PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yushi Tatizu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monkey Luffy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tatizu
vs
Luffy

160 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
19
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yushi Tatizu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Monkey Luffy!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tatizu tries a head kick but it misses.
Luffy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tatizu throws a sloppy head kick and Luffy moves out of range easily.

Tatizu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Luffy struggling a bit here.
Tatizu wants to control but Luffy is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Luffy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tatizu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luffy keeps working.
Luffy is trying to get back to half guard.
Luffy wants to control but Tatizu postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luffy is not content to let Tatizu control the position.
Tatizu working the ground and pound but Luffy is defending the strikes.
Tatizu working away.

Tatizu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Luffy, who protects the arm well.
Luffy tries to improve position but can't.
Tatizu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luffy keeps working.
Tatizu is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Luffy will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Tatizu decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Tatizu manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Luffy on his heels. He'll look to pass Luffy's guard now, I'm sure.
Tatizu could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
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!
Luffy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Luffy pulls Tatizu in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu wants to control from the top but Luffy keeps moving.
Tatizu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tatizu trying to control the position from guard on top but Luffy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Luffy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tatizu controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yushi Tatizu just wasn't active enough.
Tatizu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luffy avoids it really well and circles away.
Luffy shoots in and drives through. Tatizu sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu closes the distance and clinches up with Luffy, looking for a takedown. Tatizu pushes Luffy against the cage but Luffy circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Luffy shoots for a takedown but Tatizu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luffy tries to close the distance and clinch but Tatizu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Luffy throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Luffy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tatizu.
Tatizu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luffy misses with a double jab.
Luffy looks winded!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tatizu swinging wildly here.

Tatizu gets tackled into the cage by Luffy. Luffy maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushi Tatizu dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Luffy is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tatizu's half guard.
Tatizu wants to control but Luffy is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tatizu is looking to improve his position.
Luffy is thwarting Tatizu's attempts to control the position.
Tatizu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Luffy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tatizu wants to get back to full guard.
Luffy is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yushi Tatizu wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tatizu is defended easily by Luffy.
Luffy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tatizu.
Luffy lands with a nice combination. Tatizu backs away looking to recover.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luffy.
Tatizu blocks a leg kick.
Luffy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Luffy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tatizu is fending him off so far but Luffy persists. Nope, Tatizu circles away and we're back to standing.
Yushi Tatizu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Luffy is breathing heavily.

Luffy gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu is doing well to control the position and prevent Luffy from advancing to side control.
Luffy trying to advance position but Tatizu counters by regaining guard.
Tatizu pulls Luffy in to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luffy is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Luffy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Luffy trying to control but Tatizu is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Luffy preventing the sweep.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Monkey Luffy hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Luffy jabs Tatizu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tatizu throws out a loose jab but Luffy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tatizu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tatizu doesn't manage to clinch there - Luffy circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Luffy as Tatizu shoots in.
Luffy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yushi Tatizu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey Luffy.
Tatizu shoots for a double leg takedown but Luffy sprawls well. He's pushed Tatizu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tatizu tries to bum rush Luffy with a series of wild strikes but Luffy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Luffy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tatizu swivels and escapes.
Tatizu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Luffy checks a leg kick.
Luffy shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tatizu as he jumps to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tatizu takes a swing at Luffy's ribcage but misses.
Luffy keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Monkey Luffy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tatizu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Luffy defends it nicely.
Luffy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tatizu dives in and grabs Luffy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Luffy pushes down on Tatizu's head and hops out.
Luffy throws a head kick but Tatizu moves out of range.
No luck for Luffy with that takedown attempt.
Luffy shoots and misses

and Tatizu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Yushi Tatizu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monkey Luffy.

Tatizu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Tatizu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Luffy to the ground. Tatizu is now in Luffy's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tatizu wants to control from the top but Luffy keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tatizu gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tatizu misses with a takedown attempt - Luffy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Luffy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tatizu doesn't seem bothered though.
Luffy shoots in looking for a takedown but Tatizu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Luffy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tatizu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tatizu wants to clinch up but Luffy keeps it at a distance.
Tatizu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luffy.
Tatizu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Luffy circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tatizu gets tackled into the cage by Luffy. Luffy maintains the clinch.
Luffy taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tatizu trying to land knees to the body.

Luffy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tatizu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Luffy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Luffy gets a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luffy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tatizu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tatizu actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu gets full guard.
Tatizu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Luffy is one step ahead there.
Luffy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Luffy wants to get up but he can't break Tatizu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Luffy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tatizu is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatizu wants to sweep here but Luffy controlling him for the moment.
Tatizu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Luffy is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatizu controlling from mount.
Luffy is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yushi Tatizu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tatizu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Yushi Tatizu!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Yushi Tatizu!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Yushi Tatizu!

Yushi Tatizu wins by unanimous decision!