PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tyrone Bate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Higashikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Bate
vs
Higashikuni

166 cm
25
144 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

162 cm
23
146 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

Perkele!
Perkele!

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tyrone Bate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsu Higashikuni!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bate smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bate throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Higashikuni.
Higashikuni fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bate tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Higashikuni was well out of range. Poor timing from Bate.
An inside leg kick from Bate misses.
Higashikuni misses with a wild body shot.
Higashikuni misses the shot to the body.
Higashikuni fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tyrone Bate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Higashikuni.
Bate takes a swing at Higashikuni's ribcage but misses.
Tyrone Bate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higashikuni checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Higashikuni throws a right and a left that both miss.

Higashikuni gets caught napping as Bate dives in and scores a takedown. Higashikuni manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bate is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bate tries to free his leg and advance position but Higashikuni is retaining full guard.
Higashikuni wants to sweep here but Bate controlling him for the moment.
Bate trying to control the position from guard on top but Higashikuni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bate is really struggling to control Higashikuni but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Bate looking to pass the guard.
Bate won't allow Higashikuni to sweep him here.
Higashikuni manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bate manages to get himself to full guard.
Bate is trying to keep Higashikuni in close.
Bate keeping full guard, as Higashikuni tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bate keeping moving, preventing Higashikuni from controlling successfully.
Bate is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bate manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higashikuni is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bate takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bate cracks Higashikuni with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Higashikuni that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Higashikuni is desperately trying to improve his position but Bate has a good base and remains in mount.
Bate landing punches.
Higashikuni working to try and regain half guard.
Bate unloading with bombs!
Higashikuni is trying to escape the mount.
Higashikuni takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Higashikuni tries to reverse the position but Bate maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bate controlling the pace for now.
Bate lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Higashikuni flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bate prevents Higashikuni from getting the reversal.
Bate fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bate with the ground and pound from mount.
Higashikuni tries to reverse the position but Bate maintains control.
Bate punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bate scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bate controlling his opponent.
Higashikuni can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bate tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Higashikuni is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Bate dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bate misses with a leg kick.
Bate throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Higashikuni tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bate sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Higashikuni somewhat.
Bate throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bate stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bate wants it to stay on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bate. That's going to slow Higashikuni down.
Bate thows a body shot but no joy.
Higashikuni shoots in and drives through. Bate sprawls well.
Tyrone Bate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Higashikuni.
A solid body kick from Bate.
Bate throws a body punch but Higashikuni moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Bate. No joy for Higashikuni on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni shoots for a takedown but Bate saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bate swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Higashikuni moves out of range of the leg kick from Bate.
Bate shoots in looking for a takedown. Higashikuni tries to sprawl out of it but Bate keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Higashikuni manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bate fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bate.
Higashikuni fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Higashikuni.
Bate bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bate. That's going to slow Higashikuni down.
Bate connects with a leg kick. Higashikuni looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bate misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Higashikuni.
Higashikuni shoots for a takedown but Bate saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bate throws a quick inside leg kick.
Higashikuni lands a jab.
Higashikuni looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bate throws a shot from downtown. Higashikuni moves away and avoids it.
Higashikuni shoots in but Bate avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bate misses with an attempted mid kick.
Higashikuni cracks Bate with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bate. Higashikuni does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bate stuffs the takedown attempt from Higashikuni. Higashikuni gets slowly back to his feet.

Bate feints and as Higashikuni raises his hands in defense, Bate changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tyrone Bate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Higashikuni 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.
Higashikuni keeping full guard, as Bate tries to pass.
Higashikuni keeping moving, preventing Bate from controlling successfully.
Bate is working Higashikuni over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Higashikuni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Higashikuni tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bate pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higashikuni is keeping the position for now.

Higashikuni has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bate is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Higashikuni.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bate thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Higashikuni is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Bate is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bate pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Bate working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Higashikuni is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Bate dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Higashikuni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bate manages to avoid it.
Bate throws a sloppy head kick and Higashikuni moves out of range easily.
Bate looks to land a body kick but Higashikuni moved away.
Bate misses the shot to the body.
Higashikuni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bate manages to avoid it.
Tyrone Bate is winning the standup battle so far.
Higashikuni fails to land the takedown.
Bate throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Higashikuni blocks a head kick by Bate.
Bate with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Higashikuni to score with a decent uppercut.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Bate lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Higashikuni has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Higashikuni and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Bate fails with a takedown attempt.
Higashikuni fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bate wants to slow Higashikuni down by chopping away at his legs.

Higashikuni scores a takedown into full mount!
Higashikuni punching from mount but Bate doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Higashikuni content just to control the position here.
Higashikuni lands with some strikes.
Higashikuni thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bate tries to reverse the position but Higashikuni maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bate wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Higashikuni.
Bate avoids a series of strikes thrown by Higashikuni.
Higashikuni prevents Bate from getting the reversal.
Higashikuni punching from mount but Bate doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Higashikuni controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higashikuni sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Bate is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Higashikuni landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni wants to control the pace but Bate is squirming around nicely.
Higashikuni misses with a head shot.
Higashikuni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Higashikuni trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poor strikes thrown by Higashikuni there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Higashikuni is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Higashikuni sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Higashikuni looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bate wants to control but Higashikuni is having none of it.
Higashikuni throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bate because Higashikuni loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni working Bate over with strikes here.
Bate sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higashikuni trying to control the action but Bate is working from the bottom.
Higashikuni tries to pass to full mount but Bate defends it.
Bate is looking for a sweep. Higashikuni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Bate looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Higashikuni is trying to control. Bate wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katsu Higashikuni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bate has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Tyrone Bate!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Tyrone Bate!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Tyrone Bate!

Tyrone Bate wins by unanimous decision!
Tyrone Bate decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.