PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Toshika Koga (ranked 4038 p4p, 5823 weight class) and Barry Jones (ranked 324 p4p, 381 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Koga
vs
Jones

169 cm
24
155
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
145
8 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Conviction

Dangerous Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Toshika Koga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Barry Jones!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koga walks into a left hand.

Koga closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jones's guard.
Koga wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Koga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Koga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koga is stalling in the full guard.
Koga has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koga advances to half guard.
Koga controlling the action here.
Koga's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koga is looking to advance position but Jones won't allow it.
Koga content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Koga wants to free his trapped foot but Jones is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Koga is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koga looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Jones tries to sprawl but Koga drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Jones pushes Koga off and gets back to his feet.
Jones looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koga scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koga moves into full mount! Jones won't be happy about that!
Koga sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Koga takes Jones's back.
Koga biding his time, controlling Jones.
We've been hearing good reports from Koga's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Koga.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Further stalling from Koga.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toshika Koga dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Koga darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Jones is rocked!
Well, if Koga 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.
Jones is still in real trouble! Can Koga finish him?
Jones seems to have recovered his senses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones is in trouble now - Koga has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koga controlling the position easily from mount.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Koga seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Jones is holding on tight.
Koga content just to control the position here.
Koga wants to take Jones's back here but Jones is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Koga controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koga wants to take his opponent's back but Jones doesn't allow it.
Koga content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koga takes Jones's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Jones is in trouble.
Koga keeps control of the position easily here as Jones tries to buck him off.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Koga is stinking the place up with his stalling.
Koga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koga looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Jones!
Jones being controlled for a moment.
Toshika Koga overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Koga drags him back down.
Jones is trying to escape the position but Koga is controlling the position.
Jones gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koga controlling the pace for now.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jones is trying to escape the mount but Koga keeps good control and instead manages to take Jones's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good control from Koga.
Koga seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jones for as long as he can get away with.
Koga continues to stall.
Jones is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Koga off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Koga continues to hold on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Koga.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Barry Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Toshika Koga showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koga, 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toshika Koga!
Toshika Koga decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.