PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 1367 p4p, 1726 weight class) and James McGuire (ranked 185 p4p, 225 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McGuire's choice of entrance music: Metallica - Enter Sandman . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tsuruta
vs
McGuire

192 cm
30
209
15 - 9 - 1

192 cm
36
210
21 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Tomomisan Tsuruta has been cut.
Donk. Tsuruta catches McGuire right on the button with a cross.
McGuire looks to throw a body kick

and Tsuruta counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tsuruta.

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

McGuire looking for a guillotine here but Tsuruta defends easily.
Tsuruta throws a big elbow that misses.
Tsuruta landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McGuire escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tsuruta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tsuruta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to control from the top but McGuire keeps moving.
We've been hearing that Tsuruta has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Tsuruta is working McGuire over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tsuruta lands a couple of digs.
Tsuruta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

McGuire working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tsuruta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tsuruta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tsuruta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McGuire keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Tsuruta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGuire's head.

McGuire had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tsuruta defends it easily.
Tsuruta chips away with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta connects with a couple of short punches.

McGuire looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tsuruta trying to control but McGuire is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire wants to sweep but no luck.

Tsuruta got a little sloppy there for a moment and McGuire has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tsuruta has managed to get both his arms back between McGuire's legs - danger averted.
Tsuruta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tsuruta is in close to McGuire's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but McGuire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGuire being controlled here, momentarily.
Tsuruta is standing up over McGuire. McGuire looks to escape but Tsuruta dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGuire on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
McGuire is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsuruta landing a few strikes.
McGuire is looking for a sweep.
McGuire is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta working the ground and pound from side control.
McGuire is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tsuruta lands some shots froms side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomisan Tsuruta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tsuruta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tsuruta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McGuire swivels and escapes.

Tsuruta throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. McGuire was covering up waiting for the punch and Tsuruta finishes the takedown easily into guard.

McGuire looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tsuruta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tomomisan Tsuruta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McGuire keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Tsuruta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

The fighters are working up against the cage. McGuire manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Tsuruta swings wildly with an uppercut but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGuire has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Tsuruta is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta prevents a body shot from McGuire.
McGuire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tsuruta makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tsuruta on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tsuruta goes for a takedown attempt but McGuire pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McGuire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta avoids the head kick by McGuire.
McGuire throws a body punch but Tsuruta moves out of range.
McGuire lands a nice looking body shot.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tsuruta manages to avoid it.
Tsuruta digs a good body shot into McGuire's ribs.
Tsuruta lands a lovely overhand right.
Tsuruta fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomomisan Tsuruta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tsuruta connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between McGuire's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Tsuruta.
McGuire slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
James McGuire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsuruta staying out of range there.
Tsuruta jabs McGuire to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tsuruta wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McGuire tries a head kick but it misses.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tsuruta rather than just go for the knockout.
Tsuruta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McGuire.
Tsuruta wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tsuruta looks for a takedown but McGuire sprawls well.
McGuire fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tsuruta manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from McGuire.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGuire clinches up with Tsuruta and pushes him back against the cage.
Tsuruta stops a takedown attempt from McGuire.

McGuire gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
McGuire stopping the sweep attempt from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta controlling McGuire's posture.
Tsuruta manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McGuire manages to get himself to full guard.

Tsuruta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGuire's head.
Tsuruta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
McGuire lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McGuire trying to control but Tsuruta is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tsuruta wants to sweep here but McGuire controlling him for the moment.
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 wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tsuruta lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McGuire is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tsuruta defends well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James McGuire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tomomisan Tsuruta's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from McGuire. Those never looked like landing.
Tsuruta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tsuruta moves out of range as McGuire strikes.

Tsuruta throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. McGuire was covering up waiting for the punch and Tsuruta finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tsuruta is in close to McGuire's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tsuruta is pushing down on McGuire's leg trying to pass to half guard. McGuire is fighting to maintain full guard but Tsuruta has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tsuruta wants to lay and pray for a moment but McGuire keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta content to control rather than advance.
Tsuruta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

McGuire actively working from the bottom here.

McGuire is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tsuruta pulls his head out easily.
Tsuruta wants to take a breather but McGuire is having none of it.
McGuire trying to control but Tsuruta postures up.

McGuire looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tsuruta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGuire actively working from the bottom here.
McGuire is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGuire has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McGuire pushes Tsuruta off looking to stand but Tsuruta dives back in and keeps control.
Tsuruta working over McGuire with some ground and pound. McGuire looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tsuruta is nestled in close to McGuire, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGuire looking for submissions off his back.
McGuire has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tsuruta is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

McGuire looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

McGuire looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tsuruta controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tsuruta working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
McGuire on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta working over McGuire with some ground and pound. McGuire looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tsuruta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tsuruta lands a nice short elbow.
Tsuruta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGuire looks like he's trying to stand up.
McGuire tries to roll over but Tsuruta keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomomisan Tsuruta showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tsuruta 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomomisan Tsuruta!
Tomomisan Tsuruta really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Voodoo Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.