PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 2548 p4p, 351 weight class) and Robert Kortig (ranked 3787 p4p, 466 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tsuruta
vs
Kortig

192 cm
21
209 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Kortig !
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kortig moves out of range of the strikes.
Tsuruta just misses with a punch to the body.
Kortig tries to clinch there but Tsuruta circles away.
Kortig tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tsuruta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tsuruta throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kortig sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Kortig gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tsuruta manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tsuruta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kortig 's guard.

Tsuruta is in close to Kortig 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsuruta trying to control but Kortig is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kortig can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tsuruta throwing strikes from guard but Kortig blocks nicely.
Tsuruta postures up in Kortig 's guard and throws a big left but Kortig blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta postures up in Kortig 's guard and throws a big left but Kortig blocks it.
Tsuruta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kortig is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kortig is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kortig utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tsuruta throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tsuruta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tsuruta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tsuruta throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta postures up in Kortig 's guard and throws a big left but Kortig blocks it.
Tsuruta advances to half guard.
Tsuruta working the head and body with strikes.
Tsuruta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tsuruta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tsuruta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kortig 's head.
Kortig avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tsuruta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tsuruta content to control rather than advance.
Kortig has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Tsuruta is pressing down on Kortig 's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kortig is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta throwing shots but Kortig is blocking nicely.
Kortig avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tsuruta.
Kortig trying to control here.
Tsuruta not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tsuruta is nestled in close to Kortig , controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tsuruta thows a huge punch but Kortig dodges it nicely.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kortig 's head.
Tsuruta thows a huge punch but Kortig dodges it nicely.
Tsuruta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta trying to mount his opponent but Kortig defends it.
Tsuruta 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.
Tsuruta thows a huge punch but Kortig dodges it nicely.
Kortig won't allow Tsuruta to pass to mount.
Kortig is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tsuruta scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tsuruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tsuruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kortig keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tsuruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tsuruta throwing shots but Kortig is blocking nicely.
Tsuruta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsuruta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kortig wants to clinch up but Tsuruta keeps it at a distance.
Tsuruta jabs at Kortig 's body.
Kortig doesn't manage to clinch there - Tsuruta circles away.
Kortig tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tsuruta paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tsuruta misses with a straight left.

Kortig shoots in and gets a takedown into Tsuruta's guard.
Tsuruta will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tsuruta lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tomomisan Tsuruta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tsuruta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tsuruta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kortig can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta throws an elbow that misses. Kortig uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tsuruta's guard. Nice move by Kortig !

Tsuruta lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta is looking to work some ground and pound but Kortig has wrist control.
Kortig really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tsuruta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tsuruta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tsuruta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tsuruta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kortig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Kortig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tsuruta throwing strikes from guard but Kortig blocks nicely.
Tsuruta with a nice head shot there.
Tsuruta cracks Kortig with a solid left hand.
Kortig keeping full guard, as Tsuruta tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta is looking to work some ground and pound but Kortig has wrist control.
Tsuruta stands up over Kortig , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tsuruta wants to control from the top but Kortig keeps moving.
Tsuruta works over Kortig with some ground and pound from guard.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta passes into half guard.
Tsuruta not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tsuruta is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tsuruta lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kortig is refusing to be controlled, as Tsuruta sits in half guard.
Tsuruta drops an elbow to the side of Kortig 's head.
Tsuruta is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Tsuruta throwing strikes here but Kortig is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tsuruta is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kortig can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tsuruta is landing with some decent strikes but Kortig is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tsuruta lands a nice shot to the head.

Kortig is rocked!
Tsuruta postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Kortig badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Tsuruta around the waist but Tsuruta pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Tsuruta is the winner by TKO! Tsuruta jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tomomisan Tsuruta!