Yoshida Keita vs. Kawamata "Geostar" Joji

I'm going to tell you from the beginning that this might be fight of the year. This match was insanely good and exciting in every moment. Great, great effort on both fighter's parts. No shame in the whole affair. Kawamata Joji, billed as George "Kawamata" Geostar, fights out of Paraestra Osaka and wore the black shorts. Yoshida Keita, in the blue shorts, fights out of Cobra Kai.

Kawamata is a south-paw who used the ropes well to escape. He is also the only fighter I have seen whose corner wore rash guards.

A good deal of the fight took place in Kawamata's corner. He was well coached.



Kawamata employed a technique that is fairly common in Shooto which is beating the stew out of someone who is in your guard while you are on the bottom. I like it. It is effective. He did a lot of damage to the right side of Yoshida's head. It was getting to Yoshida but he couldn't work out of it. Kawamata's corner kept shouting, "It's getting to him! He doesn't like it."



Yoshida worked to pass Kawamata's guard, but "Geostar" was the noticeably better grappler.





Yoshida was the more powerful striker, but Kawamata was cagey and careful. This fight had an awesome pace and alternated between standing and the ground.



Kawamata threatened with foot-sweeps through the first round.


Both fighters regrouped between rounds.




Kawamata seemed relaxed and was in control of the fight.



The second round saw lots of clinching against the ropes, especially in the corners.





Toward the end of the round Yoshida connected with a huge right kick to the body. Kawamata was visibly hurt. Yoshida, who had looked exhausted up to this point was energized and the momentum changed.



After the kicks, Kawamata's takedowns became desperate attempts to get out of stand-up exchanges. He ended up desperately clinging to Yoshida's ankle and taking a beating on the head.



The fight was accurately judged a draw with Yoshida advancing in the tournament. Kawamata had given all he had to give and left the ring sobbing. It was a truly great fight.

Masuda "Bull" Teppei vs. Ron

Ron (Black Shorts) fights out of Jiu-Jitsu Brothers. Masuda (In Pink) is a member of Cobra Kai. This fight was at bantam weight and Ron definitely looked like a small, small man. Masuda, resembled his nickname and appeared very physically strong.




A lot of this fight was fought in a clinch against the ropes. Ron hung in and tried for a few foot sweeps but was out-muscled by Masuda. The Cobra Kai corner and supporters were very vocal. The Jiu-Jitsu Brothers offered very little advice.


Even if Ron got Masuda off balance, "Bull" would roll him over immediately and take top postion.


Ron's gurad was pretty effective but no submissions came.


Ron wouldn't give up and gave it a good fight.


Ron eschewed a stool for the floor.


Ron came out aggressive in the 2nd round, trading knees with Masuda.


On the ground Masuda bullied Ron with his forearm, keeping his head pressed to the canvas.


The decision went to Masuda who was too strong for Ron's competent jiu-jitsu.

Powergate: Gate 4 - Russian Suzuki vs. Tsuda Tomoyuki

Russian Suzuki from Cobra Kai faced off against Tsuda Tomoyuki from KFN in a welterweight bout.

This is the most exciting moment in the fight.



Tsuda (in blue trunks) came out and wandered around for a bit. When pressed by Suzuki, he threw two high kicks. They weren't effective, destructive high kicks. They looked lost. They weren't part of a combination. They looked like a guy saying, "Look, I can throw a high kick. Can I win?" He was taken down.



Russian Suzuki was strong from the top, but not strong enough to end the fight.



Tsuda's only defense was frantic attempts to get his feet between him and Suzuki and shove him off. Suzuki kept coming back.





A lot of guard sitting happened. Tsuda's corner had one command; "MOVE!"


I wandered off to get a new memory card from my bag. The fight went into a second round that looked like the first and Russian Suzuki won by decision.

Powergat:e Gate 2 - Wakatsu vs. Miki

Cobra Kai's Wakatsu vs. Miki from (team unknown) was a solid fight. Good technique all around. Lots of heart. Technical grappling.

Miki (in white) came out firing.



Until he hit Wakatsu with a hard low blow.



This brought about a yellow card and some time to regroup.




Miki seemed comfortable on the bottom. His guard was solid. Wakatsu showed a good base and was not phased by being in the guard.



Wakatsu tried to break the guard by standing up. Miki held firm.





Wakatsu finally gets out and goes for a Kimura.







Wakatsu went for the armbar and Miki got top position.



And went about the hard business of revenge.




Wakatsu defended with some interpretation of the rubber-guard.



Miki says no to Eddie Bravo.


Look, a blurry hooker. This must be the harbor. This must be round two.



Vicious, back-and-forth grappling ensues.



Miki uses a leg-lock attempt to administer some poundage.





Wakatsu rolls for an armbar.



Settles for some kind of crack-head control.



Considers the gogo.



Ends up with the tightest omaplata I have ever seen in MMA.



Miki's corner cries out that it is nothing. That he can handle it. He remains calm as Wakatsu uses the hold to pound his face.



Omaplata still locked, Wakatsu tries his corner's suggestion of alternating to the wrist-lock. Miki toughs it out to the bell.



Great fight. Wakatsu takes it on decision. Respect to both.