PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akira Tatsumoto (ranked 4716 p4p, 25266 weight class) and Joe Pills (ranked 545 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Pills looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Tatsumoto
vs
Pills

186 cm
25
192
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Kore Fight Nutrition

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 Hilo, Akira Tatsumoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Pills!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatsumoto tries to clinch but Pills moves out of range.
Pills looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Tatsumoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pills as he avoids it easily.
Akira Tatsumoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pills takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Tatsumoto closes the distance and clinches.
Pills goes for a takedown attempt but Tatsumoto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Tatsumoto has managed to clinch.
Tatsumoto taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pills prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pills is looking for a takedown.
Tatsumoto lands an elbow just above Pills 's eye.

It looks like Joe Pills has been cut.
Tatsumoto is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Tatsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatsumoto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tatsumoto lands a damaging elbow.

Tatsumoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tatsumoto dives in and grabs Pills's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pills pushes down on Tatsumoto's head and hops out.
Tatsumoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pills defends it nicely.
Tatsumoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Tatsumoto darts in looking for a takedown but Pills gets double underhooks and turns Tatsumoto into the cage.
Pills tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tatsumoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pills prevents it.
Tatsumoto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pills backwards.
Tatsumoto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pills tries to pull guard but Tatsumoto holds him up against the cage and eventually Pills drops back down to his feet.
Tatsumoto stalls.

Tatsumoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tatsumoto connects with an inside leg kick.
Pills bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tatsumoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pills wants to counter the offense by Tatsumoto and move into the clinch position.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatsumoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tatsumoto gets underhooks to prevent Pills's takedown attempt.
Pills goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tatsumoto prevents it.
Tatsumoto gets through Pills's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tatsumoto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pills changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tatsumoto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tatsumoto throws a front kick that sends Pills stumbling back into the cage.
Tatsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Pills shows good takedown defense.

Tatsumoto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pills is trying to control Tatsumoto's posture but Tatsumoto avoids it.
Tatsumoto lands some shots froms side control.
Tatsumoto wants to control but Pills is keeping him busy.
Tatsumoto tries to stand but Pills is controlling his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pills struggling a bit here.
Pills has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Tatsumoto decides to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Tatsumoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Pills's cut.
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.

Tatsumoto instigates a clinch.
Tatsumoto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tatsumoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Tatsumoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akira Tatsumoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pills darts in looking for a takedown but Tatsumoto gets double underhooks and turns Pills into the cage.
Tatsumoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pills defends it nicely.
Pills looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Tatsumoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Pills being controlled against the cage.
Pills is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tatsumoto breaks the clinch.
Pills fails with the takedown.
Tatsumoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pills swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Tatsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pills fails with a takedown attempt.
Tatsumoto feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tatsumoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pills avoids it really well and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Pills on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatsumoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tatsumoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tatsumoto darts in trying to clinch

so Pills counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pills postures up.
Pills sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tatsumoto looking for a sweep. Not yet Tatsumoto, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatsumoto controls Pills momentarily but Pills frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tatsumoto has his foot on Pills's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pills works his way back into a safe position though.

Tatsumoto is looking for a triangle but Pills pushes his legs off easily.
Tatsumoto wants to stand and escape but Pills is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Tatsumoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tatsumoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tatsumoto wants it to stay on the feet.
Tatsumoto shoots in for a takedown but Pills shows good takedown defense.
Crunch! Tatsumoto slams his shin into Pills's torso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Tatsumoto with that takedown attempt.

Tatsumoto takes the fight into the clinch.

Tatsumoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pills closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tatsumoto circles away.
Tatsumoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tatsumoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Pills sprawls well. He's pushed Tatsumoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tatsumoto throws a series of strikes that have Pills backpedaling.
Tatsumoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pills avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Tatsumoto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Pills's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Tatsumoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tatsumoto tries to clinch but Pills moves out of range.
Pills takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Tatsumoto misses with a takedown attempt - Pills sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Tatsumoto rushes Pills and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pills tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Tatsumoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pills takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tatsumoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pills's waist but Pills gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tatsumoto off to one side.
Despite the aggression on Pills's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Tatsumoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pills circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tatsumoto keeps Pills at a distance using the push kick.
Tatsumoto fails with the takedown.
Tatsumoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pills avoids it really well and circles away.
Pills tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tatsumoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pills sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pills doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pills.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tatsumoto - that will leave a mark!
Akira Tatsumoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Tatsumoto throws a head kick that Pills semi-blocks.
Tatsumoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pills sprawls well. Pills wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tatsumoto gets slowly back to his feet.
Tatsumoto fails with the takedown.

Pills tries to keep at a distance but Tatsumoto has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tatsumoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pills shoots in and drives through. Tatsumoto sprawls well.
Tatsumoto scores with a nice body kick.
Tatsumoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pills tries to counter by closing the distance.
Nice takedown defense from Pills. No joy for Tatsumoto on that attempt.
Tatsumoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pills can do to turn this around?

Tatsumoto clinches up against the cage.
Pills is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Akira Tatsumoto has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tatsumoto - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tatsumoto leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tatsumoto breaks from the clinch.
Tatsumoto shoots for a takedown but Pills saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tatsumoto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tatsumoto tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pills counters with a single leg into guard. Tatsumoto didn't expect that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tatsumoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joe Pills has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akira Tatsumoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Pills avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Tatsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tatsumoto, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Tatsumoto!