PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gaia Ky Jr (ranked 1240 p4p, 807 weight class) and Hiroki Tomori (ranked 69 p4p, 49 weight class). Hiroki Tomori acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ky Jr
vs
Tomori

180 cm
42
145
22 - 10 - 0

171 cm
33
142
23 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

Altitude Clothing
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gaia Ky Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hiroki Tomori!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tomori gets a clinch.
Ky Jr blocks the elbow strike.
A short right from Tomori on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tomori.
Ky Jr can't get the takedown.
Tomori lands with a left to the head.
We've been hearing reports that Ky Jr has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ky Jr avoiding damage as Tomori throws knees to the body.
Ky Jr really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ky Jr is working for takedown but Tomori is calmly controlling the position for now.

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

Tomori closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori controlling the action here for a moment.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaia Ky Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tomori working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Tomori.
Ky Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tomori misses with a hook to the ribs.

Tomori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ky Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tomori tries to avoid it but Ky Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tomori to the ground. Tomori escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hiroki Tomori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ky Jr throws a head kick that misses.

Tomori closes the distance and clinches.
Tomori prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tomori misses with some punches.

Tomori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tomori lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ky Jr backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tomori clinches up against the cage.
Tomori misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tomori tries to work over Ky Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Tomori lands a takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ky Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Ky Jr, not yet.
Tomori controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ky Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tomori in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tomori is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tomori pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ky Jr is keeping the position for now.
Ky Jr keeping moving, preventing Tomori from controlling successfully.
Ky Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ky Jr wants to take a breather but Tomori is having none of it.
Ky Jr prevents Tomori from improving his position.
Tomori slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ky Jr stays in close to Tomori's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ky Jr stops Tomori from standing up.
Tomori is trying to keep Ky Jr in close.
Ky Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tomori is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Tomori wants to stand but Ky Jr is controlling the position.
Ky Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ky Jr scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ky Jr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tomori keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Ky Jr lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hiroki Tomori dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tomori is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And Ky Jr counters with a quick kick to the body but Tomori blocks it.
Tomori tries to clinch but Ky Jr is having none of it.
Tomori tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ky Jr shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tomori is trying to defend but Ky Jr finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tomori is trying to stand.
Ky Jr slips a nice elbow through Tomori's hands, connecting with Tomori's forehead.
Ky Jr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tomori is trying to stand up here but Ky Jr is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ky Jr is trying to work for a kimura but Tomori is defending well.
Ky Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tomori tries to get to full guard but Ky Jr has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ky Jr connects with a nice short shot to Tomori's temple.
Tomori is looking to escape.
Ky Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tomori regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ky Jr trying to control but Tomori is working from the bottom.
Ky Jr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tomori has momentary wrist control but Ky Jr slips an elbow through the middle.
Ky Jr 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.
Tomori keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Tomori has momentary wrist control but Ky Jr slips an elbow through the middle.
Ky Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Tomori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tomori controls Ky Jr momentarily but Ky Jr frees himself.
Ky Jr postures up and lands a big shot to Tomori's brow.
Ky Jr stops Tomori from standing up.
Tomori looking to control.
Ky Jr won't allow Tomori to get back to his feet.
Tomori looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ky Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Tomori is retaining full guard.
Ky Jr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tomori works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tomori wants to stand but Ky Jr is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tomori has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Tomori is looking to clinch but Ky Jr is avoiding it.
Ky Jr went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tomori clinches up against the cage.
Tomori throws a head punch that misses.
Tomori misses with an elbow strike.
Tomori trying to stall but Ky Jr improves his position.
Hiroki Tomori seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tomori throws a punch but it's blocked by Ky Jr.
Tomori lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tomori prevents the takedown attempt.
Tomori lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ky Jr.
Tomori tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tomori digs a right hand underneath Ky Jr's ribcage. Ky Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ky Jr has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tomori after a bit of a struggle.
Ky Jr blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaia Ky Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tomori pushes Ky Jr back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tomori can't find room to land a body shot as Ky Jr controls the action.
Ky Jr avoids a wild elbow strike from Tomori.

Ky Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ky Jr keeps the fight on the outside.

Tomori has closed the distance and engaged Ky Jr in a clinch.
Tomori cracks Ky Jr with a nice body shot.
Ky Jr leaning against his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ky Jr struggles to land a body shot inside as Tomori controls his hands.
Tomori digs a right hand underneath Ky Jr's ribcage. Ky Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ky Jr looking for a takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiroki Tomori will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tomori doesn't manage to clinch there - Ky Jr circles away.

Tomori clinches.
Tomori tries to land knees in the clinch but Ky Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Tomori tries to throw a body punch but Ky Jr avoids it by throwing Tomori back against the cage.
Tomori swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tomori fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ky Jr tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tomori creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tomori pushes Ky Jr back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tomori scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tomori misses with a punch on the inside.
Ky Jr goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tomori prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tomori just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ky Jr's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tomori effectively controlling the action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tomori.
Still in the clinch, Tomori scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tomori tries to throw a body punch but Ky Jr avoids it by throwing Tomori back against the cage.
Ky Jr tries for a takedown but Tomori manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gaia Ky Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tomori blocking some punches.
Tomori lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ky Jr backwards.
Tomori taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tomori leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr is working for takedown but Tomori is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ky Jr blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tomori pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ky Jr takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tomori.
Tomori lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ky Jr backwards.
Tomori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ky Jr.
Ky Jr blocking some punches.
Ky Jr looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tomori pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tomori holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ky Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tomori pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tomori with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Ky Jr lands a takedown into guard.

Tomori uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Tomori swinging wildly here.
As Tomori looks to move away, Ky Jr throws a big counter combo but Tomori just gets out of the way.
Ky Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Ky Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tomori as he avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tomori stuffs the takedown attempt from Ky Jr. Ky Jr gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tomori tries to clinch up.
Tomori looks to land a combination but Ky Jr avoids it well.
Ky Jr is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tomori.
Hiroki Tomori is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Tomori has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tomori misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ky Jr.
Tomori presses Ky Jr against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gaia Ky Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Tomori moves into the clinch successfully.
Ky Jr is looking for a takedown.

Tomori manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroki Tomori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tomori winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiroki Tomori!