PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Umemoto Toshiko (ranked 4588 p4p, 4576 weight class) and Big Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Toshiko
vs
Joe

185 cm
20
250
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
255
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umemoto Toshiko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Big Joe!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toshiko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joe is fending him off so far but Toshiko persists. Nope, Joe circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Toshiko with a body shot.
Joe fails with a takedown attempt.
Toshiko appears to be looking for a big counter.
A low kick from Joe is predictable there
and Toshiko counters with a left to the body.
Joe fails with the takedown.
Joe dives in and grabs Toshiko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Toshiko pushes down on Joe's head and hops out.
Toshiko attempts a counter takedown but Joe avoids it well and moves away.
Umemoto Toshiko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Joe.
Joe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Joe just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe tries to clinch up.
Toshiko is looking for a counter combo.
Toshiko misses with a series of wild punches.
Joe throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Joe. No joy for Toshiko on that attempt.

Joe tries to keep at a distance but Toshiko has taken the fight into the clinch.

Toshiko gets control of Joe's arms and successfully pulls guard. Toshiko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Toshiko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Joe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Toshiko has Joe pulled in close to control his posture.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Joe has eaten all the pies!
Toshiko keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

Toshiko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Joe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toshiko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toshiko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Toshiko keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Toshiko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Toshiko breaks the clinch.
Joe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Toshiko defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe shoots in for a takedown but Toshiko shows good takedown defense.
Toshiko goes for a double leg but Joe avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joe continues to drive forward.

Toshiko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Joe uses from the top position.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Toshiko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Toshiko has his hands on Joe's head, controlling the position.
Joe trying to control but Toshiko is working from the bottom.

Toshiko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Joe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Toshiko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Joe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joe wants to control from the top but Toshiko keeps moving.
Joe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toshiko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Joe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Toshiko is fending him off so far but Joe persists. Nope, Toshiko circles away and we're back to standing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Umemoto Toshiko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Toshiko moves into the clinch.
Joe is pressed up against the cage. Toshiko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Joe down to the mat. Joe avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Toshiko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joe is looking to clinch.
Toshiko throws a wild body kick that Joe sees coming a mile off.
Toshiko fails with a takedown attempt.
Joe feints the counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Toshiko or perhaps it was just good defense by Joe, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Umemoto Toshiko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Joe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Joe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Toshiko swivels and escapes.
Joe tries for a takedown but Toshiko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Toshiko is looking for a counter combo.
Nice takedown defense from Joe. No joy for Toshiko on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe fails with a takedown attempt.
Joe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joe is looking to clinch.
Toshiko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Joe pinned against the cage. Joe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And Joe tries to counter it with a takedown but Toshiko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Toshiko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joe dips to his left and cracks Toshiko with an uppercut!
Toshiko shoots for a takedown but Joe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe shoots in and drives through. Toshiko sprawls well.
Toshiko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joe.
Toshiko goes for a double leg but Joe avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joe continues to drive forward.

Toshiko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Joe wants to clinch up but Toshiko keeps it at a distance.
Toshiko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Joe.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joe or perhaps it was just good defense by Toshiko, which made it look bad.
Toshiko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Joe.
Toshiko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joe goes for a double leg but Toshiko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Toshiko continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toshiko dodges the punch combination from Joe.
Joe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Joe has a takedown stuffed.
Toshiko has a takedown stuffed.

Toshiko drives through and clinches with Joe against the cage.
Joe jumps guard but Toshiko turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Joe can't get the takedown.

Toshiko drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe wants to get up but he can't break Toshiko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Joe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Joe tries to free his leg and advance position but Toshiko is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe throws an elbow that misses. Toshiko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joe's guard. Nice move by Toshiko!

Joe looking to control but Toshiko passes into half guard.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe is controlling Toshiko's trapped leg to prevent Toshiko from advancing to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Umemoto Toshiko dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Toshiko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Toshiko misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Toshiko.
Joe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Toshiko defends it nicely.
Toshiko misses with a wild body shot.
Toshiko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Joe can do to turn this around?
Joe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Toshiko pinned against the cage. Toshiko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Toshiko drops down looking for a counter takedown but Joe sprawls and moves away.
Joe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joe wants it to stay on the feet.
Umemoto Toshiko is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Toshiko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joe has a takedown stuffed.
Umemoto Toshiko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Joe.
Joe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Toshiko pinned against the cage. Toshiko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toshiko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Toshiko shoots for a takedown but Joe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toshiko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Toshiko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Toshiko somewhat.
Joe steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Toshiko defends well and Joe ends up having to push Toshiko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Joe wants to clinch up but Toshiko keeps it at a distance.
Toshiko tries to counter by clinching up but Joe breaks away and moves out of range.
Toshiko tries for a takedown but Joe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Joe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A nice inside leg kick there by Toshiko. That's going to slow Joe down.
Toshiko avoids a kick to the body.
Joe misses with a wild combination.
Toshiko drops down looking for a counter takedown but Joe sprawls and moves away.
Joe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toshiko closes the distance and clinches up with Joe, looking for a takedown. Toshiko pushes Joe against the cage but Joe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Toshiko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Joe avoids it really well and circles away.
Toshiko blocks the body kick.
Joe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sloppy strikes from Joe. Those never looked like landing.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch but Toshiko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Joe misses with a hook. Toshiko ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe doesn't manage to clinch there - Toshiko circles away.
Toshiko quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Joe swats away the attempt to clinch by Toshiko.
Toshiko moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromJoe.
Toshiko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Joe sprawls well. Joe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toshiko gets slowly back to his feet.
Joe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Toshiko as he jumps to the side.
Toshiko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Joe is fending him off so far but Toshiko persists. Nope, Joe circles away and we're back to standing.
Joe wants to counter with a clinch but Toshiko pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toshiko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Joe but Joe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Big Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Umemoto Toshiko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joe throws a head kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Big Joe.
Well Toshiko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umemoto Toshiko!