PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raijin Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideo Tokoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kage comes to the cage accompanied by Ride the Lightning. Tokoro has chosen Boomtastic as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kage
vs
Tokoro

165 cm
36
162 lbs
24 - 16 - 1

171 cm
43
154 lbs
28 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raijin Kage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hideo Tokoro!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokoro scores with a nice right hand.
Kage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kage closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tokoro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Kage scores with a nice short uppercut.

It looks like Hideo Tokoro has been cut.
Tokoro is looking for a takedown.
Tokoro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kage's elbow.

Kage tightens his grip and picks Tokoro up, before dumping him to the ground. Tokoro manages to land in guard.
Kage stopping the sweep attempt from Tokoro.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kage is working Tokoro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kage working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kage trying to control but Tokoro is working from the bottom.
Tokoro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kage postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Kage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tokoro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kage has managed to get both his arms back between Tokoro's legs - danger averted.
Kage postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Tokoro working for a triangle but Kage defends it easily.
Kage makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kage working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tokoro's head.

Tokoro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kage pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tokoro is keeping the position for now.
Kage passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kage in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tokoro taking a bit of punishment here - Kage scoring with strikes.
Kage connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tokoro some visible discomfort.
Kage lands some shots froms side control.
Tokoro taking a bit of punishment here - Kage scoring with strikes.
Tokoro is trying to improve his position.
Kage is working Tokoro over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kage cracks Tokoro with a big right hand but Tokoro just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Kage tries for a kimura but Tokoro is defending well.
Tokoro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tokoro takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kage working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kage cracks Tokoro with a big elbow.
Tokoro tries to improve position but can't.

Kage working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kage scores with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hideo Tokoro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kage missing with a left hand there. Tokoro was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tokoro tries to close the distance and clinch but Kage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kage closes the distance and clinches.

Tokoro tightens his grip and picks Kage up, before dumping him to the ground. Kage manages to land in guard.
Kage managing to control the position.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Tokoro from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokoro looking to pass the guard.
Kage is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Tokoro from controlling successfully.
Kage is controlling Tokoro's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kage connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Kage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kage is working for takedown but Tokoro is calmly controlling the position for now.
A short right from Kage.
Kage misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tokoro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tokoro is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kage lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kage wants to take a breather but Tokoro is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro wants to improve his position but Kage is controlling well.
Tokoro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kage scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kage takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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!
Kage trying to control the action but Tokoro is working from the bottom.
Tokoro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kage working over Tokoro with some ground and pound. Tokoro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kage winds up and cracks Tokoro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kage 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.
Kage is looking to pass Tokoro's guard but actually Tokoro recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro controls Kage momentarily but Kage frees himself.
Tokoro keeping full guard, as Kage tries to pass.
Tokoro seems keen to control Kage's posture.
Tokoro keeping full guard, as Kage tries to pass.
Kage postures up and lands a big shot to Tokoro's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tokoro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kage postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tokoro keeping moving, preventing Kage from controlling successfully.
Kage scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kage throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tokoro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kage stopping the sweep attempt from Tokoro.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hideo Tokoro's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kage has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kage.
Tokoro softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kage.

Tokoro has picked Kage up - he's going for a ride! Tokoro dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kage is trying to control but Tokoro passes into side control!
Tokoro tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kage gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage gets full guard.
Tokoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Kage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tokoro can do to turn this around?
Kage landing some decent shots from guard.
Tokoro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kage scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kage is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Tokoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tokoro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kage manages to get himself to full guard.

Hideo Tokoro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kage manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tokoro manages to get himself to full guard.

Tokoro keeping full guard, as Kage tries to pass.
Tokoro being controlled here, momentarily.
Kage distracts Tokoro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tokoro trying to control the position.

Tokoro working for submissions but it's allowed Kage to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage wants to take a breather but Tokoro is having none of it.
Tokoro trying to control but Kage postures up.
Raijin Kage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tokoro is staying active underneath Kage, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tokoro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tokoro tries to roll over but Kage keeps him under control.

Kage maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Tokoro could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Kage has cracked it and Tokoro is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Kage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Raijin Kage!
A very excited looking Raijin Kage made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.