PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yrjoe Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muraki Tunamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velmu comes into the arena with Andrea Bocelli - Por ti volare blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Velmu
vs
Tunamoto

192 cm
33
200 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

180 cm
39
194 lbs
33 - 30 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yrjoe Velmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 30 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Muraki Tunamoto!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tunamoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Yrjoe Velmu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velmu throws a head kick that misses.
A leg kick checked by Tunamoto.
Velmu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Velmu lunges at Tunamoto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tunamoto's hand.
Velmu thows a left - swing and a miss!

Tunamoto pushes Velmu up against the cage in a clinch.
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Tunamoto is blocking nicely.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Tunamoto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Velmu or not.
Tunamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu prevents a body shot from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto is looking to control Velmu's arms but Velmu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tunamoto has his back to the cage.
Velmu prevents a body shot from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto wants to break free but Velmu has control.
Tunamoto misses with a punch on the inside.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tunamoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tunamoto pushes Velmu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Tunamoto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Tunamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Tunamoto.
Velmu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velmu misses with a double jab
and Tunamoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Velmu takes one on the button.
Tunamoto scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Velmu misses with a looping left.
Tunamoto thuds a left hand into Velmu's body.

Tunamoto clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks it.
Tunamoto lands a good knee to the midsection. Velmu won't want to take too many of those.
We've been informed that Tunamoto has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Tunamoto lands a body shot in the clinch.
Tunamoto misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu trying to land knees to the body.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks with his arms.
Velmu tries to land knees in the clinch but Tunamoto avoids the damage to the body.
Tunamoto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Velmu is breathing heavily.
Tunamoto managing to block the knees to the body from Velmu.

Tunamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Velmu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Tunamoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Velmu, pushing him back against the cage.
Tunamoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tunamoto presses Velmu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tunamoto lands with a left to the head.
Tunamoto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velmu's elbow.
Nice elbow from Tunamoto.

It looks like Yrjoe Velmu has been cut.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tunamoto connects with a solid leg kick.
Tunamoto tries to land a front kick but Velmu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tunamoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Velmu tries to clinch but Tunamoto moves out of range.
Tunamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Velmu.
Velmu takes a kick to the side of the head.
Velmu misses the shot to the body.
Tunamoto looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Velmu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Tunamoto moves into the clinch.
Tunamoto lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tunamoto controlling the action here for a moment.
Tunamoto digs a right hand underneath Velmu's ribcage. Velmu let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Tunamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velmu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Velmu cracks Tunamoto with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tunamoto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Velmu's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tunamoto lands with an overhand left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tunamoto moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Velmu takes one to the chin there.

Yrjoe Velmu's cut is getting worse.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Velmu has Tunamoto pressed against the cage, preventing Tunamoto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tunamoto landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tunamoto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Velmu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Tunamoto breaks from the clinch.
Velmu doesn't manage to clinch there - Tunamoto circles away.
Tunamoto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Tunamoto clinches.
Tunamoto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch.
Tunamoto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Velmu throws a head kick that misses.

Velmu gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muraki Tunamoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yrjoe Velmu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Velmu looks to land a left hand but Tunamoto moved out of range nicely.
Velmu lands a high kick!
Velmu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velmu has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Velmu scores with a shot to the body.
Yrjoe Velmu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velmu looks to land a right hand but Tunamoto moved out of range.
Tunamoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Velmu 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.
Tunamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Velmu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tunamoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Velmu.
Velmu with a jab.

Tunamoto has closed the distance and engaged Velmu in a clinch.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tunamoto avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tunamoto manages to break the clinch.
Tunamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Velmu.
Velmu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velmu throws a looping overhand right but Tunamoto ducks down to avoid it.
Velmu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tunamoto takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Tunamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tunamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velmu landing knees to the head.
Tunamoto lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tunamoto presses Velmu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Muraki Tunamoto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tunamoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tunamoto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tunamoto scores with a shot to the side of Velmu's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tunamoto blocks it with crossed arms.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Tunamoto.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice cross by Velmu.
Tunamoto lands a head kick. Velmu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Tunamoto moves into the clinch.
Tunamoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tunamoto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Velmu blocks an elbow strike.
Tunamoto can't find room to land a body shot as Velmu controls the action.
Tunamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Velmu controls his hands.
Tunamoto struggles to land a body shot inside as Velmu controls his hands.
Tunamoto presses Velmu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks with his arms.
Tunamoto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tunamoto scores with a hook to the body.
Tunamoto tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto tries to throw a body punch but Velmu avoids it by throwing Tunamoto back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tunamoto.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tunamoto avoids it.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Velmu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tunamoto can pounce on him.
Velmu misses with a body kick.
Velmu tries to clinch up
and Tunamoto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Muraki Tunamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Tunamoto moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tunamoto tries to throw a body punch but Velmu avoids it by throwing Tunamoto back against the cage.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tunamoto can't find room to land a body shot as Velmu controls the action.
Tunamoto lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks it.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tunamoto tries to work over Velmu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Velmu blocks the elbow strike.
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Tunamoto is blocking nicely.
Velmu tries to land knees in the clinch but Tunamoto avoids the damage to the body.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu missing with knees to the body.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tunamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Tunamoto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velmu is keeping busy.
Tunamoto misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muraki Tunamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yrjoe Velmu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Velmu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velmu thows a left - swing and a miss!
It seemed like Tunamoto was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Velmu closes the distance but Tunamoto moves to the side
and Tunamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Tunamoto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Velmu throws out the jab.
Velmu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Tunamoto has managed to clinch.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks it.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Tunamoto.
Velmu prevents a body shot from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Velmu's defenses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velmu missing with knees to the body.
Tunamoto is stalling here.
Tunamoto slowing the pace effectively.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tunamoto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tunamoto takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tunamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Tunamoto lands with a light punch inside.

Yrjoe Velmu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tunamoto throws a chopping leg kick but Velmu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Velmu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tunamoto connects with the punch.
Nice shot lands for Velmu.
A nice leg kick lands there from Velmu.
Nice body kick there by Velmu.
Tunamoto throws a head kick but Velmu moves out of range.

Velmu gets tackled into the cage by Tunamoto. Tunamoto maintains the clinch.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tunamoto misses with a punch to the body.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Tunamoto blocks with his arms.
Tunamoto tries to land knees in the clinch but Velmu avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tunamoto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Velmu's brow.
Velmu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tunamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tunamoto blocks it with crossed arms.

Tunamoto breaks from the clinch.
Tunamoto works the jab nicely.

Jeez, Yrjoe Velmu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Velmu cracks Tunamoto with a good jab.
Yrjoe Velmu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A low kick from Velmu misses
and Tunamoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tunamoto slips under a jab from Velmu.
Velmu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Tunamoto's head.
Velmu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tunamoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Velmu swings for the body but Tunamoto moves out of range.

Tunamoto instigates a clinch.

Tunamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Velmu tries to keep at a distance but Tunamoto has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tunamoto misses with a punch to the body.
Nice body punch from Tunamoto.
Tunamoto with a knee to the head.
Tunamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velmu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tunamoto pushes Velmu back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Muraki Tunamoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tunamoto lands a nice knee to the body.
Tunamoto lands an elbow inside that Velmu shrugs off.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Yrjoe Velmu's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Muraki Tunamoto!
Muraki Tunamoto made sure to mention his sponsor, GREEN!160 in his post fight interview.