PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 518 p4p, 79 weight class) and Andy Shifter (ranked 935 p4p, 126 weight class). Shifter has chosen Lützenkirchen- Nutcracker as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tsuruta
vs
Shifter

192 cm
26
209 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

200 cm
25
216 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
OLIMPO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomi Tsuruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Shifter!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shifter tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Andy Shifter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Tsuruta misses.
Shifter shoots in and drives through. Tsuruta sprawls well.
Tsuruta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shifter.
Tsuruta sets himself, and Shifter steps forward looking for the clinch! Tsuruta avoids it this time.
Tsuruta throws a body shot but no joy.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tsuruta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shifter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta throws a hook but Shifter blocks it.
Shifter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tsuruta connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shifter momentarily.
Tsuruta throws a lazy right hand but Shifter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shifter with the counter takedown but Tsuruta avoids it easily.
Tsuruta is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Shifter's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shifter closes the distance and clinches up with Tsuruta, looking for a takedown. Shifter pushes Tsuruta against the cage but Tsuruta circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tsuruta slaps away a takedown attempt from Shifter, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tomomi Tsuruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Shifter.
Tsuruta throws a shot from downtown. Shifter moves away and avoids it.
Shifter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tsuruta defends it well.
Tsuruta takes a swing at Shifter's ribcage but misses.
Shifter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Shifter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Tsuruta kicks Shifter off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Shifter scores with a takedown into Tsuruta's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tsuruta is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shifter wants to pass the guard but Tsuruta is keeping the position.

Shifter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shifter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shifter passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tsuruta has escaped the position, nice work there.

Shifter is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tsuruta is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tsuruta wants to control but Shifter postures up.
What's Tsuruta going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta tries to bench press Shifter off him but Shifter keeps the position.
Tsuruta avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shifter.
Tsuruta taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tsuruta is looking for a sweep.
Tsuruta can't do much from the bottom here.

Shifter tries for a kimura but Tsuruta is defending well.

Shifter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tsuruta has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shifter throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tsuruta works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Tsuruta keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Tsuruta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shifter is working for a submission of some sort.
Shifter thows a huge punch but Tsuruta dodges it nicely.

Shifter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tsuruta has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tsuruta manages to get to full guard.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tsuruta is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tsuruta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shifter works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tomomi Tsuruta will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shifter closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tsuruta quickly recovers to half guard.
Tsuruta is trying to get back to full guard.

Shifter is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tsuruta doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shifter.
Tsuruta trying to control here.

Shifter is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shifter thows a huge punch but Tsuruta dodges it nicely.
Tsuruta is looking to control Shifter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tsuruta avoid being mounted?
Shifter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Andy Shifter has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shifter seems to be looking for submissions.
Shifter trying to mount his opponent but Tsuruta defends it.

Shifter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tsuruta is just riding it out for now. Shifter eventually gives up the hold.
Shifter prevents Tsuruta from improving his position.
Tsuruta manages to get to full guard.
Shifter wants to pass the guard but Tsuruta is keeping the position.
Tsuruta managing to control the position.
Shifter with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tsuruta seems keen to control Shifter's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsuruta looking to control.
Shifter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tsuruta keeping full guard, as Shifter tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shifter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tsuruta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shifter is fighting to break Tsuruta's control of his arms but Tsuruta is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Shifter thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tsuruta has Shifter pulled in close to control his posture.
Shifter throwing strikes from guard but Tsuruta blocks nicely.
Shifter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tsuruta is keeping the position for now.
Shifter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta pulls Shifter in close to prevent any damage.
Shifter tries to free his leg and advance position but Tsuruta is retaining full guard.
Tsuruta managing to control the position.
Tsuruta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Shifter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tsuruta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tsuruta wants it to stay on the feet.
Tsuruta swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tsuruta looks to land a right hand but Shifter moved out of range.
Tsuruta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shifter.
Tomomi Tsuruta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Shifter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shifter is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tsuruta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Shifter.
Shifter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shifter slips a jab from Tsuruta.
Shifter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tsuruta with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tomomi Tsuruta will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tsuruta lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Shifter falls backwards - clearly groggy! Tsuruta dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tomomi Tsuruta!