PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kana Tsugihara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tsugihara
vs
James

189 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kana Tsugihara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Manuel James!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tsugihara to the mat! Tsugihara manages to get full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
James cracks Tsugihara with a solid left hand.
Tsugihara wants to stand up but James is controlling him.
James throwing strikes but missing.
James wants to pass the guard but Tsugihara is keeping the position.
James is working Tsugihara over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
James sitting in guard here, content to control.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsugihara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tsugihara wants to stand but James is controlling the position.

Tsugihara manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tsugihara on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is trying to drag Tsugihara to the mat but Tsugihara just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Tsugihara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James looks for a takedown but Tsugihara sprawls well.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Tsugihara circles away.
Tsugihara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tsugihara rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tsugihara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kana Tsugihara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel James.
Tsugihara pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tsugihara is pressed up against the cage. James has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tsugihara down to the mat. Tsugihara avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James throws a head kick but Tsugihara moves out of range.
James looks gassed!
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but James circles away.

Tsugihara clinches with his opponent.
Tsugihara digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Manuel James has been cut.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tsugihara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants a takedown but no success here.
Tsugihara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.

Tsugihara turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tsugihara manages to end up in side control.
James tries to buck Tsugihara off but Tsugihara is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tsugihara stands up and beckons James to his feet.

Tsugihara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tsugihara landing knees to the head.
Tsugihara with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice body punch from Tsugihara - that landed with a thud.

Tsugihara gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Tsugihara trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tsugihara stands up and waves to James to follow him.
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Tsugihara moves out of range as James throws a body kick.

Tsugihara moves into the clinch.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.
Tsugihara scores with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tsugihara obliges.
James has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tsugihara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Tsugihara breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James tries to pull guard but Tsugihara holds him up against the cage and eventually James drops back down to his feet.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
James wants a takedown but no success here.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Tsugihara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Tsugihara has James up against the cage in a clinch.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Tsugihara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
Tsugihara lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kana Tsugihara dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manuel James's cut.
That's time! Tsugihara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

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

Tsugihara manages to break the clinch.

Tsugihara forces James back against the cage and clinches.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Kana Tsugihara has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
James jumps guard but Tsugihara stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tsugihara lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
James wants a takedown.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

James is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tsugihara is just too persistent for him and manages to trip James to the mat. James regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Tsugihara stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Tsugihara closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsugihara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tsugihara closes the distance and clinches.
Tsugihara lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
James can't get the takedown.
Kana Tsugihara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel James.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.

Tsugihara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tsugihara has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara landing knees to the head.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
James can't get the takedown.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tsugihara landing knees to the head.
James goes for a takedown attempt but Tsugihara pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tsugihara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Tsugihara is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Tsugihara closes the distance and clinches.
Tsugihara is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
James tries to break free but Tsugihara pushes him back against the cage.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Tsugihara digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tsugihara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
James is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tsugihara pulls him back up using the underhooks.
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!
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara landing knees to the head.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Tsugihara stops a takedown attempt from James.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tsugihara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A left hand lands to the body for Tsugihara.
Tsugihara landing knees to the head.
Good body shot from Tsugihara.
James wants a takedown.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara working James over with knees to the body.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Tsugihara gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsugihara tries to stand and escape but James is controlling the position.
James keeping control of the position.

James is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tsugihara pulls his head out easily.

Tsugihara decides to stand up.

Tsugihara closes the distance and clinches.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tsugihara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kana Tsugihara dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Manuel James's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tsugihara tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Tsugihara tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Tsugihara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tsugihara fails in his attempt to clinch.
James looks to land a body kick but Tsugihara moved away.

Tsugihara moves into the clinch.

Tsugihara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Tsugihara doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tsugihara rushes James and presses him up against the cage.
Tsugihara working James over with knees to the body.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Tsugihara is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Tsugihara stalling.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tsugihara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
James has Tsugihara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tsugihara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tsugihara pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tsugihara tries to clinch but James is having none of it.

Tsugihara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
Tsugihara with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tsugihara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tsugihara pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kana Tsugihara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel James.
Tsugihara is looking to clinch.
Tsugihara fails in his attempt to clinch.

Tsugihara takes the fight into the clinch.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tsugihara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tsugihara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tsugihara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tsugihara utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Tsugihara shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head.
James looking for a takedown.
Tsugihara with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara scores with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tsugihara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tsugihara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tsugihara fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Tsugihara instigates a clinch.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tsugihara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tsugihara prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsugihara is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tsugihara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara just leaning against James, taking a breather.

Tsugihara works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kana Tsugihara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tsugihara trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James lands an upkick as Tsugihara stands over him.

Tsugihara decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Tsugihara.

Tsugihara moves into the clinch successfully.
Tsugihara prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
James is working for takedown but Tsugihara is calmly controlling the position for now.
Manuel James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kana Tsugihara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kana Tsugihara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tsugihara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kana Tsugihara!