PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hong Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Honjo Masamune (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Honjo Masamune will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gregory
vs
Masamune

162 cm
22
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hong Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Honjo Masamune!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masamune moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A nice combination there by Masamune.
Gregory throws the left hand but Masamune avoids the punch easily.

Masamune closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Masamune wants to take a breather but Gregory is having none of it.

Gregory is defending against the submission attempts here by Masamune.
Masamune working over Gregory with some ground and pound. Gregory looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Masamune trying to control the action but Gregory is working from the bottom.
Gregory has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Masamune is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gregory looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gregory manages to get to full guard.
Gregory tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gregory striking off his back.
Masamune throws a strike but Gregory rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gregory throws an elbow that misses. Masamune uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gregory's guard. Nice move by Masamune!

Gregory will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory has momentary wrist control but Masamune slips an elbow through the middle.
Masamune trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gregory 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.
Gregory working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Masamune.
Gregory really is a fat lump.

Gregory looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Masamune preventing the sweep.
Masamune must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Masamune throws a strike but Gregory rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gregory throwing strikes but missing.
Masamune not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Masamune wants to sweep here but Gregory controlling him for the moment.
Masamune trying to control the position.
Masamune tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gregory gets tackled into the cage by Masamune. Masamune maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gregory using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Masamune has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Masamune tries to break free but Gregory pushes him back against the cage.

Gregory breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Masamune circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gregory tries to clinch but Masamune is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Masamune wants to break the clinch but can't.

Masamune lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masamune wants to pass to mount but Gregory is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Honjo Masamune dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Masamune moves into the clinch.
Masamune takes an elbow to the temple.
Masamune taking a breather.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Masamune.
Check out the look on Masamune's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

It looks like Hong Gregory has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masamune tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gregory is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Masamune asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Masamune has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Masamune is looking to take a break and control but Gregory is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masamune lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Honjo Masamune has got the better of the ground game so far.
Masamune is working Gregory over with some ground and pound from side control.
Masamune avoids the strikes from the bottom by Gregory.
Gregory sneaks back into half guard.
Gregory gets back to full guard.
Masamune throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gregory works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masamune prevents Gregory from getting back to his feet.
Gregory preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Masamune throwing strikes from guard but Gregory blocks nicely.
Masamune loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Masamune wants to stand and escape but instead Gregory has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gregory might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Masamune throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gregory escapes and throws Masamune's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Masamune is breathing heavily.
Gregory working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory working the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Gregory.
Gregory cracks Masamune with a big elbow.
Gregory throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gregory lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Masamune down.
Gregory in side control lands a decent elbow.
Gregory throws a strike aimed at the side of Masamune's head but Masamune avoids it well.
Masamune is trying to control Gregory's posture but Gregory avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory lands an elbow.
Gregory scoring with punches and elbows.
Gregory lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gregory content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gregory cracks Masamune with a big elbow.

Masamune is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Gregory dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hong Gregory's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gregory rushes Masamune and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Masamune.
Masamune is trying to push Gregory away but Gregory has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gregory is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Masamune is defending well for now.
Gregory creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Masamune wants to break free but Gregory has control.
Gregory lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Masamune or not.
Gregory trying to land knees to the body.

Masamune pulls guard successfully.
Gregory in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gregory throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Masamune works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gregory lands a couple of elbows.
Masamune takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory works over Masamune with some ground and pound from guard.
Gregory cracks Masamune with a solid left hand.
Masamune is still in real trouble! Can Gregory finish him?
Gregory loads up on a big left hand. Masamune felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Gregory looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Masamune can't hide his disappointment, as Gregory celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hong Gregory!