PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dan Howson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshiry Torikama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Howson
vs
Torikama

185 cm
21
181 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Howson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshiry Torikama!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howson lands a really nice looking cross but Torikama seems unphased.
Howson misses with a hook
and Torikama counters with a stiff right hand.
Howson thows a leg kick but Torikama checks it

and Torikama counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Torikama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Torikama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Torikama working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Torikama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Torikama stands up over Howson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Howson has momentary wrist control but Torikama slips an elbow through the middle.
Howson looking to control.
Torikama postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Howson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Howson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Studio that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Howson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Torikama accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Howson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Howson tries to get out of the position.
Torikama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Torikama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Torikama makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Torikama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Howson keeping full guard, as Torikama tries to pass.
Torikama is working Howson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Torikama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Torikama throws a big right hand that misses.
Howson is trying to control the position but Torikama postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Howson throws a push kick but Torikama slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Torikama with the counter takedown but Howson avoids it easily.
Torikama scores with a punch to the head.
Howson throws the left hand but Torikama avoids the punch easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Howson.
Howson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Torikama connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Torikama scores with a takedown into Howson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Torikama forces his way into half guard.
Torikama sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Howson defending well though.
Howson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Torikama prevents Howson from improving his position.

Torikama is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Howson has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torikama scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Torikama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Torikama wants to free his trapped foot but Howson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Howson is looking to control Torikama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Howson avoid being mounted?
Howson is refusing to be controlled, as Torikama sits in half guard.
Torikama looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Howson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Torikama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Howson is refusing to be controlled, as Torikama sits in half guard.

That's four 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.
Torikama missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Howson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Torikama.
Torikama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Torikama is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Howson has hold of Torikama's hands but Torikama slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Torikama is pressing down on Howson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Howson is holding on for now.
Torikama throwing shots but Howson is blocking nicely.
Torikama working Howson over with strikes.
Torikama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshiry Torikama dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Torikama drops his hands momentarily and Howson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Torikama slips a jab and a cross from Howson.
Howson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Torikama.
Howson throws a low kick, looking for Torikama's leg but Torikama calmly moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Howson 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 Torikama has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Torikama and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Torikama connects with a body shot.
Torikama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Howson throws a hook but Torikama avoids it easily.
Dan Howson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Howson. Torikama does a little dance to reset his feet.
Howson throws an off balance right hand

and Torikama counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Torikama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Torikama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Howson's head.
Torikama winds up and cracks Howson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Torikama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Torikama.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Torikama throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Howson to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torikama content to stall in guard here.
Torikama keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Howson's head.
Torikama tries to free his leg and advance position but Howson is retaining full guard.
Torikama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Howson controlling the position.
Torikama throws a big elbow that misses.
Torikama postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Howson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howson has Torikama pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two 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.
Torikama throwing strikes from guard but Howson blocks nicely.
Torikama with a nice head shot there.
Torikama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Howson controls Torikama momentarily but Torikama frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Torikama throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Howson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Howson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Torikama connects with the punch.
Howson wants to slow Torikama down by chopping away at his legs.
Torikama's jab looks to have found its range, popping Howson under the eye.
Torikama buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Howson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howson swings widly with a right hand

and Torikama counters with a single leg into guard. Howson didn't expect that.
Torikama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Torikama postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Torikama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Torikama in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Torikama working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Torikama trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Howson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Howson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Torikama.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Torikama is looking to work some ground and pound but Howson has wrist control.
Torikama missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torikama works over Howson with some ground and pound from guard.
Torikama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Torikama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Torikama connects with a couple of short punches.
Torikama keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Howson's head.
Torikama lands a couple of elbows.

Howson is rocked!
Torikama gets to his feet and stands over Howson, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Howson felt that one! Torikama unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Howson from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoshiry Torikama!