PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naoyuki Tokudome (ranked 2005 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 4678 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tsyuoshi Taranaki was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tokudome
vs
Taranaki

180 cm
25
142 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Naoyuki Tokudome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taranaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tokudome.
Tokudome tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taranaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taranaki tries to clinch up.
Taranaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tokudome.
Taranaki wants to counter the offense by Tokudome and move into the clinch position.
Tokudome plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Some wild striking there from Taranaki.
Tokudome shoots in and drives through. Taranaki sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoyuki Tokudome. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tokudome.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Taranaki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taranaki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tokudome tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.
Tokudome gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taranaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokudome is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Taranaki to keep the fight standing.
Taranaki stops a takedown attempt from Tokudome.
Taranaki lands a nice shot to the body.
Taranaki is trying to drag Tokudome to the mat but Tokudome just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tokudome tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Taranaki avoids it.
Tokudome wants to take the fight to the mat but Taranaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Taranaki breaks the clinch.
Taranaki lands a slapping body shot.
Tokudome misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown but Tokudome shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Taranaki moves into the clinch successfully.
Taranaki dodges an elbow strike from Tokudome.
Taranaki is pushing Tokudome up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Taranaki looking for a takedown.

Taranaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Taranaki forces Tokudome back against the cage and clinches.
Tokudome wants a takedown.

Taranaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taranaki fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taranaki.
Tokudome throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Taranaki's waist but Taranaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tokudome off to one side.
Taranaki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tokudome's waist but Tokudome gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Taranaki off to one side.
Good leg kick by Tokudome there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tokudome swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taranaki shoots in but Tokudome avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Taranaki gets caught flat footed, as Tokudome shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Taranaki looking to control but Tokudome passes into half guard.
Tokudome thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taranaki's head.
Tokudome really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tokudome not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tokudome 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.
Tokudome trying to control the pace.
Taranaki trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Tokudome manages to pass to mount!
Tokudome lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tokudome wants to control the pace but Taranaki is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Naoyuki Tokudome 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.

Taranaki avoids the head kick by Tokudome.
Taranaki goes for a double leg but Tokudome avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tokudome continues to drive forward.
Tokudome shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taranaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tokudome.
Tokudome has his takedown stuffed
and Taranaki counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoyuki Tokudome. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taranaki shoots in looking for a takedown but Tokudome manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taranaki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Taranaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokudome shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taranaki counters with a right hand to the body.
Tokudome tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Taranaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tokudome.
Tokudome misses with a takedown attempt

and Taranaki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Taranaki manages to break the clinch.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Taranaki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Taranaki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Taranaki throws a series of punches but Tokudome avoids them all with ease.
Tokudome tries for a takedown but Taranaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Taranaki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Taranaki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taranaki wants it to stay on the feet.

Taranaki rushes Tokudome and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tokudome fails to pull guard.

Taranaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taranaki takes the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Taranaki is trying to pull guard but Tokudome has him pressed against the cage.
Taranaki landing knees to the body.
Taranaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tokudome avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tokudome wants to take the fight to the mat but Taranaki manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Taranaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown but Tokudome shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Taranaki looks to move away, Tokudome throws a big counter combo but Taranaki just gets out of the way.
Taranaki tries to clinch but Tokudome is having none of it.
Tokudome throws a hook but Taranaki avoids it easily.
Taranaki feints the counter takedown.
Tokudome is looking to clinch but Taranaki is avoiding it.
Tokudome tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taranaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Naoyuki Tokudome is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tokudome throws a right hand that Taranaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Taranaki also avoids with ease.

Tokudome moves into range and clinches up with Taranaki.
Come on Taranaki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tokudome tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.
Tokudome letting Taranaki take a breather here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Taranaki takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Taranaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taranaki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Taranaki with that takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Tokudome misses its target.
Nice sprawl there from Tokudome as Taranaki shoots in.
Taranaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Tokudome tries to sprawl out of it but Taranaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tokudome manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Tokudome feints and as Taranaki raises his hands in defense, Tokudome changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tokudome sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tokudome wants to control from the top but Taranaki keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Taranaki has Tokudome up against the cage in a clinch.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Taranaki manages to break the clinch.
Taranaki tries to clinch up.
The crowd cheers as Taranaki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tokudome doesn't seem phased though.
Tokudome fails to land with a series of punches.
Tokudome misses with a head kick.
Tokudome misses with an uppercut
and Taranaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokudome shoots in for a double leg but Taranaki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Taranaki scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tokudome just misses with a punch to the body.

Taranaki clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokudome has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taranaki prevents Tokudome from breaking the clinch.
Taranaki taking a breather.
Tokudome jumps guard but Taranaki stands there with Tokudome around his waist. Tokudome gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Taranaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tokudome.
Taranaki fails to pull guard.
Taranaki is pressed up against the cage. Tokudome has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Taranaki down to the mat. Taranaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Naoyuki Tokudome. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tokudome misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tokudome stuffs the takedown attempt from Taranaki. Taranaki gets slowly back to his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Tokudome misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Taranaki with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tokudome holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Taranaki is struggling to control the position.
Taranaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tokudome walks away with a smile on his face. Taranaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Taranaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tokudome swivels and escapes.
Taranaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tokudome keeps the fight on the outside.
Tokudome looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taranaki is fending him off so far but Tokudome persists. Nope, Taranaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Tokudome tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Taranaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tokudome moves out of range as Taranaki throws a body kick.
Tokudome fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tokudome misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taranaki stops a takedown attempt from Tokudome.

Taranaki successfully pulls guard.
Taranaki trying to keep a closed guard but Tokudome is proving a slippery customer.

Taranaki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tokudome has picked Taranaki up and slammed him! Taranaki can't keep hold of the triangle and Tokudome manages to pass to side control!

Tokudome looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taranaki bucks up and tries to throw Tokudome off but instead Tokudome has got his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taranaki is holding on to Tokudome 's glove but Tokudome gets free and slips his arm under Taranaki 's chin. This could be big trouble! Yes, Taranaki is tapping furiously and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Naoyuki Tokudome!