PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taiga Toriyama (ranked 3850 p4p, 393 weight class) and Billy Batts (ranked 4006 p4p, 405 weight class). Toriyama kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Japan National Anthem. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Billy Batts enters the cage!

Toriyama
vs
Batts

180 cm
21
174 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
28
175 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Bee Krazy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taiga Toriyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Batts!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batts tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Toriyama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Batts tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Toriyama manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Batts closes the distance and pushes Toriyama back into the cage.

Toriyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Batts is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Batts darts in and clinches Toriyama up against the cage.
Batts prevents Toriyama from breaking the clinch.

Toriyama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Batts slips a jab and a cross from Toriyama.

Batts gets a clinch.
Toriyama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Batts stalling in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Toriyama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Batts fails in his attempt to clinch.
Batts tries to clinch up but Toriyama circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Toriyama as he connects with a hook.
Batts is looking to clinch but Toriyama is avoiding it.

Batts moves into range and clinches up with Toriyama.
Batts lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batts tries to stall but Toriyama uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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

Batts gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batts tries to land knees in the clinch but Toriyama avoids the damage to the body.

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

Toriyama fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Batts, pushing him back against the cage.

Toriyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Toriyama misses with a jab, cross combination.

Batts moves into the clinch successfully.

Batts breaks the clinch.
Toriyama paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Batts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Batts moves in looking to clinch but Toriyama pushes him off.
Toriyama misses with a looping left.

Toriyama gets tackled into the cage by Batts. Batts maintains the clinch.

Batts pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice straight punches there by Toriyama. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Toriyama.

It looks like Billy Batts has been cut.

Toriyama forces Batts back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Toriyama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Toriyama gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Toriyama manages to break the clinch.

Batts clinches up with Toriyama and pushes him back against the cage.

Toriyama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Batts fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Batts fails with an attempt to clinch.
As Batts looks to move away, Toriyama throws a big counter combo but Batts just gets out of the way.

Batts has closed the distance and engaged Toriyama in a clinch.
Come on Batts - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Batts is trying to force a seperation but Toriyama has the dominant position.
Batts content to slow the pace in the clinch.

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

Batts gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Batts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Batts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toriyama paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Batts clinches up with Toriyama and pushes him back against the cage.

Toriyama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Toriyama circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Batts drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Toriyama follows Batts to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taiga Toriyama!
During a confident post fight interview, Taiga Toriyama thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.