PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryuuken Hoshikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Tamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hoshikawa
vs
Tamura

185 cm
25
197 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
194 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryuuken Hoshikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Tamura!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoshikawa throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tamura.

It looks like Kenji Tamura has been cut.
Tamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jab, jab by Hoshikawa - just one landing.
Nice jab there from Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hoshikawa, as that shot connected.
Tamura misses with a wild combination.
Tamura closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hoshikawa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tamura momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa lands a jab.
Hoshikawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoshikawa is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Nice defenses there by Hoshikawa.
Tamura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hoshikawa.
Tamura drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hoshikawa scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamura throws a leg kick
and Hoshikawa counters with a leg kick.

Hoshikawa clinches up against the cage.
Tamura is trying to force a seperation but Hoshikawa has the dominant position.
Hoshikawa missing with knees to the body.
Hoshikawa lands a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa is stalling here.
Hoshikawa is leaning against Tamura and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hoshikawa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tamura looks gassed!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hoshikawa lands a knee to the body.
A short left from Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshikawa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tamura avoids it.
Hoshikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hoshikawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hoshikawa stalling.
Hoshikawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hoshikawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tamura.
Hoshikawa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tamura in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tamura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hoshikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hoshikawa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hoshikawa throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Hoshikawa.
Tamura wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hoshikawa has him pressed against the cage.
Hoshikawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hoshikawa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hoshikawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A knee to the head by Hoshikawa.

That has opened up Kenji Tamura's cut even more.
Tamura is looking to break free of the clinch but Hoshikawa has double underhooks.
Tamura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hoshikawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tamura blocks it with crossed arms.
Hoshikawa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tamura lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tamura on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hoshikawa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoshikawa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tamura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tamura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hoshikawa tries a knee to the head but Tamura blocks it.
Hoshikawa misses with a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa taking a breather.
Hoshikawa working Tamura over with knees to the body.
Hoshikawa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoshikawa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tamura wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hoshikawa taking a breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuuken Hoshikawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenji Tamura's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tamura throws a right and a left that Hoshikawa avoids nicely.
Ryuuken Hoshikawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoshikawa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa tries to clinch there but Tamura circles away.
Tamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tamura tries to bum rush Hoshikawa with a series of wild strikes but Hoshikawa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hoshikawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Tamura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tamura takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A low kick from Tamura misses
and Tamura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Hoshikawa.
Hoshikawa feints and then cracks Tamura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tamura down.
Tamura is breathing heavily.
Jab, jab by Hoshikawa - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshikawa throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tamura on the side of the head.
Hoshikawa throws a sloppy head kick
and Tamura counters with a three punch combo that has Hoshikawa backing up. Hoshikawa nods at Tamura to acknowledge the strikes.
A combination from Tamura does no damage.
Hoshikawa throws a nice looking combination but Tamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hoshikawa scores with a nice head shot.
Hoshikawa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hoshikawa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hoshikawa darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tamura misses with a two punch combination.
Hoshikawa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hoshikawa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hoshikawa throws a nice head kick!
Hoshikawa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoshikawa is looking to slow Tamura down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoshikawa throws a sloppy head kick
and Tamura counters with a series of strikes. Hoshikawa will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hoshikawa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tamura stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hoshikawa throws a head kick that Tamura semi-blocks.
Hoshikawa throws a right hand that Tamura ducks under and follows up with a left that Tamura also avoids with ease.
Good leg kick by Hoshikawa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hoshikawa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hoshikawa lands with an uppercut that bounces Tamura off the cage and back into rage.
Hoshikawa scores with a three punch combo!
Hoshikawa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hoshikawa's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hoshikawa duly obliges.
Tamura drops his hands momentarily and Hoshikawa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hoshikawa lands a nice looking body shot.
Hoshikawa lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshikawa throws a head kick that misses.
Hoshikawa lands a head kick. Tamura smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ryuuken Hoshikawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hoshikawa moves into range and clinches up with Tamura.
Hoshikawa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tamura avoiding damage as Hoshikawa throws knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hoshikawa.
Tamura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hoshikawa connects with a knee to the head.

The cut above Kenji Tamura's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Hoshikawa controlling the action here for a moment.
Hoshikawa lands a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamura being controlled against the cage.
Hoshikawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tamura blocks it with crossed arms.
Hoshikawa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A short body shot lands from Hoshikawa as the two fighters clinch.
Hoshikawa misses with a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tamura blocking some punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hoshikawa obliges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hoshikawa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tamura is defending well for now.
Hoshikawa has Tamura pushed against the cage.
Hoshikawa tries a knee to the head but Tamura blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuuken Hoshikawa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kenji Tamura's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tamura throws a lazy head kick
and Hoshikawa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tamura is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ryuuken Hoshikawa is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoshikawa displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tamura throws a combination that misses
and Hoshikawa counters with a straight right hand.
Tamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hoshikawa thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tamura if he has to take too many more of those.
Hoshikawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tamura can do to turn this around?
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tamura lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hoshikawa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hoshikawa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hoshikawa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tamura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hoshikawa.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hoshikawa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hoshikawa looking to throw knees to the head but Tamura is blocking nicely.
Ryuuken Hoshikawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoshikawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoshikawa tries to land a knee to the head but Tamura blocks with his arms.
Hoshikawa looking to throw knees to the head but Tamura is blocking nicely.
Hoshikawa landing knees to the head.
Hoshikawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tamura blocks it with crossed arms.
Tamura is trying to break the clinch but Hoshikawa has him pressed against the cage.
Hoshikawa trying to land knees to the body.
Hoshikawa throws a head punch that misses.
Hoshikawa cracks Tamura with a nice body shot.
Tamura avoiding damage as Hoshikawa throws knees to the body.
Tamura being controlled against the cage.
Tamura is trying to force a seperation but Hoshikawa has the dominant position.
A short left from Hoshikawa.

That's two 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.
Hoshikawa prevents Tamura from breaking the clinch.
Hoshikawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hoshikawa tries a knee to the head but Tamura blocks it.
Hoshikawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tamura.
Hoshikawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hoshikawa wants to stall.
Hoshikawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hoshikawa is stalling here.
Hoshikawa tries to stall but Tamura uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tamura is trying to break free.
Hoshikawa missing with knees to the body.
Hoshikawa connects with a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa just leaning against Tamura, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshikawa misses with a knee to the head.
Hoshikawa misses with the head strike.
Hoshikawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tamura's efforts to push away.
Hoshikawa tries to land knees in the clinch but Tamura avoids the damage to the body.
Kenji Tamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tamura tries to circle away but Hoshikawa has him pinned against the cage.
Tamura trying to control the position but instead, Hoshikawa has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tamura into the cage.
Tamura misses with some punches.
Hoshikawa prevents Tamura from breaking the clinch.
Tamura misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Hoshikawa.
Tamura wants to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hoshikawa.

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.
Hoshikawa is trying to stall.
Hoshikawa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tamura up against the cage.
Ryuuken Hoshikawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoshikawa misses with a knee strike.
Tamura's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hoshikawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tamura blocks it with crossed arms.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tamura as Hoshikawa tries to tie him up.
Hoshikawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hoshikawa blocks an uppercut.
Tamura misses with a punch on the inside.
Hoshikawa lands with a short shot to the head.
Tamura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hoshikawa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryuuken Hoshikawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hoshikawa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryuuken Hoshikawa!