PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yi Dong (ranked 23476 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taru Misoka (ranked 8231 p4p, 0 weight class). Yi Dong has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dong
vs
Misoka

188 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

177 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yi Dong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taru Misoka!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dong forces Misoka back against the cage and clinches.

Dong turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dong manages to end up in side control.
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.
Misoka can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Misoka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dong.
Dong wants to lay and pray for a moment but Misoka keeps working.
Misoka wants to control but Dong postures up.

Dong thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Misoka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dong stands up and beckons Misoka to his feet.
Misoka lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong moves out of range of the body kick.
Misoka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Misoka misses with a body kick.
Misoka lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dong at a distance.
Misoka misses with a wild body shot.
Misoka cracks Dong with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Dong forces Misoka back against the cage and clinches.
Dong prevents Misoka from breaking the clinch.
Dong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Misoka tries a knee to the head but Dong blocks it.
Dong lands a nice elbow.
Misoka tries to work over Dong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Misoka lands an elbow inside that Dong shrugs off.

Misoka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Misoka.

Dong has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misoka's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
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!
Misoka fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Misoka jumps guard but Dong turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dong avoiding damage.
Misoka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Misoka jumps guard but Dong turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yi Dong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taru Misoka.
Misoka working Dong over with knees to the body.

Dong breaks the clinch.
Dong misses with the combination.
Taru Misoka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Misoka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dong's head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Dong!
Dong takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dong looking to score a takedown here. Misoka is defending well but Dong drives through and ends up in Misoka's guard.

Misoka has his foot on Dong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dong works his way back into a safe position though.
Misoka keeping moving, preventing Dong from controlling successfully.
Dong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Misoka swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Misoka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Misoka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dong is aware though and is defending well.
Dong is looking to stand up but Misoka won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong trying to control but Misoka is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Misoka is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Dong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Misoka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dong has managed to get both his arms back between Misoka's legs - danger averted.

Misoka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Misoka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Taru Misoka will probably get the nod.
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.

Misoka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dong but Dong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dong is looking to counter with head kicks.
Misoka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Misoka looks to throw the jab but Dong is out of range.
Dong leaves Misoka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dong fires out a quick counter leg kick but Misoka just manages to avoid it.
Misoka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Dong appears to be looking for a big counter.
Misoka tries to land a leg kick but Dong saw it coming and moves away.
Dong blocks a leg kick.

Dong instigates a clinch.
Misoka lands an elbow inside that Dong shrugs off.

It looks like Yi Dong has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dong throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Misoka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dong is in Misoka's guard.

Misoka is looking for a triangle but Dong pushes his legs off easily.
Dong passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong controlling the position from side mount.
The ground and pound from Dong seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Misoka struggling a bit here.
Misoka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Misoka is not content to let Dong control the position.
Misoka holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

Dong stands up and beckons Misoka to his feet.

Dong drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Misoka manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dong gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Misoka regains guard.
Misoka keeping moving, preventing Dong from controlling successfully.
Dong postures up in Misoka's guard and throws a big left but Misoka blocks it.

Misoka working for a triangle but Dong defends it easily.

Misoka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Misoka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Misoka is keeping the position for now.
Yi Dong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Misoka has control of Dong's left arm, preventing Dong from doing any damage.

Dong stands and steps away. Misoka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Misoka.
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 Yi Dong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yi Dong's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dong bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Misoka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Misoka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dong wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dong throws a strike aimed at the side of Misoka's head but Misoka avoids it well.
Dong creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Misoka sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Misoka struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dong controlling from side mount.
Dong throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misoka is trying to control Dong's posture but Dong avoids it.

Dong decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dong chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Misoka can pounce on him.

Dong closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Misoka did well to prevent Dong getting side control.
Misoka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Dong engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Misoka manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Dong ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dong no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Misoka postures up in Dong's guard and throws a big left but Dong blocks it.
Misoka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Misoka throws a strike but Dong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dong is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misoka looking to control.
Misoka keeping moving, preventing Dong from controlling successfully.

Misoka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Misoka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dong trying to control the position from guard on top but Misoka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Dong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Misoka wants to control but Dong passes easily into half guard.
Misoka wants to get back to full guard.
Dong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dong throwing shots but Misoka is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Misoka keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yi Dong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dong 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yi Dong!
In defeat, Taru Misoka stepped up to the mic, saying 'Oh well, better luck next time.'.