PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kana Tsugihara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Cam (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.

Tsugihara
vs
Cam

189 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kana Tsugihara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zach Cam!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Chad Campbell and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsugihara wants to clinch.
Cam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tsugihara tries to clinch up but Cam circles away and keeps his distance.
Cam throws a sloppy head kick and Tsugihara moves out of range easily.

Tsugihara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.
Cam pushes off an throws an elbow but Tsugihara leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Tsugihara with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Cam tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsugihara's elbow.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara is trying to break the clinch but Cam has him pressed against the cage.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Cam drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsugihara connects with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cam looks gassed!
Cam misses with the head strike.
Tsugihara comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cam has had enough of the clinch but Tsugihara keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.

Tsugihara is trying to trip Cam. He has hold of a leg but Cam is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tsugihara persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tsugihara wants to stand but Cam has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tsugihara stands up and waves to Cam to follow him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tsugihara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but Cam circles away.
Tsugihara tries to clinch there but Cam circles away.
Cam circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tsugihara has Cam up against the cage in a clinch.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
Cam throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Tsugihara turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cam is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Tsugihara has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Tsugihara moves into the clinch successfully.
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Cam managing to block the knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.

Cam drags the fight down to the ground.
Tsugihara has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tsugihara wants to stand but Cam has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Tsugihara stands up and waves to Cam to follow him.

Tsugihara clinches.
Cam is looking to break free of the clinch but Tsugihara has double underhooks.
Tsugihara's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Tsugihara lands a takedown into guard.
Cam has a closed guard, preventing Tsugihara from standing up.
Tsugihara trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cam pushes Tsugihara off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kana Tsugihara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tsugihara tries to clinch up but Cam circles away and keeps his distance.
Tsugihara wants to clinch.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch but Cam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tsugihara moves in looking to clinch but Cam pushes him off.
Tsugihara tries to clinch but Cam moves out of range.
Tsugihara wants to clinch.
Cam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tsugihara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cam circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kana Tsugihara dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tsugihara wants to clinch.
Tsugihara tries to clinch up.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch but Cam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cam looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tsugihara is fending him off so far but Cam persists. Nope, Tsugihara circles away and we're back to standing.
Tsugihara doesn't manage to clinch there - Cam circles away.
Tsugihara tries to close the distance and clinch but Cam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tsugihara tries to clinch up but Cam circles away and keeps his distance.

Tsugihara clinches with his opponent.
Cam using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tsugihara has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Cam throws an elbow but it misses.
Cam is breathing heavily.
Cam gets underhooks to prevent Tsugihara's takedown attempt.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cam takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cam takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tsugihara prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into Cam's ribcage.
Tsugihara landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Cam is working for takedown but Tsugihara is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kana Tsugihara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zach Cam.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cam swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tsugihara lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cam looking to slow down the pace here.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into Cam's ribcage.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Tsugihara digs a right hand underneath Cam's ribcage. Cam let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above Cam 's eye.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tsugihara comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside that Cam shrugs off.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsugihara prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Cam wants to get back to striking at distance but Tsugihara won't allow it.
Cam lands an uppercut.
Tsugihara prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tsugihara crunches a lovely knee into Cam's ribcage.
Cam blocks an elbow strike.
Tsugihara tries to land knees in the clinch but Cam avoids the damage to the body.
Tsugihara lands an elbow that stopped Cam in his tracks for a moment.
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cam is stalling here.
Cam wants to break the clinch but can't.

Tsugihara lands a takedown into guard.
Tsugihara wants to stand but Cam is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cam wants to stand but Tsugihara is controlling the position.

Cam is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Cam looking to slow down the pace here.
Tsugihara lands an elbow just above Cam 's eye.
Tsugihara lands an elbow that stopped Cam in his tracks for a moment.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.

Tsugihara has hold of one of Cam's legs. Cam is fighting the takedown attempt but Tsugihara gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Tsugihara stands and steps away. Cam gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cam keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsugihara swats away the attempt to clinch by Cam.
Tsugihara tries to clinch

and Cam counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tsugihara's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsugihara can't keep his opponent in guard - Cam advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tsugihara is trying to stand.

Cam stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Tsugihara to get to his feet.

Tsugihara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cam is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tsugihara pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara wants to break free but Cam has control.

Tsugihara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsugihara closes the distance looking to clinch
and Cam counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cam keeps the fight on the outside.
Tsugihara tries to clinch

and Cam counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cam.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kana Tsugihara will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tsugihara tries to clinch up
letting Cam counter with a right hand.

Tsugihara forces Cam back against the cage and clinches.

Cam is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tsugihara is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cam to the mat. Cam regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Cam wants to get back to his feet but Tsugihara is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tsugihara decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Tsugihara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tsugihara lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Cam takes a knee right on the jaw!
Cam on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cam has Tsugihara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tsugihara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Cam throws a punch but it's blocked by Tsugihara.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsugihara lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cam is trying to maintain a safe position but Tsugihara gets an underhook and turns Cam into the cage.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cam's face.

Cam breaks from the clinch.
Tsugihara gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cam counters by clinching up.
Cam has a couple of punches blocked by Tsugihara.
Cam looking to stall.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.
Cam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Cam misses with a punch to the body.
Cam is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tsugihara is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tsugihara turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tsugihara manages to end up in side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cam can do anything to dispel that myth.

Tsugihara has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tsugihara tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cam counters with a good low kick that Tsugihara was not able to check.

Tsugihara has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tsugihara lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Cam tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tsugihara's elbow.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Cam doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tsugihara digs a right hand into Cam's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cam's gas tank.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tsugihara connects with a knee to the head.
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cam throws a head punch that misses.
Cam prevents the takedown attempt.
Cam digs a right hand into Tsugihara's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tsugihara's gas tank.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cam's face.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Nice elbow from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside.
Tsugihara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cam blocks it with crossed arms.
Tsugihara prevents the takedown attempt.
Tsugihara lands an elbow inside that Cam shrugs off.
Cam looking to slow down the pace here.
Cam tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cam with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cam can't break the clinch.
Tsugihara connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cam's face.
Tsugihara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tsugihara unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cam lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Tsugihara lands a damaging elbow.
Tsugihara with a knee to the head.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.

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.
Cam lands an uppercut.
Tsugihara connects with a knee to the head.
Cam gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tsugihara.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kana Tsugihara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tsugihara struggles to land a body shot inside as Cam controls his hands.
A knee to the head by Tsugihara.
Tsugihara lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cam.
Tsugihara using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tsugihara lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cam takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tsugihara with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Tsugihara.
Cam takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tsugihara lands a nice knee to the body.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cam throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tsugihara blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice body punch from Tsugihara.
Tsugihara landing knees to the body.
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Zach Cam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tsugihara lands a knee to the body.
Tsugihara scores a nice knee to the body.
Cam comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kana Tsugihara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tsugihara, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kana Tsugihara!