PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khan Dharma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chozen Toguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Dharma
vs
Toguchi

175 cm
24
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Khan Dharma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chozen Toguchi!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toguchi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dharma manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Toguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dharma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toguchi's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Toguchi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Toguchi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Toguchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Dharma is retaining full guard.
Toguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dharma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toguchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dharma managing to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dharma throws a right hand that Toguchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Toguchi also avoids with ease.
Dharma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Toguchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Toguchi throws a looping overhand right but Dharma ducks down to avoid it.
Dharma throws a series of punches but Toguchi moves out of range.

Toguchi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dharma sprawls well initially but Toguchi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Toguchi thows a huge punch but Dharma dodges it nicely.
Toguchi trying to control the action but Dharma is working from the bottom.
Toguchi wants to pass the guard but Dharma is defending well.

Toguchi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dharma is staying active underneath Toguchi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Toguchi seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dharma keeps control of the position for the meantime.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dharma misses with a wild combination.
Dharma misses with a double jab.
Dharma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Toguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Dharma throws a head kick but Toguchi moves out of range.
Dharma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dharma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dharma is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toguchi throws a front kick aimed at Dharma's knee but Dharma avoids it well.
Dharma throws a series of punches but Toguchi avoids them all with ease.
Toguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dharma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Toguchi.
Dharma throws a series of punches but Toguchi moves out of range.

Toguchi shoots in and gets a takedown into Dharma's guard.
Dharma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dharma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toguchi passes Dharma's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Toguchi trying to pass the guard but Dharma defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A head kick misses from Dharma.
Toguchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dharma.
Dharma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toguchi throws a shot from downtown. Dharma moves away and avoids it.
Khan Dharma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Toguchi throws a shot from downtown. Dharma moves away and avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Toguchi misses.
No joy there for Dharma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Toguchi avoids the head kick by Dharma.
Dharma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Toguchi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Toguchi wants to pass the guard but Dharma is keeping the position.
Dharma managing to control the position.
Toguchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dharma is keeping the position for now.
Toguchi throwing strikes from guard but Dharma blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dharma can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Toguchi controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toguchi trying to control but Dharma is working from the bottom.
Toguchi is pushing down on Dharma's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dharma is fighting to maintain full guard but Toguchi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dharma holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Toguchi throws a hook but Dharma avoids it easily.
Dharma misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Dharma.
Dharma swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dharma throws a sloppy head kick and Toguchi moves out of range easily.

Toguchi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Toguchi throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dharma keeping full guard, as Toguchi tries to pass.
Toguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Dharma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dharma is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dharma throws a right and a left that Toguchi avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Dharma misses.
Sloppy strikes from Dharma. Those never looked like landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Toguchi.
Toguchi creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dharma sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Toguchi tries to score with some ground and pound. Dharma controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Toguchi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dharma has escaped the position, nice work there.

Toguchi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dharma is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Chozen Toguchi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toguchi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Toguchi moves into full mount!
Dharma wants to control but Toguchi is having none of it.
Toguchi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dharma because Toguchi loaded up on that one.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Toguchi goes for an armbar but Dharma turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dharma.

Toguchi looking for subs off his back but Dharma has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chozen Toguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Dharma swinging wildly here.
Khan Dharma is winning the standup battle so far.
Dharma throws a series of punches but Toguchi moves out of range.
Dharma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Toguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dharma defends it well.
Toguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dharma.

Toguchi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Toguchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dharma swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toguchi trying to control but Dharma is working from the bottom.
Toguchi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toguchi wants to control from the top but Dharma keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dharma throws a sloppy head kick and Toguchi moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dharma throws a sloppy head kick and Toguchi moves out of range easily.
Toguchi feints the counter takedown.
Dharma falls off balance throwing a combination

and Toguchi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dharma is wriggling around but Toguchi manages to pass to half guard.

Toguchi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
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.
Toguchi wants to free his trapped foot but Dharma is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Dharma keeping control of the position.
Dharma won't allow Toguchi to pass to mount.

Toguchi is trying to work for a kimura but Dharma is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toguchi trying to mount his opponent but Dharma defends it.
Dharma trying to control but Toguchi postures up.

Toguchi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Toguchi trying to pass the guard but Dharma defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Toguchi is trying to work for a kimura but Dharma is defending well.

Toguchi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dharma has managed to free his arm - good work.
Khan Dharma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dharma is trying is best to control the position here.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Chozen Toguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Toguchi 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Chozen Toguchi!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Khan Dharma!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Chozen Toguchi!

Chozen Toguchi wins by split decision!