PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matsui Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Hoztiem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oliver Hoztiem will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Yoshida
vs
Hoztiem

185 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matsui Yoshida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oliver Hoztiem!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoztiem throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hoztiem throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hoztiem throws a head kick but Yoshida moves out of range.
Yoshida swats away the attempt to clinch by Hoztiem.
Hoztiem throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoztiem tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yoshida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoztiem tries to clinch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Hoztiem ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hoztiem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yoshida takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoztiem moves into the clinch successfully.

Yoshida has clasped his hands together around Hoztiem's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Yoshida controlling the position from side mount.
Yoshida throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hoztiem managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Yoshida.
Hoztiem is trying to get back to half guard.
Yoshida working the ground and pound from side control.
Yoshida is looking to take a break and control but Hoztiem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Yoshida tries for a kimura but Hoztiem is defending well.
Hoztiem is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoztiem prevents Yoshida from moving into mount.

Yoshida wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hoztiem, who protects the arm well.
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!
Yoshida takes a little break here. Hoztiem wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hoztiem is not content to let Yoshida control the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Yoshida.
Hoztiem is looking to regain half guard here but Yoshida keeps moving and retains side control.

Yoshida swings around for an armbar but Hoztiem sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Yoshida's guard.
Yoshida 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.

Hoztiem drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yoshida looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yoshida looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yoshida!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshida tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yoshida has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yoshida goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hoztiem has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Yoshida but great work by Hoztiem.
Check out the look on Hoztiem's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Yoshida trying his best to control but Hoztiem has mounted him.
Hoztiem looking to finish Yoshida with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yoshida!
Hoztiem trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hoztiem throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Yoshida because Hoztiem loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshida is trying to escape the mount.
Hoztiem thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is working to get back to half guard.
Yoshida sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hoztiem is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yoshida!
Yoshida wants to control but Hoztiem is having none of it.
Hoztiem tries to control but Yoshida wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshida avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hoztiem.
Yoshida is looking to improve his position but Hoztiem isn't that keen on the idea.
Yoshida tries to hold on but Hoztiem postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Oliver Hoztiem will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hoztiem throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Hoztiem.
Hoztiem throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hoztiem throws a sloppy head kick and Yoshida moves out of range easily.
Hoztiem tries to clinch up.
Hoztiem lands an overhand right.
Yoshida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hoztiem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoztiem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hoztiem gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida struggling a bit here.
Yoshida is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hoztiem is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hoztiem sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Yoshida is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Yoshida tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yoshida is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hoztiem connects with a decent elbow.
Yoshida can't do much from the bottom here.
Matsui Yoshida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hoztiem throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Yoshida can't do much from the bottom here.
Yoshida tries to buck Hoztiem off but Hoztiem is having none of it.
Hoztiem is looking to take a break and control but Yoshida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida sneaks back into half guard.

Yoshida looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Yoshida actively working from the bottom here.
Yoshida keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Yoshida is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hoztiem pulls his head out easily.

Hoztiem is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hoztiem is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yoshida sees it coming and defends easily.
Yoshida is looking to control Hoztiem's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yoshida avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshida gets full guard.
Yoshida is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hoztiem preventing the sweep.
Hoztiem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yoshida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yoshida controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoztiem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yoshida's guard.
Yoshida wants to control but Hoztiem is keeping busy.
Yoshida is controlling Hoztiem's trapped leg to prevent Hoztiem from advancing to side control.
Yoshida is trying to control but can't.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Hoztiem is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hoztiem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yoshida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshida trying to control but Hoztiem postures up.
Hoztiem passes into side control, despite Yoshida's attempt to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yoshida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Hoztiem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hoztiem chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yoshida takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Hoztiem clinches up against the cage.
Hoztiem connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Matsui Yoshida has been cut.

Yoshida has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hoztiem regains guard immediately.
Yoshida tries to free his leg and advance position but Hoztiem is retaining full guard.
Yoshida is working hard here to advance position.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoztiem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshida is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yoshida working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hoztiem's head.
Hoztiem throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Hoztiem working for submissions but it's allowed Yoshida to get to half guard.
Hoztiem has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yoshida is working away from the top position though.
Hoztiem is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hoztiem throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Yoshida wants to work for an arm triangle but Hoztiem is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hoztiem really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yoshida. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Yoshida is working for a kimura but Hoztiem is defending it quite comfortably.
Hoztiem is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yoshida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yoshida's back!
Yoshida trying to control the action but Hoztiem just sinks the hooks in.
Yoshida can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hoztiem's guard. Nice work there by Yoshida.
Hoztiem wants to sweep here but Yoshida controlling him for the moment.
Yoshida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoztiem swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoztiem trying to keep a closed guard but Yoshida is proving a slippery customer.
Yoshida works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hoztiem wants to improve his position but Yoshida is controlling well.
Yoshida looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Yoshida is looking for a kimura but Hoztiem is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yoshida to get the leverage.
Yoshida moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoztiem is looking to reverse the position.
Hoztiem takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yoshida in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Oliver Hoztiem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hoztiem taking punishment in the form of punches.

Yoshida is trying to get an arm triangle but Hoztiem is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoztiem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshida trying to control the action but Hoztiem is working from the bottom.
Matsui Yoshida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshida lands a nice forearm strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsui Yoshida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hoztiem 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Oliver Hoztiem!