DEEP Tribe Tokyo Fight, another installment of Japan-based DEEP’s took place on Sunday evening at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

The event streamed LIVE on Ustream, http://www.ustream.tv/channel/deep-official, at 5 a.m. ET, 2 a.m. PT.

This was DEEP’s third and final event in the month of October, following Osaka Impact 2013 and Tokyo Impact Wave 6.

DEEP Tribe Tokyo Fight Results & play-by-play: Chonan successful in retirement bout

The main event served as the retirement match-up for former PRIDE vet Ryo Chonan (21-13), who contested for the Welterweight strap against Dan Hornbuckle (24-6). This was the Japanese icon’s last shot at a championship belt, following his brief stint as DEEP’s Middleweight champ back in 2007.

Other notable fighters who competed on the main card were Yasuhiro Urushitani, Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, Yoshiro Maeda and Yuya Shirai among others.

Check out results and play-by-play of the event, below:

MAIN CARD

• Dan Hornbuckle vs. Ryo Chonan (For DEEP Welterweight title)

Not an eventful first few minutes with both fighters landing calculated strikes. Chonan though, found success in his right body kick, as he lands a couple on Hornbuckle. Chonan got the crowd going when he took Hornbuckle down towards the last minute or so, but the American recovered quickly and got back to his feet.

In the second round, Chonan lands a overhand right that tags Hornbuckle, but the American ate it like it was nothing. Chonan then shoots for a takedown and gets it, though Hornbuckle displays a good defensive guard by limiting Chonan’s ground strikes. The crowd cheers every time Chonan lands a strike. Still in Hornbuckle’s guard, Chonan lands multiple knees and makes it ever-more difficult for Hornbuckle to move or improve position. But in a flash, Hornbuckle shoots his legs up, looking to put Chonan in a Triangle choke. But the former PRIDE vet defends well, escapes, and ends the round with some massive punches and a soccer kick.

As the third round progressed, Chonan rolled for a heel hook, that was reminiscent of his submission win over Anderson Silva. Hornbuckle defended it well, however, doing his utmost best to get out of the predicament. But Chonan was relentless, and kept a hold of the submission. That plan backfired, though, as Hornbuckle transitioned to side mount, with his corner-men yelling instructions at him to finish the fight. Chonan eventually gives up his back, as Hornbuckle waits patiently for the Rear-Naked Choke. Hornbuckle finally sinks in the choke, but Chonan, determined to leave as the victor in his final bout, fought through it until the end of the last frame. Great fight.

Result: Ryo Chonan def. Dan Hornbuckle via Unanimous Decision (For DEEP Welterweight title)

• Yoshiro Maeda vs. Mamoru Yamaguchi

Early takedown for Maeda who works for a choke. Soon after, he lands another takedown, but Yamaguchi gets to his feet quickly this time around. Facing the back of Yamaguchi, Maeda tries to get both hooks in and works for a Rear-Naked Choke, but Yamaguchi defends well momentarily. Shortly after though, Maeda does indeed get both hooks in, but pretty much spends the rest of the round trying to get his arm beneath Yamaguchi’s neck.

At the start of the second round, Maeda lands a takedown but is unable to keep Yamaguchi on the canvas. As they get back to their feet, Maeda works for a takedown again, this time transitioning to his opponent’s back almost seamlessly. With both hooks in however, once again, he fails to finish the choke. The fight took a turn towards the final stages, as Yamaguchi had Maeda in a turtle position, but was unable to land any damage because of the lack of time remaining.

Yamaguchi started the third round with sort of a renewed aggression, charging towards Maeda. The latter, however, was relentless in pursuing the takedown. As with previous attempts, Maeda tried to go for the Rear-Naked Choke when he took Yamaguchi’s back, but on this occasion, Yamaguchi anticipated it, and reversed positions. He was now on top and he immediately worked for a kimura. Once that didn’t work out, Yamaguchi applied some relentless ground-and-pound, raining down multiple punches and blistering elbows. Maeda’s face was bloodied up at this stage. Despite Yamaguchi’s attempts in stopping the fight, he just didn’t have enough time, as the fight came to a halt.

Result: Yoshiro Maeda vs. Mamoru Yamaguchi declared a Majority DRAW

• Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Yoo Jae Nam

A striking battle between both fighters with Urushitani knocking Nam down with a nice counter towards the end of the round. Nam looks to be the more aggressive fighter though, pushing the pace and forcing Urushitani to back up. Close round.

Nam shoots for a takedown but Urushitani uses his weight well and ends up in full guard instead. He starts working some ground-and-pound with punches to both the head and body. As they get back to their feet, it’s Nam who goes for a takedown but soon bails on that, choosing to clinch instead. As they separate, moments later, Nam throws a thunderous right hand that had Urushitani deep in trouble, but the Japanese vet recovered. Nam starts pushing the pace and tempo, pressuring Urushitani with knees and punches, before round 2 comes to a close.

Nam picks off where he left off in round three, attacking Urushitani from the get go. Urushitani seems to have problems with Nam’s pace. And Nam keeps going for the overhand right, as he’s found his mark with that punch on several occasions. Urushitani goes for a takedown and is successful, progressing to full mount. Towards the end, he goes for an Arm-Triangle choke attempt which was well defended by Nam. Fight ends.

Result: Yasuhiro Urushitani def. Yoo Jae Nam via Unanimous Decision

• Takenori Sato vs. Islam Galayev 

Just kicks delivered in the opening stages. Galayev tries for the head kick several times but misses. Sato shoots for the first takedown, but fails. Easily stuffed by Galayev. Galayev throws a kick which is caught by Sato, who reverses it to a takedown. He was unable to do much in top position though as Galayevrecovered to his feet quickly. The round ends with both fighters just basically displaying their array of kicks, with barely any punches thrown.

Early in round 2, Sato catches one of Galayev’s kicks again, and after a short guillotine attempt by Galayev, Sato ends up in guard where he’s vicious with his ground and pound, throwing elbows, punches, etc. He transitions to the north south position, and lands punches on the head. Soon after, the Japanese fighter capitalizes on a kimura, forcing his opponent to tap.

Result: Takenori Sato def. Islam Galayev via Submission (Kimura) at 2:09 in Round 2

• Yuya Shirai vs. Akihiro Murayama

Striking battles ensues early on with both fighters exchanging strikes. Shirai takes the center of the ring, hoping to dictate the tempo of the contest. In the clinch, Shirai lands a series of knees but the referee soon separates them. The round ends with both fighters contesting on their feet.

Second round starts and a cut is seen up above the eye of Shirai. As with the first round, both fighters continue throwing leg kicks. Shirai clinches twice as the round progresses, and he looks to be the more aggressive fighter in this encounter. And just like the previous frame, round 2 comes to a close with both fighters content on keeping the fight standing.

The fight finally hits the mat at the start of the third round, but both fighters are up on their feet soon after. As the round progressed, once again in a striking battle, both fighters started swinging with knockout intentions. The fight eventually ends and both fighters go to the scorecards. Too close too call, this one.

Result: Yuya Shirai vs. Akihiro Murayama declared a Majority DRAW

• Kenji Osawa vs. Seiji Akao

Osawa starts off by going for a takedown against Akao near the corner, moving into full guard after some time. It becomes a battle for position as both fighters fail to land anything significant. As such, referee stands both fighters up for inactivity after 2-3 minutes. In the last minute, Osawa takes Akao down once again, landing bits of ground-and-pound to end the round.

After some clinching in the opening stages of the second round, Akao shoots for a takedown, but Okawa defends it well. Akao then lands two consecutive takedowns but Osawa recovers well and gets back up fast. Soon enough, Osawa starts working for a takedown but it’s Akao this time who shows good defense. Not for long though as Osawa eventually manages to take the fight to the canvas, and ends the round on top landing some punches.

Into the final round and Akao pushes Osawa up against the corner, only for the referee to separate them after moments of inactivity. Akao lands a takedown after two minutes, advancing into side control whilst landing some blows. Osawa, though, reverses position, and finds himself in full mount. He pretty much ends the round content in controlling his position, although Akao had a near armbar attempt towards the end.

Result: Kenji Osawa def. Seiji Akao via Split Decision

• Yoshiyuki Nakanishi vs. Young Choi

Nakanishi starts off with several missed head kicks, to which Choi replies with a hard kick to the leg. It then basically pens out to be a feeling out process by both fighters as they find their range. Nakanishi lands several hard knees as the fighters clinch, and he spends the last minute or so looking for a takedown, and gets it. A pretty lackluster first stanza though.

Nakinishi pushes the pace in the second, and lands a takedown but Choi recovers well. Nakanishi holds onto hs back and drags him down. But once again, Choi recovers fast and gets to his feet instantaneously.  Although Nakanishi lands another takedown in the final two minutes, he ends the round with blood around his nose. That was surprising because the striking battle was pretty stale.

Nakinishi starts the third round with a failed takedown attempt. It’s now quite evident that he wants the fight to take place on the canvas. In the clinch exchanges, Nakinishi seemed to be more active landing more knees, etc. He finally gets Choi down after several tries but doesn’t do anything substantial. The round/fight ends with Nakanishi pushing his opponent up against the corner.

Result: Yoshiyuki Nakanishi def. Young Choi via Split Decision

• Yusuke Sakashita vs. Luke Mori

Mori and Sakashita clinch at the start but not much goes on. Sakashita, clearly the bigger fighter, shoots for a takedown but Mori defends that well. The Japanese fighter though, seemed to be finding success with his kicks and punches but a clash of heads opens a cut on Mori’s face. Referee Yuji Shimada then halts the bout and calls the doctor to have a look at Mori’s cut. Mori might have suffered a deep cut because the doctor finds it difficult to stop the bleeding. Sure enough, the bout is called off and is declared a No-Contest.

Result:  Yusuke Sakashita def. Luke Mori ruled a No-Contest (Clash of Heads)

• Yoichiro Sato vs. Hiroshi Takahashi

Both fighters clinch early, trading knees. Sato lands a takedown, but Takahashi shows an active guard by attacking from the bottom; Sato though, rallies in for some ground and pound with punches, elbows, etc. He then goes for a Guillotine choke, forcing Takahashi to tap. Great finish.

Result: Yoichiro Sato def. Hiroshi Takahashi via Guillotine Choke at 4:00 of Round 1

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Shotaro Yabe vs. Takashi Sato

Both fighters trade a bit in the opening stages. Sato lands a huge left that sends Yabe crashing to the canvas. He spends the next minute or so with ground and pound, trying to force an intervention from the referee. But Yabe manages to recover and they get back to their feet. Sato looked to have fatigued having used a lot of energy. As they clinch, Sato wraps his opponent and lands a takedown, but is unable to do any substantial damage, except for a few punches. Not allowing Yabe to recover, Sato moves to side control and his opponent gives up his back soon after. Sato ends the round with an Arm-Triangle choke attempt.

Round 2 and Sato continues to have success with his straight left in his southpaw stance. He goes for a takedown but his opponent defends that well. After a few limp striking exchanges, Yabe shoots for a takedown but to no avail. Yabe soon gets the back of Sato and drags him to the canvas, getting both his hooks in. With a Rear-Naked Choke attempt, he spends the last minute trying to finish the submission but Sato defends well and forces the bout to go to a decision.

Result: Takashi Sato def. Shotaro Yabe via Unanimous Decision

• Tsuyoshi Takahashi vs. Satoshi Usui

Both fighters clinch and start trading knees. Usui though, catches Takahashi on the private area forcing a momentary halt to the bout. The fight restarts, and soon after, Takahashi lands a beautiful hook that sends his opponent crashing to the canvas. He throws in some punches for good measure. Referee stops the bout.

Result: Tsuyoshi Takahashi def. Satoshi Usui via KO (Punches) at 1:18 of Round 1

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