with a couple of nice shots.
Garza taking some punishment here, with Tsuruta in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tsuruta lands a nice short elbow.
Garza tries to roll over but Tsuruta keeps him under control.
Garza works his way to full guard. Good work.
Tsuruta stands up over Garza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta trying to control but Garza is working from the bottom.
Tsuruta cracks Garza with a solid left hand.
Tsuruta stands and throws Garza's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Garza is trying to get back to half guard.
Tsuruta scoring with punches and elbows.
Garza tries to improve position but can't.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tsuruta is working Garza over with some ground and pound from side control.
Garza is trying to improve his position.
Tsuruta is putting a hurting on Garza here, landing some big shots from side control.
Tsuruta lands some shots froms side control.
Matt Garza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garza tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomomisan Tsuruta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tsuruta has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomomisan Tsuruta!