PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Dickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TikaKiyo Yoshiki (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.

Dickson
vs
Yoshiki

183 cm
20
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ezekiel Dickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, TikaKiyo Yoshiki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dickson drives through and clinches with Yoshiki against the cage.
Yoshiki tries a knee to the head but Dickson blocks it.
Dickson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Yoshiki fails to land.
Yoshiki trying to control the position but instead, Dickson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yoshiki into the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dickson.

Yoshiki pulls Dickson into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Yoshiki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Yoshiki working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Dickson has passed into half guard!
Dickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yoshiki won't allow Dickson to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiki is trying to get back to full guard.
Yoshiki trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Dickson thowing shots but they're missing.
Dickson punching from mount but Yoshiki doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Yoshiki is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Yoshiki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dickson tries to control but Yoshiki wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickson avoids the attempt from Yoshiki to control.
Yoshiki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Dickson seems to be looking for submissions.
Dickson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Yoshiki!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dickson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Dickson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Yoshiki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dickson swivels and escapes.
Dickson swats away the attempt to clinch by Yoshiki.
Dickson shoots in looking for a takedown. Yoshiki tries to sprawl out of it but Dickson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yoshiki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yoshiki misses with a takedown attempt - Dickson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dickson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yoshiki, pushing him back against the cage.
Yoshiki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Yoshiki breaks the clinch.
Yoshiki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dickson avoids it really well and circles away.
Ezekiel Dickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TikaKiyo Yoshiki.
Dickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yoshiki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dickson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dickson thows a body shot but no joy.
Dickson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yoshiki tries for a takedown but Dickson circles away easily
and Dickson counters with a left and a right that stings Yoshiki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezekiel Dickson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dickson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dickson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Yoshiki clinches with his opponent.
Yoshiki is trying to pull guard but Dickson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Dickson is looking to break free of the clinch but Yoshiki has double underhooks.

Yoshiki manages to break the clinch.
Dickson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Yoshiki counters with a head kick.
Ezekiel Dickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yoshiki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dickson is trying to defend but Yoshiki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yoshiki is stalling here. Dickson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Yoshiki seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dickson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Dickson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Dickson in side control, throwing shots but Yoshiki defends.

Dickson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yoshiki sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Yoshiki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dickson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dickson's back!
Dickson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Dickson is squirming around, avoiding Yoshiki's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickson tries to improve his position but instead Yoshiki has taken his back!
Dickson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Yoshiki avoids the attempt from Dickson to control.
Yoshiki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dickson is working to get back to half guard.
Dickson tries to hold on but Yoshiki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dickson is looking to get to half guard.
Dickson is squirming around, avoiding Yoshiki's attempts to control the action.
Dickson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Dickson tries to hold on but Yoshiki postures up.
Dickson regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dickson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiki wants to free his trapped foot but Dickson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yoshiki prevents Dickson from standing back up.

Dickson has one foot on Yoshiki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Yoshiki goes for a double leg but Dickson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dickson continues to drive forward.
Dickson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yoshiki trying to land knees to the body.
Yoshiki tries to pull guard but Dickson won't allow it.
Ezekiel Dickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TikaKiyo Yoshiki.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshiki tries to pull guard but Dickson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dickson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but TikaKiyo Yoshiki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Dickson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Yoshiki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yoshiki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dickson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dickson moves in looking to clinch but Yoshiki pushes him off.
Yoshiki fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dickson.
Dickson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yoshiki sprawls well. Yoshiki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dickson gets slowly back to his feet.
Yoshiki darts in trying to clinch
and Dickson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiki fakes the leg kick and cracks Dickson in the body.
Nice sprawl there from Dickson as Yoshiki shoots in.
Ezekiel Dickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of TikaKiyo Yoshiki.
Yoshiki closes the distance and clinches up with Dickson, looking for a takedown. Yoshiki pushes Dickson against the cage but Dickson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Dickson takes the fight into the clinch.

Dickson jumps guard and drags Yoshiki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshiki has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dickson is proving hard to escape from.
Dickson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dickson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiki is fighting to break Dickson's control of his arms but Dickson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Yoshiki wants to pass the guard but Dickson is keeping the position.
Dickson looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ezekiel Dickson.
Yoshiki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dickson is fending him off so far but Yoshiki persists. Nope, Dickson circles away and we're back to standing.
Dickson shoots and misses
and Yoshiki counters with a body kick that stops Dickson in his tracks momentarily.
Yoshiki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yoshiki misses with a takedown attempt - Dickson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dickson moves into the clinch.

Yoshiki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yoshiki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Dickson has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Dickson. No joy for Yoshiki on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Dickson. No joy for Yoshiki on that attempt.
A lazy body kick from Dickson
and Yoshiki counters with a left to the body.
Dickson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yoshiki's waist but Yoshiki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dickson off to one side.
Dickson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Yoshiki. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickson dives in for a single leg takedown but Yoshiki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Yoshiki successfully pulls guard.
Dickson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yoshiki wants to get back to his feet but Dickson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dickson preventing the sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dickson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TikaKiyo Yoshiki.
I think Yoshiki 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TikaKiyo Yoshiki!
A pretty intense looking TikaKiyo Yoshiki took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.