PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Joseph Proudhon (ranked 575 p4p, 951 weight class) and Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 87 p4p, 140 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Proudhon
vs
Tsuruta

188 cm
37
193
28 - 14 - 0

192 cm
32
209
19 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pierre Joseph Proudhon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Proudhon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Proudhon with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tsuruta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Proudhon was well out of range. Poor timing from Tsuruta.
Proudhon throws a jab when Tsuruta was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tsuruta. Proudhon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Proudhon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Proudhon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Proudhon misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta moves away from the strike by Proudhon.
Tsuruta swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tsuruta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Proudhon manages to avoid it.

Tsuruta bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tsuruta trying to control the position but Proudhon is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Proudhon is not content to let Tsuruta control the position.
Tsuruta is trying to ground and pound but Proudhon uses the momentary lack of control by Tsuruta to regain half guard.
Tsuruta thows a huge punch but Proudhon dodges it nicely.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tsuruta working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Proudhon gets back to full guard.
Tsuruta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tsuruta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Proudhon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tsuruta is pushing down on Proudhon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Proudhon is fighting to maintain full guard but Tsuruta has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tsuruta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Proudhon trying to hold on to Tsuruta's head to control him but Tsuruta postures up.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Proudhon trying to control but Tsuruta postures up.
Tsuruta throwing shots but Proudhon is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tsuruta connects with a nice short shot to Proudhon's temple.
Tsuruta wants to take a breather but Proudhon is having none of it.
Tsuruta perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tsuruta not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tsuruta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tsuruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tsuruta is taking a breather. Proudhon says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Proudhon is looking for a sweep. Tsuruta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tsuruta throwing shots but Proudhon is blocking nicely.
Tsuruta throwing shots but Proudhon is blocking nicely.
Tsuruta stops Proudhon from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Proudhon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta throws a body punch but Proudhon moves out of range.
Tsuruta looks to score with a jab to the body but Proudhon is just out of range.
Proudhon takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that is 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.

Nice defenses there by Tsuruta.
Tsuruta is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Proudhon rather than just go for the knockout.
Proudhon misses with a hook to the body
letting Tsuruta counter with a right hand.
Tsuruta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tsuruta lands a body shot.
Tsuruta lands a really nice looking cross but Proudhon seems unphased.
Tsuruta uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Proudhon.
Tsuruta misses with a straight left.
Proudhon was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Proudhon throws a looping overhand right but Tsuruta ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Proudhon throws a poor cross that misses

and Tsuruta decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Proudhon's guard.
Tsuruta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tsuruta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tsuruta connects with a couple of short punches.
Tsuruta distracts Proudhon with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tsuruta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Proudhon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tsuruta is looking to work some ground and pound but Proudhon has wrist control.
Tsuruta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tsuruta's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Tsuruta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Proudhon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Tsuruta trying to control but Proudhon is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Proudhon looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tomomisan Tsuruta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Proudhon missing with a left hand there. Tsuruta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tsuruta missing with a left hand there. Proudhon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tsuruta works the jab nicely.
Tsuruta throws an overhand right that lands on Proudhon's shoulder, as Proudhon tries to avoid the shot.
Tsuruta jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Proudhon scores with a shot to the body.
Tsuruta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tsuruta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Proudhon throws a body punch but Tsuruta moves out of range.
Proudhon fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tsuruta shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Proudhon as he jumps to the side.
Pierre Joseph Proudhon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Proudhon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tsuruta swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Proudhon counters with a right hand to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Proudhon scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Tomomisan Tsuruta has been cut.
Tsuruta defending well as Proudhon loads up on a big left hand.
Proudhon scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Proudhon looks to land a left hand but Tsuruta moved out of range nicely.
Tsuruta throws a shot from downtown. Proudhon moves away and avoids it.
Proudhon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tsuruta manages to avoid it.
Proudhon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tsuruta feints the counter takedown.
Proudhon throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsuruta misses with a hook.
Tsuruta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Proudhon was well out of range. Poor timing from Tsuruta.
A telegraphed right hand from Tsuruta misses the target.
Tsuruta connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Donk. Tsuruta catches Proudhon right on the button with a cross.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tomomisan Tsuruta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tsuruta moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Tsuruta drives through with a takedown into Proudhon's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Proudhon manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Proudhon just misses with a punch to the body.
Tsuruta cracks Proudhon with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tsuruta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Proudhon was well out of range. Poor timing from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Proudhon. Tsuruta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tsuruta's corner calls for a 1-2. Tsuruta obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Proudhon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Proudhon throws the left hand but Tsuruta avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta ducks under a wild hook from Proudhon.
Tsuruta misses with a shot to the body
and Proudhon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tsuruta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Proudhon needs to keep his hands up - Tsuruta had a free shot at his head there.
A big right from Proudhon misses.
Tsuruta throws a series of punches but Proudhon avoids them all with ease.
Proudhon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tsuruta momentarily.
A slow jab from Tsuruta misses its intended target.
Proudhon fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Proudhon misses with a hook.
It seemed like Tsuruta was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tsuruta cracks Proudhon with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tsuruta misses the shot to the body.
Proudhon lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsuruta misses with a lunging right hand
and Proudhon counters with a left to the body.
Tsuruta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Proudhon.
Pierre Joseph Proudhon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tsuruta misses with a lunging right hand
and Proudhon counters with a right hand to the body.
Tsuruta ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Proudhon fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tsuruta manages to avoid it.
Tsuruta clobbers Proudhon with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Proudhon throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tsuruta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Proudhon misses with a wild combination.
Proudhon digs a good body shot into Tsuruta's ribs.
Tsuruta scores with a jab. Proudhon acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tsuruta throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Proudhon counters with a stiff right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Tsuruta 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Tsuruta rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Proudhon to counter with a crisp jab.

Tsuruta is rocked!
Tsuruta is wiping some vaseline out of his eye. Proudhon doesn't give a rats ass about fair play and cracks him with a massive hook to the side of the head! Tsuruta crumples to the floor out cold! The cornerman is going to be in Tsuruta's bad books for that mishap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Pierre Joseph Proudhon!
Pierre Joseph Proudhon retains his light heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Pierre Joseph Proudhon thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.