PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Higashikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Cottero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higashikuni comes to the cage accompanied by Wind Up Toys (Uncle Acid & the Deadbets). Tommy Cottero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Higashikuni
vs
Cottero

162 cm
20
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

[CBK] Knockout Apparel
[CBK] Knockout Apparel

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsu Higashikuni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tommy Cottero!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higashikuni takes one on the button.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Cottero.
A punch combination from Cottero misses.

Higashikuni drives through with a takedown into guard.
Higashikuni showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cottero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Higashikuni throws and elbow that misses. Cottero uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Higashikuni's guard. Nice move by Cottero!

Higashikuni looking for subs off his back but Cottero has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cottero is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni tries to roll over but Cottero keeps him under control.
Higashikuni is trying to control but Cottero passes into side control!
Higashikuni gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni is trying to get back to full guard.
Higashikuni slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Higashikuni keeping moving, preventing Cottero from controlling successfully.
Cottero sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cottero must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cottero trying to control the position from guard on top but Higashikuni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tommy Cottero.
Higashikuni shoots for a takedown but Cottero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Higashikuni's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cottero connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Higashikuni scrambles back to his feet.
Cottero misses with a low kick.
Cottero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Higashikuni throws out the jab.
Cottero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Higashikuni.
Cottero dodges the punch combination from Higashikuni.
Higashikuni fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni tries to bum rush Cottero with a series of wild strikes but Cottero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cottero tests Higashikuni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Higashikuni throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cottero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cottero.
Cottero connects with a body shot.
Higashikuni shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cottero sprawls well. Cottero wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Higashikuni gets slowly back to his feet.
Higashikuni takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Higashikuni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cottero looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cottero throws a jab when Higashikuni was well out of range.
Higashikuni misses the shot to the body.
Cottero feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Higashikuni's calf.
Cottero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Higashikuni is breathing heavily.
Higashikuni throws a hook but Cottero avoids it easily.
Higashikuni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cottero.
Tommy Cottero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Higashikuni shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cottero as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsu Higashikuni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cottero leaves Higashikuni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cottero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cottero takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Higashikuni walks into a stiff left hand from Cottero.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cottero clobbers Higashikuni with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Higashikuni is rocked!
Cottero connects with a solid leg kick.
Cottero lands a body shot.
Higashikuni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Higashikuni doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cottero throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cottero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Higashikuni moves away.
Cottero connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cottero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tommy Cottero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higashikuni swinging wildly here.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Cottero. Higashikuni shrugs it off though.
Cottero lands a glancing blow to the side of Higashikuni's head.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cottero connects with a looping right hand.
Oh Higashikuni is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cottero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Higashikuni. That did some damage!
Cottero tests Higashikuni's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cottero thuds his shin into the meat of Higashikuni's side.
Cottero fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Higashikuni.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cottero.
Cottero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A shot to the liver by Cottero. Beautiful body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cottero misses with a body shot.
Cottero steps in with a hook that catches Higashikuni right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Cottero follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Higashikuni looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tommy Cottero!