PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Lee (ranked 4079 p4p, 5957 weight class) and Genji Kyoshi (ranked 377 p4p, 447 weight class). Lee's entrance music is Big Poppa. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lee
vs
Kyoshi

185 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Genji Kyoshi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee shoots in looking for a takedown but Kyoshi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lee's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kyoshi replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Lee blocks it well.
Lee shoots in but no luck this time.
Lee really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lee.
Kyoshi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lee's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kyoshi is trying to stand up here but Lee is controlling him well.
Lee keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Lee has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kyoshi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lee's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lee's back!
Kyoshi wants to control but Lee is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I really don't envy Lee right now.
A lull in the action here.
Kyoshi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lee tries to break free.
Lee looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kyoshi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee is in bad spot here.
Lee is trying to stand back up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kyoshi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Kyoshi controlling well, preventing Lee from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Lee is trying to get back to full guard.
Kyoshi is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lee desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kyoshi prevents Lee from improving his position.
Kyoshi prevents Lee from standing back up.

Kyoshi decides to stand and escape the position.

Lee pushes Kyoshi up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee pulls guard successfully.
Lee trying to control the position.
Kyoshi trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Kyoshi tries to stand but Lee is controlling from the bottom.
Kyoshi trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee wants to stand up but Kyoshi is controlling him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lee looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
We've been informed that Kyoshi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lee shoots in but no luck this time.
Lee looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lee closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Lee manages to break the clinch.
Lee shoots in and drives through. Kyoshi sprawls well.
Lee checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lee tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kyoshi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lee somewhat.
Lee is breathing heavily.
Lee chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kyoshi can pounce on him.

Lee closes the distance and pushes Kyoshi back into the ropes.

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

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lee with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kyoshi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lee fails with the takedown.
Kyoshi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Tommy Lee has been cut.
Lee has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kyoshi.
Kyoshi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lee. Lee circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good shot there by Kyoshi.

Lee scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kyoshi can't do much from the bottom here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kyoshi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Lee has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kyoshi can't do much from the bottom here.
Kyoshi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kyoshi is looking for a sweep.
Kyoshi can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lee moves out of range of the body kick.
Kyoshi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Kyoshi.

Kyoshi gets tackled into the ropes by Lee. Lee maintains the clinch.
Kyoshi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kyoshi is trying to break the clinch but Lee has him pressed against the ropes.
Kyoshi is trying to push Lee away but Lee has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kyoshi prevents the takedown attempt.

Lee lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kyoshi wants to control but Lee is keeping busy.
Kyoshi is trying to get back to full guard.
Lee is thwarting Kyoshi's attempts to control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kyoshi tries to get to full guard but Lee has control of the leg.
Kyoshi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kyoshi trying to control from the bottom.
Lee takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kyoshi tries to roll over but Lee keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kyoshi wants to control but Lee is keeping busy.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Genji Kyoshi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Lee's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lee shoots in for a double leg but Kyoshi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kyoshi connects with a leg kick.

Lee fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kyoshi sprawls well initially but Lee persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lee keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kyoshi wants to control but Lee is keeping busy.
Lee is controlling the pace.
Kyoshi is looking to escape.
Tommy Lee overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kyoshi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lee scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kyoshi holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee lands with a punch from half guard.
Kyoshi wants to improve his position but Lee is controlling well.
Well, if Lee is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kyoshi pushes Lee off looking to stand but Lee dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Lee has closed the distance and engaged Kyoshi in a clinch.
Kyoshi looking to stall.
Kyoshi wants to stall.
Kyoshi can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Lee throws an elbow but misses.

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

Lee decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kyoshi wants to get back to his feet.
Lee seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kyoshi is looking to control Lee's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kyoshi avoid being mounted?
Lee 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.
Lee trying to control the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Lee decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Lee gets the takedown into side control.
Kyoshi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kyoshi is looking to take a break and control but Lee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lee is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kyoshi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lee is controlling Kyoshi's trapped leg to prevent Kyoshi from advancing to side control.
Kyoshi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lee is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kyoshi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kyoshi's back!
Kyoshi looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Lee scores with punches from the back.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kyoshi wants to get back to his feet.

Kyoshi is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lee gets his way!
Lee connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Kyoshi to escape the position.
Lee controlling the position well here. Kyoshi rolled but Lee kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lee is hanging on to Kyoshi's back as he tries to escape.
Lee will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lee just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Kyoshi manages to reverse the position and now he's in Lee's guard. Nice work there by Kyoshi.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to stand but Kyoshi is controlling the position.
Lee looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kyoshi is one step ahead there.
Lee trying to keep a closed guard but Kyoshi is proving a slippery customer.
Kyoshi wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Kyoshi wants to stand but Lee is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kyoshi trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Kyoshi wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Kyoshi trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Lee on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lee tries to get out of the position.
Kyoshi is fighting to break Lee's control of his arms but Lee is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kyoshi as he jumps to the side.
Kyoshi stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Lee. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kyoshi scores with a kick to the midsection.
Lee moves out of range of the body kick.
Genji Kyoshi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kyoshi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lee takes a step back to recover.
Kyoshi throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Kyoshi connects with a solid leg kick.
Lee shoots in but Kyoshi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kyoshi digs a good hook to Lee's body.
Kyoshi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kyoshi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Tommy Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lee on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tommy Lee.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Genji Kyoshi!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Genji Kyoshi!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Tommy Lee!

Genji Kyoshi wins by split decision!
Tommy Lee was interviewed post fight and said 'Props to the man, he was just better than me.'.