PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Noe Jensen (ranked 25268 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Taru (ranked 5993 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Jensen
vs
Taru

194 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Noe Jensen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsu Taru!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jensen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taru is trying to maintain the position but Jensen is very close to passing his half guard.
Taru tries to get to full guard but Jensen has control of the leg.
Jensen winds up and cracks Taru with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Taru is looking for a sweep. Jensen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jensen drops an elbow to the side of Taru's head.
Taru tries to get to full guard but Jensen has control of the leg.
Jensen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jensen winds up and cracks Taru with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taru taking some punishment here, with Jensen in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Taru is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jensen pulls his head out easily.
Jensen tries to stand and escape but Taru is controlling the position.
Jensen 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taru tries to get to full guard but Jensen has control of the leg.
Jensen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jensen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Jensen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Taru to get to his feet.
Jensen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taru throws a combination that misses

and Jensen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Taru is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jensen pulls his head out easily.
Taru really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jensen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jensen lands with a punch from half guard.
Jensen stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jensen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jensen is taking a breather. Taru says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Taru is staying active underneath Jensen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jensen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jensen connects with a nice short shot to Taru's temple.
Jensen lands strikes from half guard.
Jensen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Jensen there.
Jensen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jensen in particular looking to stall.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jensen connects with a nice short shot to Taru's temple.
Jensen working Taru over with strikes.
Jensen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Jensen decides to return to a standing position.
Katsu Taru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jensen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taru.
Taru looks winded!
Taru doesn't manage to clinch there - Jensen circles away.
As Taru tries to get set, Jensen tries to push him back and clinch up but Taru manages to avoid the attempt.

Jensen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taru sprawls well initially but Jensen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Taru tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Jensen manages to move to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jensen dominating with strikes here.
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!
Jensen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jensen content just to control the position here.
Taru is squirming around, avoiding Jensen's attempts to control the action.
Jensen cracks Taru with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jensen lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noe Jensen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jensen goes for a double leg but Taru avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taru continues to drive forward.
Taru tries to counter with a clinch but Jensen shakes him off and moves away.
Taru shoots in for a takedown but Jensen shows good takedown defense.

Taru 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.
Taru throws a big elbow that misses.

Jensen has his foot on Taru's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taru works his way back into a safe position though.
Jensen throws a couple of heel strikes.
Jensen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Taru's guard.

Taru is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jensen trying to control but Taru is working from the bottom.
Jensen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jensen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jensen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jensen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jensen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Jensen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Jensen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jensen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Taru has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jensen has passed into side control.
Taru is trying to improve his position.
Taru is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jensen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Taru misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Taru tries to sprawl but Jensen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Jensen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jensen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taru is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jensen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Taru wants to get back to full guard.
Jensen working the head and body with strikes.
Jensen is looking to take a break and control but Taru is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jensen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taru can do to turn this around?
Jensen lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Jensen.
Jensen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taru does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jensen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jensen winds up and cracks Taru with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jensen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Taru on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jensen is controlling the pace.
Taru is trying to get back to full guard.
Jensen slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jensen lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noe Jensen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.

Taru tries to clinch but Jensen moves out of range.
Taru throws a left and a right that both miss

and Jensen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jensen drops an elbow to the side of Taru's head.
Jensen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Taru is looking to improve his position.
Jensen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taru wants to get back to full guard.
Taru is not content to let Jensen control the position.
Jensen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jensen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jensen is thwarting Taru's attempts to control the position.
Taru takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jensen trying to control the action but Taru is working from the bottom.
Jensen winds up and cracks Taru with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jensen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Jensen slips a nice elbow through Taru's hands, connecting with Taru's forehead.
Jensen slips a nice elbow through Taru's hands, connecting with Taru's forehead.
Jensen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Jensen is nestled in close to Taru, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jensen is controlling the pace.
Jensen working Taru over with strikes.
Taru taking some punishment here, with Jensen in his half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Taru can do anything to dispel that myth.
Taru tries to roll over but Jensen keeps him under control.
Jensen wants to stand but Taru has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Noe Jensen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Jensen there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taru on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jensen working over Taru with some ground and pound. Taru looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jensen tries to stand and escape but Taru is controlling the position.
Jensen lands with a punch from half guard.
Taru is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jensen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jensen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Taru has hold of Jensen's hands but Jensen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jensen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Taru.
Jensen trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taru has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jensen is working away from the top position though.
Nice strikes from Jensen there.
Ground and pound from Jensen.
Jensen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jensen lands a nice short elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jensen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Jensen working over Taru with some ground and pound. Taru looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noe Jensen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jensen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noe Jensen!