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What's In Today's Letter?
Rei Tsuruya
Rei Tsuruya might be the hottest prospect in the UFC. I know this sounds hyperbolic. Last week I wrote about another flyweight prospect Assu Almabayev and before that I wrote about Tsuruya’s countrymate, Tatsuro Taira!
Like Taira, Tsuruya came to the UFC as an undefeated Japanese prospect in his early 20’s that previously held a prestigious Japanese MMA title. Taira was Shooto’s champion and Tsuruya was the king of Pancrase before coming to the UFC. If you actually watch them fight they don’t look anything alike though.
Taira is long and tricky. He throws straight strikes on the feet and looks for triangle chokes or back attacks on the floor.
Tsuruya is a creative bull. He goes straight forward to meet you head on, but he scores with some of the most creative techniques you’ll ever see.
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, Rei Tsuruya reminds me of Jon Jones.
I’m not saying he’s going to be an all-time great. I don’t even know if he’ll contend for a title. What I do know is that not many fighters have integrated striking into clinch work and throws quite like these two. Both men dominate fighters with over hooks and rare upper body wrestling.
Jones bumps Evans off of him with a shoulder strike. Evans pushes back into Jones. Jones turns him with his over hook and trips him for the foot sweep.
Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans
Now check out how Tsuruya used a shoulder strike to produce one of the coolest finishes you’ll ever see.
Tsuruya turns an over hook into a shoulder strike. Siahaan stands up straight and Tsuruya steps in to hit the head and arm throw. They land in kesa gatame and Tsuruya pushes Siahaan’s arm between his legs for the submisssion he was trying above against Tatsuki Okano.
Rei Tsuruya vs Ronal Siahaan
Before we get into Tsuruya’s artistic attacks I want to start with the simpler stuff. Meat and potatoes before desert.
Finding The Back And Finishing There
Tsuruya hunts the back and has a great rear naked choke like all high level grapplers today.
Tsuruya turns Enomoto over from turtle. He traps Enomoto’s arm in the process. Now Tsuruya can choke Enomoto with limited defenses coming back at him.
Rei Tsuruya vs Satoru Enomoto
Tsuruya will also use odd leg configurations to contort his opponent’s hips and spine. This sets up twisters, opens up opportunities for more creative punching, and helps him hold control of the scramble.
Tsuruya passes to mount and Siahaan immediately starts bucking. Siahaan gives up his back and Tsuruya gets one hook in. As Siahaan turns in Tsuruya grabs his neck and pulls for another type of modified twister. Tsuruya didn’t get the finish here, but he kept control of the scramble.
Rei Tsuruya vs Ronal Siahaan
Tsuruya’s weird leg configurations and body triangles allows to switch between back mount and full mount, and destabilize his opponents while standing.
Tsurya has Borjas’s legs figure foured. Borjas scoots away to wall walk. Tsuruya slips behind him for a rear body lock. He threads his right leg deep around Borjas’s right leg, steps forward with his left, and then Tsuruya kicks his right leg out to drop Borjas to his butt. Tsuruya traps Brojas’s arm so he has a clear lane for a rear naked choke.
Rei Tsuruya - Kevin Borjas
Tsuruya uses his hooks to attack both sides of his opponent’s base, effortlessly chipping away at their defenses.
Tsuruya switches from hooking Gurule’s near leg to broom sticking back to hooking the near leg. Gurule is forced to squat low to stay upright. Then Tsuruya attacks a rear naked choke and jumps to back control. Gurule hangs on for a few seconds until he’s forced to submit.
Rei Tsuruya - Luis Gurule
Now let’s look at some other ways Tsuruya likes to hit and hurt his opponent on the floor.
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