PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Piercer (ranked 2851 p4p, 2198 weight class) and Kenjiro Tokugawa (ranked 331 p4p, 261 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Piercer
vs
Tokugawa

177 cm
29
166
7 - 9 - 0

178 cm
26
168
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Piercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenjiro Tokugawa!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokugawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Piercer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tokugawa finds it's way round the side to connect with Piercer's head.
Tokugawa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Piercer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Piercer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tokugawa's hands.

Tokugawa moves into the clinch.
Tokugawa swings wildly with an uppercut but Piercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Piercer misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Piercer.
Tokugawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Piercer.
Piercer throws a punch but it's blocked by Tokugawa.
Piercer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Piercer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Piercer.
Piercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tokugawa misses with the head strike.
Tokugawa blocking some punches.
Tokugawa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tokugawa gets through Piercer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Tokugawa pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piercer trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tokugawa's guard.
Tokugawa keeping full guard, as Piercer tries to pass.
Piercer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Piercer continues to stall.
Tokugawa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Piercer's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tokugawa being controlled here momentarily.
Piercer avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tokugawa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tokugawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Piercer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Piercer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tokugawa throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokugawa being controlled here momentarily.
Tokugawa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tokugawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Piercer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Piercer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tokugawa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tokugawa trying to control but Piercer is working from the bottom.
Piercer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Piercer wants to sweep here but Tokugawa controlling him for the moment.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piercer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Piercer tries to land a leg kick but Tokugawa saw it coming and moves away.
John Piercer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tokugawa.

Tokugawa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tokugawa won't allow Piercer to sweep him here.
Tokugawa chips away with some ground and pound.
Piercer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tokugawa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tokugawa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tokugawa preventing the sweep.
Piercer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tokugawa manages to get himself to full 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!
Piercer looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenjiro Tokugawa will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Tokugawa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, jab by Tokugawa - just one landing.
Tokugawa throws a leg kick but Piercer sees it coming and moves out of range.
Piercer throws a body shot but no joy.
Piercer ducks right into an uppercut from Tokugawa.
A clash of legs there as Tokugawa blocks the low kick.
Tokugawa throws a chopping leg kick but Piercer manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Piercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tokugawa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Piercer checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nice body kick from Tokugawa.
No joy there for Tokugawa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokugawa swinging wildly here.
Piercer throws a head kick but Tokugawa moves out of range.
Tokugawa appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tokugawa misses with a leg kick
and Piercer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tokugawa throws a lazy right hand but Piercer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kenjiro Tokugawa seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piercer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tokugawa.
Piercer takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Piercer motions for Tokugawa to come forward. Piercer throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Piercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tokugawa.
A shot to the liver by Piercer. Beautiful body shot.
Tokugawa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Piercer but Piercer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tokugawa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Piercer blocks a jab.
Piercer is looking to counter punch.
Tokugawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Piercer circles away.
Piercer misses with a wild body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Piercer.
Tokugawa throws a head kick that misses.
Tokugawa's corner calls for a 1-2. Tokugawa obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piercer scores with a kick to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tokugawa moves away from the strike by Piercer.
Tokugawa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Piercer manages to avoid it.
Tokugawa throws a leg kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Piercer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tokugawa punishes Piercer's body with a nice straight punch.
Piercer misses with a hook. Tokugawa ducked under it nicely.
The fighters circling - Piercer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tokugawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Piercer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Piercer misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Piercer misses its intended target.
Tokugawa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tokugawa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Piercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Tokugawa is just out of range.
Piercer slips under a jab.
Tokugawa throws a solid leg kick but Piercer takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tokugawa.
A quick step to the side and Piercer tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Piercer gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Tokugawa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Piercer. Beautiful body shot.
A slow jab from Tokugawa misses its intended target.
Piercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piercer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tokugawa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Piercer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A solid body kick from Piercer.
Tokugawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tokugawa tries to move into range but Piercer moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Piercer throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tokugawa counters with a good low kick that Piercer was not able to check.

Tokugawa moves into range and clinches up with Piercer.
A head punch on the inside from Tokugawa fails to land.
Tokugawa working aggressively here.
Piercer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Tokugawa.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piercer tries to throw a body punch but Tokugawa avoids it by throwing Piercer back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piercer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piercer has a couple of punches blocked by Tokugawa.
Piercer throws a head punch that misses.
Tokugawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Piercer's elbow.
Tokugawa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Piercer backwards.
Tokugawa misses with a knee to the head.
Tokugawa has a couple of punches blocked by Piercer.
Piercer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tokugawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piercer throws a head punch that misses.
Piercer misses with some punches.
Piercer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tokugawa.
Piercer swings wildly with an uppercut but Tokugawa uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tokugawa manages to break the clinch.
Piercer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenjiro Tokugawa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tokugawa fails with the takedown
and Piercer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tokugawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tokugawa misses with a hook to the body
and Piercer counters with a nice uppercut.
Tokugawa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Piercer at a distance.
Tokugawa has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Piercer.
Piercer stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Piercer wants it to stay on the feet.
Piercer misses with a body shot.
Piercer misses with a looping left.
Tokugawa avoids a kick to the body.
Tokugawa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piercer does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tokugawa throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Piercer wants to slow Tokugawa down by chopping away at his legs.
Tokugawa is looking to score with low kicks.
Tokugawa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokugawa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A bone on bone clash there as Piercer blocks the leg kick.
It looked like Piercer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tokugawa.
Piercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A countering left hand to the body from Tokugawa misses.
A head kick misses from Tokugawa.
Tokugawa takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tokugawa tries to clinch but Piercer is having none of it.
Piercer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tokugawa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tokugawa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Piercer finds it's way round the side to connect with Tokugawa's head.
Piercer scores with a hook to the body. Tokugawa takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice jab there from Tokugawa.
Piercer ducks under a wild hook from Tokugawa.
Tokugawa is looking to chop away at Piercer's legs.
Piercer throws an off balance right hand
enabling Tokugawa to counter with a crisp jab.
Tokugawa connects with a right hand. Piercer shakes it off.
Tokugawa misses with a body kick.
It looked like Piercer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
John Piercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokugawa misses with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Piercer keeps the fight on the outside.
Piercer punishes Tokugawa's body with a nice straight punch.
Tokugawa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Piercer takes the fight into the clinch.
Piercer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Piercer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tokugawa scores with a shoulder strike.
Tokugawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Piercer controls his hands.
Tokugawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Piercer controls his hands.
Piercer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Piercer.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Tokugawa controls his hands.
Piercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tokugawa's elbow.
Piercer lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piercer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tokugawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tokugawa misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Piercer scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tokugawa lands a body shot.
Nice body punch from Piercer - that landed with a thud.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Piercer.
Piercer digs a right hand into Tokugawa's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tokugawa's gas tank.
Tokugawa tries a body shot but Piercer blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Piercer.
Tokugawa tries to pull guard but Piercer holds him up against the cage and eventually Tokugawa drops back down to his feet.
John Piercer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenjiro Tokugawa.
Piercer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Piercer lands with a short shot to the head.
Tokugawa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Piercer to keep the fight standing.
Piercer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tokugawa.
Piercer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Piercer working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Piercer.
Tokugawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Piercer pushes Tokugawa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Piercer lands a body shot in the clinch.
Good body shot from Piercer.
Tokugawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Piercer scores with a shoulder strike.
Piercer misses with a body punch.
Piercer misses with a punch to the body.
Piercer scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Piercer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tokugawa has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Piercer seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tokugawa can turn it around.
Tokugawa is trying to pull guard but Piercer has him pressed against the cage.
Piercer lands a body shot in the clinch.
Piercer gets through Tokugawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tokugawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Piercer.
A shot in the inside from Piercer.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Piercer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tokugawa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenjiro Tokugawa!