PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Bashor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsuyoshi Tamatso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsuyoshi Tamatso is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bashor
vs
Tamatso

172 cm
25
202 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
35
178 lbs
23 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse Bashor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tsuyoshi Tamatso!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tamatso avoids it really well and circles away.
Jesse Bashor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tamatso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tamatso is trying to control the action in half guard but Bashor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tamatso is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bashor defends it well.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bashor tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Tamatso has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tamatso avoids the attempt from Bashor to control.
Bashor is working to get back to half guard.
Tamatso works his way to his opponent's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamatso trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Bashor doesn't escape.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tamatso's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Well, with Tamatso on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Bashor is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Bashor trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Tamatso has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bashor's body.
Bashor looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tamatso.

Bashor showing good submission defense here.
Bashor trying to control the hands but Tamatso won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashor is keeping busy.
Bashor is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Bashor is keeping busy.

Tamatso is persistently looking for the submission but Bashor is defending it well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tamatso looking to break Bashor's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bashor remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tamatso will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bashor fending off the submission attempt from Tamatso.
Bashor manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tamatso's guard. Nice work there by Bashor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso keeping moving, preventing Bashor from controlling successfully.
Bashor trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tamatso manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Tamatso works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tamatso is keen to just control but Bashor is a slippery customer.
Bashor is looking to improve his position.
Tamatso is thwarting Bashor's attempts to control the position.
Bashor tries to roll over but Tamatso keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashor wants to control but Tamatso is keeping busy.
Tamatso trying to mount his opponent but Bashor defends it.
Tamatso works his way into full mount!
Bashor is looking to get to half guard.
Tamatso looking to control but Bashor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bashor wants to hold on but Tamatso pushes him away.

Tamatso jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bashor is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bashor and Tamatso has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Bashor wants to control but Tamatso postures up.
Bashor is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tamatso's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tamatso wants to control but Bashor is keeping him busy.
Tamatso is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bashor!

Bashor defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tamatso.
Bashor sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bashor is looking for a sweep. Tamatso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bashor is refusing to be controlled, as Tamatso sits in half guard.
Bashor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tamatso is working away from the top position though.
Tamatso tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bashor knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tamatso is trying to control. Bashor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tamatso trying to advance position but Bashor counters by regaining guard.
Tamatso slips nicely into half guard.
Bashor tries to get to full guard but Tamatso has control of the leg.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Bashor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tamatso is taking a breather. Bashor says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Tamatso is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bashor is just riding it out for now. Tamatso eventually gives up the hold.
Bashor makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bashor.
Tamatso slips nicely into half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tamatso in particular looking to stall.

Tamatso is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bashor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tamatso.

Bashor with the active half guard here but Tamatso passes nicely into side control.
Tamatso wants to control but Bashor is keeping him busy.

Tamatso tries for a kimura but Bashor is defending well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Tamatso tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tamatso has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Bashor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tamatso tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bashor struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bashor is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsuyoshi Tamatso dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Tamatso gets a double leg takedown into Bashor's guard.
Tamatso 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.
Bashor looking to control.
Tsuyoshi Tamatso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bashor keeping moving, preventing Tamatso from controlling successfully.
Tamatso stopping the sweep attempt from Bashor.
Tamatso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bashor is keeping the position for now.
Tamatso 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.

Tsuyoshi Tamatso has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Tamatso gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamatso trying to control the action but Bashor is working from the bottom.
Bashor trying to get back to full guard but Tamatso takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Bashor working to try and regain half guard.
Bashor wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bashor rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Bashor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso is stalling in the full guard.
Bashor can't keep his opponent in guard - Tamatso advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Bashor looking for submissions off his back.
Tamatso has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Tamatso swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bashor is now in Tamatso's guard. A big mistake from Tamatso there, giving up the dominant position!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tamatso throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashor wants to pass the guard but Tamatso is keeping the position.

Bashor postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tamatso is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bashor, into his guard.
Tamatso wants to pass the guard but Bashor is keeping the position.
Tamatso trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso content to stall in guard here.
Tamatso wants to pass the guard but Bashor is keeping the position.
Tamatso trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bashor has his foot on Tamatso's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tamatso works his way back into a safe position though.
Tamatso looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tamatso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bashor is keeping the position for now.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tsuyoshi Tamatso hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bashor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tamatso counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Well, if Tamatso is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Bashor is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tamatso pulls his head out easily.

Tamatso is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bashor sees it coming and defends easily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Tamatso tries to pass to full mount but Bashor defends it.
Tamatso takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tamatso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bashor keeps working.

Tamatso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tamatso passes to side control.
Bashor is looking for a sweep.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bashor manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tamatso's best efforts.

Tamatso has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Bashor defend it? Tamatso steps over the head and cranks it - Bashor is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Tamatso!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:11 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tsuyoshi Tamatso!