PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Masahito Tamura (ranked 4360 p4p, 4344 weight class) and Sardon Heliogabale (ranked 0 p4p, 121 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tamura
vs
Heliogabale

180 cm
20
195
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
192
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masahito Tamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sardon Heliogabale!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tamura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Heliogabale.
Tamura connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Heliogabale misses with a two punch combination.

Tamura shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tamura showed some decent athleticism there.
Heliogabale blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tamura.
Heliogabale trying to hold on to Tamura's head to control him but Tamura postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamura slows the pace down in half guard.
Heliogabale trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heliogabale gets back to full guard.
Tamura knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Heliogabale on the ground.
Heliogabale will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Heliogabale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tamura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tamura stopping the sweep attempt from Heliogabale.
Heliogabale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tamura preventing the sweep.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Heliogabale wants to stand and escape but Tamura is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Heliogabale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tamura as he jumps to the side.

Heliogabale scores with a takedown into Tamura's guard.

Tamura has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Heliogabale has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Heliogabale can't break the clinch.
Tamura lands a body punch.
Tamura prevents Heliogabale from breaking the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Heliogabale fails to land.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Tamura breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heliogabale throws a body shot but no joy.
Heliogabale tries to clinch but Tamura is having none of it.
Heliogabale misses with a series of wild punches.
Tamura drops down looking for a counter takedown but Heliogabale sprawls and moves away.

Tamura looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Heliogabale trying to hold on to Tamura's head to control him but Tamura postures up.
Tamura wants to take a breather but Heliogabale is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tamura postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Heliogabale to stand up.

Tamura gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tamura tries to stand and escape but Heliogabale is controlling the position.
Tamura is pressing down on Heliogabale's thigh, looking to free his foot. Heliogabale is holding on for now.
Tamura wants to stand but Heliogabale has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tamura throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Masahito Tamura dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tamura avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Heliogabale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Tamura gets a takedown into half guard.
Tamura is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Heliogabale trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tamura is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Heliogabale still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Heliogabale has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heliogabale throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heliogabale tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Heliogabale is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tamura knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tamura is not content to let Heliogabale control the position.
The strikes coming from Heliogabale are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Heliogabale throws an elbow but Tamura slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Heliogabale just content to control the position.
Tamura is not content to let Heliogabale control the position.

Heliogabale has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Heliogabale shoots in for a takedown but Tamura shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Tamura closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tamura's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tamura throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Heliogabale tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tamura is in Heliogabale's guard.
Heliogabale lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heliogabale trying to control but Tamura is working from the bottom.
Heliogabale showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tamura trying to keep a closed guard but Heliogabale is proving a slippery customer.
Tamura can't keep his opponent in guard - Heliogabale advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Heliogabale is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tamura avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Heliogabale.
Heliogabale working over Tamura with some ground and pound. Tamura looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Heliogabale trying to control the action but Tamura is working from the bottom.
Tamura wants to improve his position but Heliogabale is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heliogabale with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sardon Heliogabale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nice sprawl there from Tamura as Heliogabale shoots in.
Tamura tries to counter by clinching up but Heliogabale breaks away and moves out of range.
Heliogabale shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tamura defends it nicely.

Tamura looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Heliogabale!
Tamura looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Heliogabale is avoiding damage well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamura misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Tamura is staying tight to Heliogabale's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Heliogabale is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamura is looking to take a break and control but Heliogabale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Heliogabale is looking for a sweep.
Tamura tries to move to full mount but Heliogabale actually manages to regain half guard.
Heliogabale regains full guard. Nicely done.
Heliogabale is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Heliogabale wants to get back to his feet but Tamura is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two 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.
Heliogabale throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tamura throws a strike but Heliogabale rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Heliogabale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Heliogabale wants to stand but Tamura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tamura trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Heliogabale postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tamura looking for a sweep. Not yet Tamura, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Tamura clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heliogabale tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Masahito Tamura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sardon Heliogabale.

Tamura pulls Heliogabale into guard.
Heliogabale has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tamura is proving hard to escape from.
Tamura not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tamura working for submissions but it's allowed Heliogabale to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Heliogabale wants to take a breather but Tamura is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamura has a hand on Heliogabale's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Heliogabale takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Tamura is looking to get to half guard.
Heliogabale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tamura defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Heliogabale.
Heliogabale wants to control the pace but Tamura is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sardon Heliogabale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heliogabale has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sardon Heliogabale!