PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuki Tihiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tihiro comes to the cage accompanied by Jyo. Fernando has chosen Miss Jackson as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tihiro
vs
Fernando

188 cm
27
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
204 lbs
3 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuki Tihiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manny Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fernando manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tihiro on his heels. He'll look to pass Tihiro's guard now, I'm sure.
Tihiro is controlling Fernando's posture.
Tihiro has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Tihiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tihiro is pulling down on Fernando's head to control his posture.
Tihiro is trying to control the position but Fernando postures up.
Fernando trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fernando is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando stops Tihiro from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernando shoots in looking for a takedown. Tihiro tries to sprawl out of it but Fernando keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tihiro manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tihiro looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tihiro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Tihiro wants to take a breather but Fernando is having none of it.
Tihiro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fernando is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernando won't allow Tihiro to pass to mount.
Tihiro frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tihiro controlling the pace for now.
Tihiro seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fernando for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tihiro continues to stall.
Fernando really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fernando is squirming around, avoiding Tihiro's attempts to control the action.
Fernando is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fernando wants to hold on but Tihiro pushes him away.
Fernando is looking to get to half guard.
Fernando is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tihiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tihiro has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Tihiro dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernando changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tihiro tries to avoid it but Fernando manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tihiro to the ground. Tihiro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yuki Tihiro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fernando closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tihiro did well to prevent Fernando getting side control.
Fernando is thwarting Tihiro's attempts to control the position.
Fernando is taking a breather. Tihiro 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.
Tihiro wants to improve his position but Fernando is controlling well.
Fernando wants to control but Tihiro is keeping him busy.
Tihiro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fernando wants to control but Tihiro is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernando wants to pass to mount but Tihiro is defending the position.
Fernando trying to control from half guard but Tihiro is working away.
Fernando looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tihiro is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tihiro is positioning himself well to prevent Fernando advancing to mount.
Tihiro is refusing to be controlled, as Fernando sits in half guard.
Fernando is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tihiro wants to improve his position but Fernando is controlling well.
Fernando is looking to take a break and control but Tihiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fernando dives in and grabs Tihiro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tihiro pushes down on Fernando's head and hops out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fernando enables Tihiro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fernando manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tihiro stays in close to Fernando's body and controls the position.
Tihiro slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tihiro is thwarting Fernando's attempts to control the position.
Tihiro stalling.
Tihiro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fernando knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tihiro is trying to control. Fernando wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tihiro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fernando wants to control but Tihiro is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tihiro slows the pace down in half guard.
Tihiro is keen to just control but Fernando is a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fernando goes for a double leg but Tihiro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tihiro continues to drive forward.
Yuki Tihiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Fernando.

Tihiro shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fernando's guard.

Fernando working for submissions but it's allowed Tihiro to get to half guard.

Fernando looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tihiro slows the pace down in half guard.
Fernando preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tihiro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fernando wants to control but Tihiro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuki Tihiro dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Fernando shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tihiro defends it nicely.
Fernando shoots in but no luck this time.
Fernando is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tihiro sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yuki Tihiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Fernando.

Fernando gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tihiro to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Fernando throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tihiro looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tihiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernando is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernando wants to stand but Tihiro is controlling the position.

Fernando working for a triangle but Tihiro defends it easily.
Tihiro trying to control but Fernando is working from the bottom.
Tihiro tries to free his leg and advance position but Fernando is retaining full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tihiro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Tihiro gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fernando to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tihiro controls Fernando momentarily but Fernando frees himself.
Yuki Tihiro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tihiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tihiro is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Fernando dives into side control.
Tihiro struggling a bit here.
Tihiro stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Tihiro is looking to reverse the position.
Tihiro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fernando can do to turn this around?

Fernando tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tihiro is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernando trying to control the action but Tihiro is working from the bottom.
Tihiro is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tihiro is looking for a sweep.
Fernando trying to control the action but Tihiro is working from the bottom.
Tihiro is being controlled here.
Tihiro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fernando wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Fernando tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Fernando is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tihiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tihiro sneaks back into half guard.
Fernando tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Tihiro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fernando's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fernando's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fernando trying to control the hands but Tihiro breaks the grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuki Tihiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tihiro has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuki Tihiro!
During a confident post fight interview, Yuki Tihiro thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Manny Fernando had this to say: 'Well done sir, you have beaten me. '.