PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tetsuji Tokoi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Hayabusa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tokoi
vs
Hayabusa

187 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tetsuji Tokoi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryu Hayabusa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokoi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hayabusa but Hayabusa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tokoi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tokoi shoots for a double leg takedown but Hayabusa sprawls well. He's pushed Tokoi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tokoi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tokoi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tokoi counters with a thumping low kick.
Tokoi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hayabusa swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuji Tokoi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hayabusa moves into range and clinches up with Tokoi.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hayabusa.

Tokoi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tokoi closes the distance but Hayabusa moves to the side

and Hayabusa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tokoi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hayabusa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Hayabusa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hayabusa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Tokoi rushes Hayabusa and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Hayabusa.
Hayabusa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hayabusa tries to pull guard but Tokoi holds him up against the cage and eventually Hayabusa drops back down to his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hayabusa throws an elbow but misses.
Tokoi avoids the elbow strike from Hayabusa, against the cage.
Hayabusa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hayabusa is trying to break free.
Tokoi jumps guard but Hayabusa stands there with Tokoi around his waist. Tokoi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tokoi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tokoi tries to pull guard but Hayabusa won't allow it.
Hayabusa prevents the takedown attempt.
Hayabusa misses with an elbow over the top.
Hayabusa is looking to break free of the clinch but Tokoi has double underhooks.
Tokoi is trying to stall.
Tokoi tries to pull guard but Hayabusa won't allow it.

Hayabusa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hayabusa throws a lazy head kick

and Tokoi counters with a shoot takedown. Hayabusa fights it but they end up in guard.
Tokoi is breathing heavily.
Tokoi trying to control but Hayabusa is working from the bottom.
Hayabusa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa has Tokoi pulled in close to control his posture.

Hayabusa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tokoi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tokoi wants to clinch

and Hayabusa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tokoi controlling the position well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tokoi has a hand on Hayabusa's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hayabusa takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa controlling from mount.
Tokoi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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

Hayabusa takes the fight into the clinch.
Hayabusa lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokoi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hayabusa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tokoi blocks it with crossed arms.
Tokoi can't get the takedown.
Hayabusa lands an elbow just above Tokoi 's eye.
Hayabusa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hayabusa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Hayabusa jumps guard.

Tokoi has gone for a leg lock! Hayabusa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tokoi's guard.

Hayabusa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tokoi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hayabusa moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tokoi is looking to slow Hayabusa down with leg kicks.

Tokoi closes the distance and clinches.
Tokoi tries to pull guard but Hayabusa holds him up against the cage and eventually Tokoi drops back down to his feet.
Hayabusa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tokoi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hayabusa smiles and moves away.
Tokoi looks to land a combination but Hayabusa avoids it well.
Tokoi looks for a takedown but Hayabusa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuji Tokoi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hayabusa darts in trying to clinch
and Tokoi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hayabusa is breathing heavily.
Tokoi shoots and misses

and Hayabusa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hayabusa.
Hayabusa won't allow Tokoi to get back to his feet.
Tokoi trying to keep a closed guard but Hayabusa is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoi pulls Hayabusa in to control the position.

Tokoi keeping busy on the bottom but Hayabusa has passed one foot through into half guard.

Tokoi actively working from the bottom here.
Tokoi wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Hayabusa performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hayabusa wants to free his trapped foot but Tokoi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Hayabusa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Tokoi trying to control but Hayabusa postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tokoi trying to control but Hayabusa postures up.
Hayabusa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tokoi is trying to control but Hayabusa passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hayabusa has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tokoi misses with a combination
and Hayabusa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tokoi is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tokoi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tokoi.
Tokoi fails with the takedown
and Hayabusa counters with a head kick. That will keep Tokoi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hayabusa tries to clinch but Tokoi moves away
and Tokoi counters with a good low kick that Hayabusa was not able to check.
Tokoi with a poor takedown

and Hayabusa counters by clinching up.

Tokoi successfully pulls guard.
Tokoi wants to stand and escape but Hayabusa is having none of it.
Tokoi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tetsuji Tokoi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Tokoi fails with the takedown

and Hayabusa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tokoi's guard.
Tokoi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tokoi trying to control the position here.
Tokoi working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tokoi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tokoi working a defensive guard but Hayabusa passes into half guard.

Hayabusa stands up out of the half guard.
Tokoi misses with a takedown attempt

and Hayabusa counters with a single leg into guard. Tokoi didn't expect that.
Hayabusa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hayabusa stopping the sweep attempt from Tokoi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokoi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hayabusa!

Tokoi stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoi misses with a takedown

and Hayabusa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuji Tokoi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hayabusa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tokoi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tokoi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hayabusa just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hayabusa pushes off an throws an elbow but Tokoi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hayabusa throws an elbow but it misses.
Tokoi controlling the action here for a moment.
Hayabusa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tokoi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tokoi pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tokoi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hayabusa prevents it.
Tokoi wants a takedown but no success here.
Hayabusa prevents the takedown attempt.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hayabusa throws an elbow but misses.
Hayabusa stalling in the clinch but Tokoi improves position.
Tokoi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hayabusa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayabusa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tokoi can't break the clinch.
Tokoi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hayabusa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hayabusa tries to pull guard but Tokoi won't allow it.
Hayabusa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tokoi takes an elbow to the temple.
Tokoi is trying to maintain a safe position but Hayabusa gets an underhook and turns Tokoi into the cage.
Hayabusa lands an elbow inside.
Tokoi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hayabusa prevents it.
Tokoi is working for takedown but Hayabusa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tokoi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tokoi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tokoi tries for a takedown but Hayabusa circles away easily

and Hayabusa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tokoi keeps control of the position for the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryu Hayabusa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hayabusa 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryu Hayabusa!