PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between david torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haya Oku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

torres
vs
Oku

190 cm
22
207 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
22
211 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, david torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haya Oku!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
torres is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Oku tries for a takedown but torres sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Oku fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but torres is out of range.
torres looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from torres misses.

torres closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
torres stops Oku from getting back to his feet.
torres is pressing down on Oku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Oku is holding on for now.
torres wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oku keeps working.
Oku regains full guard. Nicely done.

Oku looking for a guillotine here but torres defends easily.
torres trying to control but Oku is working from the bottom.
torres throwing strikes from guard but Oku blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
torres stopping the sweep attempt from Oku.

Oku working for a triangle but torres defends it easily.
torres controlling from the top position.
Oku will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oku can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oku keeping moving, preventing torres from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oku misses with a few strikes there.
torres avoids the body shot from Oku.
Oku misses with a kick to the body.
torres swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Oku counters with a shoot takedown. torres fights it but they end up in guard.
torres is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oku is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Oku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
torres looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
torres pulls Oku in to control the position.
torres is striking from the bottom but Oku uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Oku perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
torres wants to control but Oku is keeping busy and won't allow it.
torres tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Oku wants to take a breather but torres is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
torres tries to roll over but Oku keeps him under control.
torres is looking to escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Oku shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
torres doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Oku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Oku throws a combination but it was largely blocked by torres.
torres connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Oku crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from torres - the referee stops the clock and Oku gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says torres. Oku manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
torres fails with the takedown

and Oku decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in torres's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oku sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Oku trying to control the position from guard on top but torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oku pushes down on torres's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Oku is looking for a kimura but torres is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Oku to get the leverage.
Oku performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Oku is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Oku is thwarting torres's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oku is controlling the pace.
Oku is looking to take a break and control but torres is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
torres wants to get back to his feet.
Oku seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but torres does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Oku is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

torres is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Oku pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Oku throws a lazy uppercut
and torres counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
torres drops Oku with a left and a right! Oh, Oku is hurt - torres dives into side control looking to finish!
torres lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Oku is looking for a sweep.
torres tries to score with some ground and pound. Oku controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that david torres will probably get the nod.
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.

Oku throws a nice looking combination but torres bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
david torres seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
torres lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Oku misses with a two punch combination.
torres shoots in for a takedown but Oku shows good takedown defense.

torres shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
torres trying to control from Oku's half guard. Oku has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
torres has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oku manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Oku looking to control and managing it successfully.
Haya Oku has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oku scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish torres?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Oku cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oku looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Oku controlling the position easily from mount.
torres can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oku looking to control but torres is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oku controlling from the full mount.
torres wants to control but Oku is having none of it.
torres taking shots to the head.
Oku looking to finish torres with some ground and pound. This is bad for torres!
torres working to try and regain half guard.
torres takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Oku.
Oku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as torres is looking to escape.
Oku fails to advance to torres's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
torres tries to buck Oku off but he can't manage it.
torres wants to hold on but Oku pushes him away.

torres defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Oku.
torres tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Oku is working for a guillotine from mount but torres frees his head quite easily.
torres tries to hold on but Oku postures up.
Oku content just to control the position here.
A nice elbow there by Oku.
Oku controlling from mount.
Oku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as torres is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oku content just to control the position here.
Oku trying to control but torres is having none of it.
torres is desperately trying to improve his position but Oku has a good base and remains in mount.
Oku controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Haya Oku just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
torres throws the left hand but Oku avoids the punch easily.
torres misses with a left hand

and Oku counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Oku in particular looking to stall.
torres wants to get back to his feet.
Oku is thwarting torres's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
torres moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
torres is looking to stand up but Oku isn't so interested in that idea.
torres will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haya Oku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

torres connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Oku's hands.
Good standup being displayed there by torres as he connects with a hook.
torres misses with a takedown

and Oku counters with a shoot takedown. torres fights it but they end up in guard.
torres looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
torres striking off his back but it's not causing Oku any problems.
Oku stopping the sweep attempt from torres.
torres wants to get back to his feet but Oku is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

torres throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
torres is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Oku's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Oku misses with a looping left.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown by torres or perhaps it was just good defense by Oku which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Oku does no damage.
torres avoids a punch combination nicely.

torres shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
torres wants to lay and pray for a moment but Oku keeps working.
Oku has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. torres is working away from the top position though.

Oku looking for submissions off his back.
Oku is staying active underneath torres, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
torres tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Oku slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oku keeping full guard, as torres tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Oku gets a takedown into half guard.
torres has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Oku is working away from the top position though.
Oku stalling.

Oku is working for a kimura but torres is defending it quite comfortably.
Oku is thwarting torres's attempts to control the position.
Oku throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oku decides to stand and escape the position.
torres fails with the takedown

and Oku counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for david torres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
torres wants to stand but Oku is controlling the position.
torres not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Oku trying to control the position from guard on top but torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
torres wants to sweep here but Oku controlling him for the moment.
torres is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Oku is controlling him.
Oku slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
torres is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Oku wants to control from the top but torres keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oku misses with a hook
and torres counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oku stuffs the takedown.
Oku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
torres misses with a takedown attempt
and Oku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Oku looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for torres!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
torres working to try and regain half guard.
torres tries to lock up and control but Oku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oku prevents torres from getting the reversal.
torres tries to hold on but Oku postures up.
Oku looking to control and managing it successfully.
torres slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
torres is trying to control but Oku manages to pass to mount!
torres tries to lock up and control but Oku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
torres slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haya Oku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Oku has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haya Oku!