PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Westbrook (ranked 1398 p4p, 192 weight class) and Yokuni Togashi (ranked 996 p4p, 139 weight class). Togashi has chosen Imagine Dragons - Radioactive as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Westbrook
vs
Togashi

183 cm
25
179 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

181 cm
25
177 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russell Westbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yokuni Togashi!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Westbrook throws a wild body kick that Togashi sees coming a mile off.
An inside leg kick lands from Westbrook.
Togashi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Togashi's coach down at Rokugan was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Togashi's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Togashi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Westbrook ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Togashi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Westbrook throws a right hand that Togashi ducks under and follows up with a left that Togashi also avoids with ease.
Togashi loads up on a big right hand but Westbrook slips the punch.
Westbrook lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Togashi backs up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Westbrook throws a hook to the side of Togashi's head but Togashi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Westbrook, right into the meat.
Russell Westbrook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Westbrook moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Togashi moves out of range of the leg kick from Westbrook.
That kick from Westbrook tenderised Togashi's leg. Togashi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Westbrook blocks a jab.
Westbrook is looking to counter with a body kick.
Westbrook lets loose with a powerful body kick. Togashi will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Togashi looks to throw the jab but Westbrook is out of range.
Westbrook tried to counter with a leg kick but Togashi avoided it.
Togashi moves out of range of the body kick from Westbrook.
Westbrook misses the shot to the body.
Togashi misses with an uppercut. Westbrook saw that one coming.
Togashi cracks a nice hook into Westbrook's ribs.
Westbrook fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Togashi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Westbrook looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Westbrook lands a front kick.
Togashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Westbrook.
A lull in the action here as Westbrook stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Togashi is holding Westbrook down, trying to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Togashi tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Togashi tries to improve position but can't.
Westbrook trying to control the action but Togashi is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Westbrook in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Togashi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Westbrook wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Westbrook controls the position.
Togashi is trying to control Westbrook's posture but Westbrook avoids it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Westbrook lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

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.
Togashi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Westbrook blocks a jab.
Togashi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Togashi misses the target.
Westbrook doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Crunch! Westbrook slams his shin into Togashi's torso.
Togashi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Westbrook connects with a single shot there.
Jab from Westbrook.
Westbrook pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Togashi is looking for the big counter here.
A leg kick checked by Togashi.
Togashi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Togashi misses the shot to the body.
Westbrook with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Togashi counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Westbrook dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Westbrook listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Russell Westbrook is winning the standup battle so far.
Togashi misses with a hook. Westbrook ducked under it nicely.
Westbrook lands a glancing blow to the side of Togashi's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Westbrook misses the target.
Togashi misses with a straight left.
Togashi lands with a nice combination. Westbrook backs away looking to recover.
Jab by Westbrook.
Togashi throws a hook but Westbrook blocks it.
Westbrook changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Togashi tries to avoid it but Westbrook manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Togashi to the ground. Togashi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Togashi! But no joy.
Westbrook waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Togashi.
Togashi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Westbrook back to the cage. Togashi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Westbrook throws a body kick that misses.
Togashi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Togashi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Togashi moves out of range of the body kick.
Westbrook scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Westbrook.
Westbrook looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A big left from Togashi misses.
A left lands for Togashi.
Westbrook lands a leg kick that knocks Togashi off balance momentarily.
Westbrook scores with a punch to the head.
Westbrook lunges at Togashi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Togashi's hand.

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

Westbrook is rocked!
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!
Westbrook uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Togashi.
Oh Westbrook is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Togashi misses with a body kick.
Westbrook misses with a looping left.
Westbrook seems to have got his legs back now.
Togashi clobbers Westbrook with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Westbrook thuds his right hand into Togashi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Westbrook keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Togashi.
Togashi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Westbrook. Westbrook obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Togashi's calf.
Westbrook throws a jab but it's blocked by Togashi.
No joy there for Westbrook, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Togashi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Togashi looks to land a right hand but Westbrook moved out of range.
Westbrook swings widly with a right hand
and Togashi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Westbrook cracks the inside of Togashi's front leg.
Togashi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Westbrook throws an overhand right that lands on Togashi's shoulder, as Togashi tries to avoid the shot.
Westbrook misses the shot to the body.
Westbrook bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Westbrook swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Westbrook is looking to slow Togashi down with leg kicks.
Westbrook fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Togashi misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook has a takedown stuffed.
Westbrook lands with a cross.
Westbrook fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Westbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Westbrook misses with a takedown attempt
and Togashi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Westbrook thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Westbrook throws out a loose jab but Togashi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Togashi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Togashi throws a lazy right hand but Westbrook sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Togashi swinging wildly here.
Westbrook tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Togashi defends well and Westbrook ends up having to push Togashi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Togashi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Westbrook manages to avoid it.
Westbrook scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook moves out of range as Togashi throws a body kick.
Togashi misses with a straight right.
Westbrook tried to counter with a leg kick but Togashi avoided it.
Togashi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Westbrook.
Westbrook throws a series of strikes that have Togashi backpedaling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Westbrook doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Togashi counter with a right hand.
Togashi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Westbrook moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Westbrook wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Westbrook throws a front kick aimed at Togashi's knee but Togashi avoids it well.
Nice cross by Togashi.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Togashi misses with a right hand
letting Westbrook counter with a right hand.
Togashi misses with an uppercut.

Westbrook decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Westbrook keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yokuni Togashi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Westbrook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Togashi throws a shot from downtown. Westbrook moves away and avoids it.
Togashi moves out of range of the body kick from Westbrook.
Togashi throws out a loose jab but Westbrook uses good head movement to avoid it.
Westbrook misses with a hook.
Westbrook wants to slow Togashi down by chopping away at his legs.
Togashi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Westbrook defending well as Togashi loads up on a big left hand.
Togashi ducks right into an uppercut from Westbrook.
Togashi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Togashi throws a series of punches but Westbrook moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Togashi drops Westbrook with a beautiful combination! Westbrook stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Togashi is looking for the KO!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters circling - Togashi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Togashi throws a big shot that misses.
Westbrook throws out a leg kick but Togashi moves out of range and Westbrook only half commits.
Horrible takedown attempt by Westbrook or perhaps it was just good defense by Togashi, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook looks to score with a jab to the body but Togashi is just out of range.
Westbrook shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Togashi eats them both and turns towards Westbrook to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Westbrook bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Togashi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Westbrook. Westbrook obviously looking to wear him down.
Togashi scores with a hook to the body. Westbrook takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Westbrook avoids a punch combination nicely.
Togashi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Togashi ducks under a wild hook from Westbrook.
Togashi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Westbrook fails to land the takedown.
Westbrook throws a body punch but Togashi moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Togashi scores with a nice strike.
Togashi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Westbrook.
Westbrook dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
No joy there for Togashi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Togashi slips under a jab from Westbrook.
Westbrook looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Westbrook bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Westbrook shoots in for a takedown but Togashi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Westbrook. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Westbrook throws a lazy uppercut
and Togashi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Westbrook tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Togashi swivels and escapes.
Togashi is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Westbrook hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Yokuni Togashi!
Yokuni Togashi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.