PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takeshi Tono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcio Andre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Tono
vs
Andre

170 cm
26
152 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Determined

Sun-Tzu

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeshi Tono!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marcio Andre!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andre doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tono counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Andre throws a body kick that misses
and Tono counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from Tono does no damage.

Tono closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tono wants to free his trapped foot but Andre is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tono throwing shots but Andre is blocking nicely.
Tono 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.
Andre is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tono's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tono's back!

Tono is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Andre has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Tono's body.
Tono knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Andre on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andre is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Tono is trying to stand back up.
Andre trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Andre is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Tono has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Andre is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tono defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andre patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Andre is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tono defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Tono defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Andre is persistently looking for the submission but Tono is defending it well.
Andre avoiding Tono 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andre has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Tono has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Tono can't escape the position.
Tono is trying to stand back up.

Tono is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tono misses with a low kick.
Andre throws a lazy uppercut
and Tono counters with a two punch combo.
Andre is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Andre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tono scores with the left hand. Andre knows he should have avoided that one.
Tono tries a head kick but it misses.
Good leg kick by Tono there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick lands from Tono.
No luck for Andre with that takedown attempt.
Tono appears to be looking for a big counter.
Tono dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Andre. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Tono 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.

Tono throws a sloppy head kick and Andre moves out of range easily.
Tono lands a nice looking body kick.
Takeshi Tono is winning the standup battle so far.
Tono throws a nice head kick!
The fight stays on the outside here - Andre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tono goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Andre changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tono connects with an inside leg kick.
Tono swinging wildly here.
Andre throws a shot from downtown. Tono moves away and avoids it.
No luck for Andre with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Andre shoots in but Tono avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Andre takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andre clinches.
Tono lands a body punch.
Tono is trying to stall.
Tono working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Tono breaks the clinch.

Tono gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right from Tono.
Tono with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Andre tries to pull guard but Tono forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Takeshi Tono has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcio Andre.
Andre is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tono to keep the fight standing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tono scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Andre is trying to pull guard but Tono has him pressed against the cage.
Andre trying to control the position but instead, Tono has worked for underhooks and has pushed Andre into the cage.
Tono misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Andre is trying to pull guard but Tono turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Tono manages to break the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tono. That's going to slow Andre down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tono is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tono throws a good cross that connects.
Andre with a lazy takedown attempt
and Andre takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tono avoids the head kick by Andre.
Andre takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Andre shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andre on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tono tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tono looks for the body kick but Andre saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tono dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Andre. That did some damage!
Andre checks the leg kick nicely there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Andre looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tono bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Andre is defended easily by Tono.
Tono appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tono connects with a solid leg kick.
Tono circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tono is looking to counter with head kicks.
Tono pivots, looking for a leg kick but Andre is out of range and Tono settles back down.
Tono throws a right hand that Andre ducks under and follows up with a left that Andre also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andre tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tono manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Andre's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tono lands a front kick.
Tono cracks Andre with a right hand to the side of the head.
Andre shoots in for a takedown but Tono shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Andre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Andre shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tono pinned against the cage. Tono gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tono feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Takeshi Tono is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Andre moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Andre throws an off balance right hand
and Tono counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Andre shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tono as he avoids it easily.
Tono scores with a spinning back kick!
Tono turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Tono dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tono feints and then cracks Andre's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Andre down.
A head kick misses from Tono.
Tono throws a leg kick but Andre moved away.
Tono throws a sloppy head kick and Andre moves out of range easily.
Tono feints and then cracks Andre's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Andre down.
Andre fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tono dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Andre. That did some damage!
Andre fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Andre shoots in for a double leg but Tono sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Takeshi Tono has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcio Andre.
Donk. Tono catches Andre right on the button with a cross.
Tono throws a quick inside leg kick.
Andre shoots in for a takedown but Tono shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andre takes a swing at Tono's ribcage but misses.
Andre drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Tono clinches with his opponent.
Andre on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Andre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tono just stands there and leans against the cage.
Andre prevents a body shot from Tono.
Andre has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Tono seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Andre can turn it around.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tono just misses with a elbow thrown towards Andre's brow.
Andre fails to pull guard.
Tono is looking to control Andre's arms but Andre gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tono has his back to the cage.
Tono is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tono lands with a light punch inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Tono.
Andre stalling against the cage.
Tono is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Andre is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andre managing to block the knees to the body from Tono.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Andre jumps guard but Tono stands there with Andre around his waist. Andre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Andre letting Tono take a breather here.
Tono lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tono slows down the pace here.
Tono tries a knee to the head but Andre blocks it.
Andre jumps guard but Tono stands there with Andre around his waist. Andre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tono stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andre is trying to pull guard but Tono turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Andre is trying to pull guard but Tono turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tono lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Andre jumps guard but Tono stands there with Andre around his waist. Andre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tono breaks from the clinch.
Tono is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Andre can do to turn this around?
Andre is looking to score with low kicks.
Tono scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Andre closes the distance but Tono moves to the side
enabling Tono to counter with a crisp jab.

Andre is rocked!

Tono moves into range and clinches up with Andre.
Come on Andre - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tono effectively controlling the action here.
Andre jumps guard but Tono stands there with Andre around his waist. Andre gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Takeshi Tono is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Andre ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Andre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Andre keeping moving, preventing Tono from controlling successfully.

Andre looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tono passes into side control.
Andre wants to control but Tono postures up.
Andre is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tono connects with a decent elbow.
Marcio Andre has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Andre is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Tono showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tono, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Tono!
Takeshi Tono made sure to mention his sponsor, Sun-Tzu in his post fight interview.