PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Tokoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bingo Star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokoro kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is World's End Rhapsody. Star is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Octopus's garden. Bingo Star will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Tokoro
vs
Star

171 cm
23
143 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

162 cm
22
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hideo Tokoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bingo Star!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Star misses with a kick to the body.
Star throws a front kick aimed at Tokoro's knee but Tokoro avoids it well.
Star scores with a nice head shot.
Star looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Star misses with a low kick as Tokoro jumps back.
Star leaves Tokoro with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Star ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tokoro moves away.
Tokoro takes one on the button.
Star throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tokoro on the side of the head.
Tokoro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Star holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Star pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Star fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tokoro looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Star throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Star throws a body punch but Tokoro moves out of range.
Bingo Star seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro takes one on the button.
A good leg kick by Star.
The crowd cheers as Star lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tokoro doesn't seem phased though.
Star tries to clinch but Tokoro moves out of range.

Tokoro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Star's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Star is on top in guard.
Tokoro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Star is one step ahead there.
Tokoro has a closed guard, preventing Star from standing up.

Tokoro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Star doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Star manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tokoro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Star wanted to stand there but Tokoro had control of the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Star decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tokoro, up you get!
Tokoro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Star pinned against the cage. Star gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hideo Tokoro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A bone on bone clash there as Tokoro blocks the leg kick.
Star misses with a two punch combination.
Star swinging wildly here.
Tokoro takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tokoro keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice jab there from Star.
Tokoro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Star counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Star's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Star misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tokoro.
Star dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Star swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tokoro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Star counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bingo Star is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some bone on bone action there as Star checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tokoro is trying hard to land a takedown here. Star sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Star rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tokoro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Star clinches up against the cage.
Star lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tokoro is trying to pull guard but Star turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Star's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Star cracks Tokoro with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tokoro.
A swing and a miss from Star.
Tokoro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tokoro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Star sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tokoro somewhat.

Star fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tokoro, pushing him back against the cage.
Star tries a knee to the head but Tokoro blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tokoro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokoro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Star breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Star scores with a jab to the body.

Tokoro gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bingo Star dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tokoro has a takedown stuffed.
An inside leg kick from Star misses.
Star lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tokoro at a distance.
Star misses with a looping right.

Tokoro drives through with a takedown into Star's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tokoro's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tokoro distracts Star with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Star has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tokoro can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Star really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tokoro. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Star looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Star keeping moving, preventing Tokoro from controlling successfully.
Star wants to stand but Tokoro is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Star working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tokoro.
Tokoro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tokoro trying to control but Star is working from the bottom.
Tokoro is really struggling to control Star but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Tokoro wants to pass the guard but Star is keeping the position.
Tokoro 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.
Star has momentary wrist control but Tokoro slips an elbow through the middle.
Tokoro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Star is keeping the position for now.
Star is looking to stand up but Tokoro isn't so interested in that idea.
Tokoro is looking to work some ground and pound but Star has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Star is looking to stand up but Tokoro isn't so interested in that idea.

Tokoro drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tokoro jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tokoro trying to control but Star is working from the bottom.
Star can't keep his opponent in guard - Tokoro advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Star is holding on to half guard well.
Tokoro frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tokoro lands with some strikes.
Tokoro lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro unloading with bombs!
Hideo Tokoro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Star is trying to escape the mount.

Tokoro jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Star manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tokoro trying to control the action but Star is working from the bottom.
Star gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tokoro is pressing down on Star's thigh, looking to free his foot. Star is holding on for now.
Star tries to kick Tokoro off in order to stand up. Tokoro Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Tokoro misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Star is trying to control Tokoro's posture but Tokoro avoids it.
Star is looking for a sweep.
Tokoro moves into full mount!
Tokoro with a couple of short strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tokoro is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Star can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Star tries to hold on but Tokoro pushes him away.

Tokoro working for a submission but Star is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tokoro landing punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokoro dominating with strikes here.

Tokoro jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Star manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Star can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideo Tokoro dominated that second round.
That's time! Tokoro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Star scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tokoro doesn't seem bothered though.
Tokoro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Star moves into the clinch.

Tokoro jumps guard.
Star trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tokoro's guard.

Star stands and steps away. Tokoro gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Tokoro drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tokoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Star is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tokoro looking to pass the guard.
Tokoro throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro lands a couple of digs.
Tokoro stopping the sweep attempt from Star.
Star is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Tokoro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Star preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Star is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tokoro trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Star manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Star, right into the meat.
Star ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tokoro moves away.
Star tries to clinch but Tokoro moves out of range.
Star keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Star loads up on a big right hand but Tokoro slips the punch.
Tokoro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hideo Tokoro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tokoro shoots in and drives through. Star sprawls well.
Tokoro circles away from the clinch attempt.
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!
Star lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Star throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bingo Star seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Star scores with a punch to the head.
Tokoro fails with the takedown.
Star looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tokoro misses with a takedown attempt
and Star cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Star lands a jab.
A clash of legs there as Tokoro blocks the low kick.
Star misses with a wild body shot.
Tokoro keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Star landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Star trying to land knees to the body.
Tokoro changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Star fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tokoro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tokoro shoots in for a takedown but Star shows good takedown defense.
Tokoro walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Star has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tokoro has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Star after a bit of a struggle.
Tokoro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Star lands a knee to the body.

Star breaks the clinch.
Tokoro on the wrong end of a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bingo Star comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Star 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bingo Star!
A relieved looking Bingo Star thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.