PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideyoshi Toyotomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ranma Saotome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hideyoshi Toyotomi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Toyotomi
vs
Saotome

225 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

164 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hideyoshi Toyotomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ranma Saotome!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toyotomi swats away the attempt to clinch by Saotome.
Saotome takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Toyotomi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toyotomi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Toyotomi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saotome.
Saotome showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Toyotomi.

Toyotomi has managed to clinch.
Saotome wants to get back to striking at distance but Toyotomi won't allow it.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.

Toyotomi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Toyotomi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Saotome circles away quickly and effectively.
Toyotomi throws a head kick that Saotome semi-blocks.

Toyotomi pushes Saotome up against the cage in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Toyotomi.
Saotome looks gassed!
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Saotome looking to slow down the pace here.
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but Saotome blocks it.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Saotome is rocked!
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saotome is still on wobbly legs! Can Toyotomi finish him?
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Toyotomi stalling the fight.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Knees to the body from Toyotomi.
Saotome seems to have recovered his senses.
Toyotomi lands an elbow inside.
Toyotomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but Saotome blocks it.
Toyotomi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saotome blocks it with crossed arms.
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Saotome takes a knee right on the jaw!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Toyotomi as Saotome tries to tie him up.
Toyotomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but Saotome blocks with his arms.
Toyotomi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saotome has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Saotome breaks from the clinch.

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

Toyotomi closes the distance and clinches.
Saotome is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Toyotomi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Toyotomi crunches a lovely knee into Saotome's ribcage.
Toyotomi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Toyotomi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saotome.
Saotome working aggressively here.
Toyotomi lands an elbow inside that Saotome shrugs off.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi tries to land knees in the clinch but Saotome avoids the damage to the body.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but Saotome blocks it.
Saotome is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Saotome wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Toyotomi has him pressed against the cage.
Toyotomi connects with a knee to the head.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Toyotomi breaks the clinch.
Saotome tries to clinch but Toyotomi moves out of range.

Toyotomi moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saotome avoiding damage as Toyotomi throws knees to the body.
Toyotomi crunches a lovely knee into Saotome's ribcage.
Toyotomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi lands an elbow inside that Saotome shrugs off.
Toyotomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saotome blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but Saotome blocks it.
Saotome throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Toyotomi.
Toyotomi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saotome.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saotome takes a knee right on the jaw!
Toyotomi scores a nice knee to the body.
Toyotomi looking to throw knees to the head but Saotome is blocking nicely.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head.
Toyotomi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Toyotomi scores a nice knee to the body.
Toyotomi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

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.
Saotome tries to stall but Toyotomi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but Saotome blocks with his arms.
Toyotomi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saotome has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saotome lands a body shot.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi tries to land knees in the clinch but Saotome avoids the damage to the body.
Toyotomi lands a nice elbow.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.
Toyotomi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Toyotomi looking to throw knees to the head but Saotome is blocking nicely.

Toyotomi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saotome fails to land with a series of punches.
Toyotomi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Saotome tries to close the distance and clinch but Toyotomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Toyotomi throws a series of punches but Saotome avoids them all with ease.
Toyotomi tries to clinch but Saotome is having none of it.
Horrible takedown by Saotome or perhaps it was just good defense by Toyotomi which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Toyotomi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Toyotomi falls off balance throwing a combination

and Saotome counters by moving into the clinch.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head.

Saotome pulls guard effortlessly.
Saotome throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
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.

Saotome has his foot on Toyotomi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Toyotomi works his way back into a safe position though.
Saotome wants to sweep here but Toyotomi controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saotome escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Toyotomi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saotome is looking to stand up but Toyotomi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Toyotomi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Toyotomi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Toyotomi stands up and waves to Saotome to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toyotomi clinches.
Toyotomi is trying to drag Saotome to the mat but Saotome just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Saotome avoiding damage as Toyotomi throws knees to the body.
Saotome blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Saotome tries to break the clinch but Toyotomi is controlling the position.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.
Saotome tries to land knees in the clinch but Toyotomi avoids the damage to the body.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Toyotomi as Saotome tries to tie him up.
Saotome tries to break the clinch but Toyotomi is controlling the position.
Saotome tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four 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.
Toyotomi with a knee to the head.
Toyotomi misses with a knee strike.
Toyotomi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saotome lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Toyotomi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Saotome tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Toyotomi's elbow.
Saotome takes a knee right on the jaw!
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Toyotomi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Saotome is trying to drag Toyotomi to the mat but Toyotomi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but Saotome blocks with his arms.
Toyotomi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Saotome's face.
Toyotomi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toyotomi looking to throw knees to the head but Saotome is blocking nicely.
Saotome avoiding damage as Toyotomi throws knees to the body.
Saotome wants to get back to striking at distance but Toyotomi won't allow it.
Toyotomi misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toyotomi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Toyotomi moves into the clinch successfully.
Toyotomi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saotome has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toyotomi looking to throw knees to the head but Saotome is blocking nicely.
Saotome is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saotome fails to pull guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Toyotomi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Toyotomi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saotome managing to block the knees to the body from Toyotomi.
Saotome blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saotome takes an elbow to the forehead.
Toyotomi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Toyotomi lands an elbow that stopped Saotome in his tracks for a moment.

Toyotomi breaks from the clinch.
Saotome looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saotome takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Toyotomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Toyotomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Saotome throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Toyotomi's waist but Toyotomi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Saotome off to one side.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ranma Saotome.
Saotome looks for a takedown but Toyotomi sprawls well.

Toyotomi rushes Saotome and presses him up against the cage.
Toyotomi trying to land knees to the body.
Toyotomi landing knees to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Toyotomi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Saotome content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two 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.

Saotome ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Saotome no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Toyotomi gets to his feet - Saotome follows without any prompting.
Toyotomi misses with a wild combination.

Saotome closes the distance and clinches.
A knee to the head by Toyotomi.
Toyotomi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saotome has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Toyotomi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saotome has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Toyotomi tries a knee to the head but Saotome blocks it.
Saotome trying to stall but Toyotomi improves his position.
Saotome tries to break the clinch but Toyotomi is controlling the position.
Saotome can't break the clinch.
Saotome wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toyotomi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saotome blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice elbow from Toyotomi.
Toyotomi scores with a knee to the head.
Saotome wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stalling in the clinch from Saotome.
Toyotomi misses with a knee strike.
Toyotomi lands a knee to the head.
Toyotomi misses with a knee strike.

Saotome breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Toyotomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toyotomi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Saotome counters with a shoot takedown. Toyotomi fights it but they end up in guard.
Saotome looking to pass the guard.
Saotome trying to control but Toyotomi is working from the bottom.
Ranma Saotome has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saotome in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Toyotomi has a closed guard, preventing Saotome from standing up.

Toyotomi pushes Saotome off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ranma Saotome.
I think Toyotomi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideyoshi Toyotomi!