PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Katuro Tisoaka (ranked 14279 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Grena (ranked 5027 p4p, 0 weight class). Tisoaka comes to the cage accompanied by Festivo. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tisoaka
vs
Grena

169 cm
37
184 lbs
23 - 16 - 0

165 cm
30
169 lbs
11 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 23 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katuro Tisoaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Umberto Grena!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grena is defended easily by Tisoaka.
Tisoaka throws a head kick but Grena moves out of range.
Tisoaka definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Grena fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grena looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tisoaka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Umberto Grena has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grena is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Tisoaka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Grena napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Grena is looking to regain half guard here but Tisoaka keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grena is being controlled here.
Grena tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Tisoaka presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Tisoaka controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Grena is trying to stand but he's just given Tisoaka his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
What can Grena do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Grena trying to control the hands but Tisoaka breaks the grip.
Tisoaka slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Tisoaka controlling well, preventing Grena from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grena is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Grena looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Grena is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Grena trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Grena is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Tisoaka.

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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grena tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katuro Tisoaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Umberto Grena's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tisoaka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tisoaka perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tisoaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Grena can do to turn this around?
Grena wants to get back to full guard but Tisoaka has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grena tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Tisoaka presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tisoaka tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Grena working to try and regain half guard.
Tisoaka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tisoaka working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tisoaka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Grena wants to control but Tisoaka is having none of it.
Grena wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Tisoaka controlling the positon.
Katuro Tisoaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tisoaka is hanging on to Grena's back as he tries to escape.
Tisoaka trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Grena doesn't escape.
Tisoaka's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Tisoaka seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Grena for as long as he can get away with.
Tisoaka gets his hands free as Grena looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Tisoaka continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katuro Tisoaka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Umberto Grena's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A head kick by Grena misses
and Tisoaka counters with a right hand to the body.

Tisoaka moves into the clinch.

Tisoaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tisoaka moves into the clinch successfully.

Tisoaka gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Grena regains guard.
Tisoaka stands and throws Grena's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grena taking a bit of punishment here - Tisoaka scoring with strikes.
Tisoaka advances to mount.
Grena is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tisoaka controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
More hug and hope from Tisoaka.
Tisoaka lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tisoaka controlling from the full mount.
Tisoaka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grena wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Grena is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Tisoaka.
Katuro Tisoaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Grena rolls, trying to escape but Tisoaka keeps control of the position.
Tisoaka slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Grena tries to escape the position.
Umberto Grena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tisoaka has good solid back control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
This is a sustained period of stalling by Tisoaka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katuro Tisoaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tisoaka 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katuro Tisoaka!
An out of breath Katuro Tisoaka thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.