PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thor Silva (ranked 2753 p4p, 3344 weight class) and Shinji Tomoguchi (ranked 331 p4p, 401 weight class). Thor Silva is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Silva
vs
Tomoguchi

170 cm
22
165
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
155
6 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thor Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Shinji Tomoguchi!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva moves away from the strike by Tomoguchi.

Tomoguchi gets a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi misses with a body punch.
Tomoguchi tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Tomoguchi misses with a body punch.
Tomoguchi lands with a right to the head.
Silva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tomoguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Good body shot from Tomoguchi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomoguchi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tomoguchi is leaning against Silva and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tomoguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tomoguchi tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Tomoguchi lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Silva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Tomoguchi - that landed with a thud.
A head punch on the inside from Tomoguchi fails to land.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tomoguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tomoguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tomoguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tomoguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tomoguchi digs a right hand into Silva's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Silva's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch to the body.
Silva goes for a takedown attempt but Tomoguchi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tomoguchi scores with a jab. Silva acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tomoguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Silva swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shinji Tomoguchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tomoguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silva moves away.
Tomoguchi jabs Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Silva.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomoguchi misses with a straight left.
Tomoguchi with a hook.
Tomoguchi clobbers Silva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Tomoguchi moves away and avoids it.
Silva tries for a takedown but Tomoguchi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tomoguchi throws a body punch but Silva moves out of range.
Silva cracks Tomoguchi with a good jab.

Tomoguchi gets tackled into the cage by Silva. Silva maintains the clinch.
Tomoguchi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tomoguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tomoguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Tomoguchi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tomoguchi pushes Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Silva wants to break free but Tomoguchi has control.
Tomoguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tomoguchi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tomoguchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tomoguchi.
Silva blocks a body shot from Tomoguchi.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tomoguchi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silva has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tomoguchi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tomoguchi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi lands a nice uppercut.
Silva tries for a takedown but Tomoguchi manages to get underhooks.
A short right from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Still in the clinch, Tomoguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tomoguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tomoguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is looking for a takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tomoguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Silva fails to pull guard.
Tomoguchi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tomoguchi working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Tomoguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tomoguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tomoguchi working aggressively here.
Tomoguchi pushes Silva back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi pushes Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tomoguchi scores with a shoulder strike.
Tomoguchi misses with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tomoguchi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tomoguchi lands an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tomoguchi throws a hook to the side of Silva's head but Silva sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Silva throws a series of punches but Tomoguchi avoids them all with ease.
Tomoguchi slips under a jab from Silva.
It seemed like Tomoguchi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Silva scores with a sloppy right hand. Tomoguchi should have avoided that one.
Tomoguchi tests Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tomoguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tomoguchi lands a jab to the nose.
No luck for Silva with that takedown attempt.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tomoguchi lands an uppercut.
Tomoguchi scores with a shoulder strike.
Tomoguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Tomoguchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tomoguchi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tomoguchi tries to work over Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Silva tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tomoguchi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tomoguchi pushes Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tomoguchi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tomoguchi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silva backwards.
Tomoguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silva's elbow.
Silva blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silva drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tomoguchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Tomoguchi.
Silva is looking to take this one to the mat.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tomoguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tomoguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Tomoguchi.
Tomoguchi lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tomoguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tomoguchi misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Tomoguchi - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in the clinch, Tomoguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.

Silva has hold of one of Tomoguchi's legs. Tomoguchi is fighting the takedown attempt but Silva gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Silva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tomoguchi has Silva pulled in close to control his posture.

Silva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tomoguchi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tomoguchi has escaped and now he's on top!

Silva working for a triangle but Tomoguchi defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi content to stall in guard here.
My spies in Deathsquad inform me that Tomoguchi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Tomoguchi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Silva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Silva working for submissions but it's allowed Tomoguchi to get to half guard.

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.
Tomoguchi wants to pass to mount but Silva is defending the position.
Tomoguchi controlling the action here.

Silva looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Silva is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tomoguchi pulls his head out easily.
Tomoguchi wants to free his trapped foot but Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Silva actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shinji Tomoguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Silva shoots in and drives through. Tomoguchi sprawls well.
Silva scores with a nice head shot.
Silva misses with a hook. Tomoguchi ducked under it nicely.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but Tomoguchi sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Silva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Silva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tomoguchi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tomoguchi trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomoguchi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silva with a nice head shot there.
Tomoguchi is pulling down on Silva's head to control his posture.

Silva drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tomoguchi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tomoguchi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tomoguchi!

Silva looking for a sweep but Tomoguchi has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Tomoguchi controlling from mount.
Silva is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomoguchi controlling the pace for now.
Silva can't escape the position.
Silva wants to control but Tomoguchi is having none of it.
Tomoguchi controlling from the full mount.
Silva wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Tomoguchi controls the position.
Silva trying to control the action but Tomoguchi just sinks the hooks in.
Silva tries to escape but Tomoguchi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva turns into Tomoguchi and is now in his guard.
Tomoguchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tomoguchi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silva wants to pass the guard but Tomoguchi is keeping the position.

Silva postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tomoguchi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Silva, into his guard.

Tomoguchi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Shinji Tomoguchi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva is looking for a triangle but Tomoguchi pushes his legs off easily.
Silva being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Silva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shinji Tomoguchi.
Well Tomoguchi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinji Tomoguchi!
After the fight, Shinji Tomoguchi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.