PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Walood Kassab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiry Torikama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kassab might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Merauder - Life Is Pain. Yoshiry Torikama has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kassab
vs
Torikama

184 cm
24
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Voodoo Nutrition
MayheM sportswear

Pitt Nutrition 160Q!

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Walood Kassab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshiry Torikama!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kassab checks a leg kick.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Torikama has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Torikama circles away from the clinch attempt.
Torikama closes the distance and clinches up with Kassab, looking for a takedown. Torikama pushes Kassab against the cage but Kassab circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Torikama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Torikama works the jab nicely.
Kassab misses with a two punch combination.
Torikama drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kassab defends it well.
Kassab moves in looking to clinch but Torikama pushes him off.
Kassab misses with a combination

and Torikama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Torikama.
Kassab manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Torikama manages to get himself to full guard.

Kassab with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Torikama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kassab defends it easily.
Torikama managing to control the position.
Torikama 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassab with a flurry of punches that miss.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Torikama is on top in guard.

Torikama trying to control but Kassab is working from the bottom.
Torikama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kassab 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.
Kassab is trying to keep Torikama in close.
Torikama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kassab 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torikama throwing strikes from guard but Kassab blocks nicely.
Torikama looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kassab working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Torikama.
Torikama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Torikama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torikama postures up in Kassab's guard and throws a big left but Kassab blocks it.
Kassab 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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Torikama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torikama landing with the ground and pound.
Torikama throwing strikes but missing.
Kassab has Torikama pulled in close to control his posture.
Torikama chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kassab is on top in guard.

Torikama has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kassab can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Torikama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kassab's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kassab trying to control the position.
Torikama throws a strike but Kassab rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Torikama looking for a sweep. Not yet Torikama, not yet.
Kassab lands a couple of digs.
Torikama is trying to control the position but Kassab postures up.
Torikama has control of Kassab's left arm, preventing Kassab from doing any damage.
Kassab throws a strike but Torikama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Torikama with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Torikama's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Torikama wants to control from the top but Kassab keeps moving.
Kassab has momentary wrist control but Torikama slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiry Torikama 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.

Torikama gets a double leg takedown into Kassab's guard.
Kassab 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.
Torikama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Torikama is pushing down on Kassab's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kassab is fighting to maintain full guard but Torikama has managed to sneak the leg through.
Torikama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Torikama lands with a punch from half guard.
Nice strikes from Torikama there.
Torikama is stalling here. Kassab is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Torikama seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kassab has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kassab lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kassab cracks Torikama with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Torikama tries to bench press Kassab off him but Kassab keeps the position.
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!
Torikama holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torikama takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Torikama is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kassab's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Torikama wants to improve his position but Kassab is controlling well.
Kassab working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kassab scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kassab missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Torikama is looking to improve his position.
Torikama is trying to control but can't.
Kassab lands with a punch from half guard.
Torikama has hold of Kassab's hands but Kassab slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Kassab seems to be looking for submissions.
Torikama moves into full guard.
Kassab won't allow Torikama to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torikama lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Torikama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Torikama looking to sit in guard and control but Kassab gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kassab working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Torikama looking for a sweep. Not yet Torikama, not yet.
Kassab with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Torikama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kassab postures up in Torikama's guard and throws a big left but Torikama blocks it.
Torikama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kassab throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kassab content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Torikama working a defensive guard here.
Kassab chips away with some ground and pound.
Torikama 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.
Torikama lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kassab controls Torikama momentarily but Torikama frees himself.
Kassab tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Torikama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kassab looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kassab bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Torikama's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torikama trying to control the position.
Kassab connects with a couple of short punches.
Kassab throws a big elbow that misses.
Kassab trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Torikama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kassab has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Torikama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Torikama is trying to control the action in half guard but Kassab is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kassab is looking for a sweep. Torikama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Torikama passes to full mount!
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!
Torikama sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Walood Kassab will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Torikama gets a double leg takedown into Kassab's guard.
Torikama is working Kassab over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Torikama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kassab is keeping the position for now.
Kassab lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kassab throws a big right hand that misses.
Torikama has momentary wrist control but Kassab slips an elbow through the middle.
Torikama trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kassab throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Torikama preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kassab landing some decent shots from guard.
Torikama trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassab missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kassab makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kassab makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Torikama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Torikama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kassab taking some punishment here, with Torikama in his half guard.
Torikama is keen to just control but Kassab is a slippery customer.
Torikama thows a huge punch but Kassab dodges it nicely.

Torikama is working for a submission of some sort.
Yoshiry Torikama has got the better of the ground game so far.

Torikama is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kassab defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torikama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Torikama is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kassab doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Torikama.
Kassab taking some punishment here, with Torikama in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torikama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Torikama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kassab manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Torikama preventing the sweep.
Torikama trying to control but Kassab is working from the bottom.
Torikama preventing the sweep.
Torikama throws an elbow that misses. Kassab uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Torikama's guard. Nice move by Kassab!

Torikama wants to sweep but no luck.
Kassab throws a strike but Torikama rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kassab working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Torikama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torikama is looking to pass into half guard but Kassab pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kassab is in guard.

Kassab postures up.
Kassab scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kassab is fighting to break Torikama's control of his arms but Torikama is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kassab advances position into side control!
Torikama manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kassab's best efforts.
Kassab landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Torikama is trying to maintain the position but Kassab is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Torikama moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Torikama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Torikama looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Walood Kassab.
I think Kassab has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!