Kengo Mashimo vs. Hiro Tonai (K-DOJO, 9/14/14)

I’m catching up on matches from 2013-2014, since I wasn’t watching much of anything. But this…this is my kind of match. Tons of meaningful submission work, great counters and reversals, and a satisfying finish. After some touch-and-go to open, Tonai tries to get the flash pin with a cradle and follows it up with a Shining Wizard for a two count. I like that Mashimo alternates between working the arm and the leg, and Tonai does a good job of selling, especially the leg. It’s a sound strategy that actually plays into the finish. There’s a great little back-and-forth sequence around the leglock and cross armbreaker, with some fun, innovative arm work by Tonai. In the end, Mashimo has Tonai in the scissored armbar and as Tonai works his way over to the ropes, Mashimo traps the leg, preventing the escape and ensuring the submission victory. Excellent stuff all around! 

Hiro Tonai vs. Kyu Mogami (K-DOJO, 2/25/16)

Solid submission work throughout, with a great payoff in the end. Some basic 'catch point' wrestling to open. Tonai shows his ring awareness early on with the rolls throughs and maintaining the arm control. Mogami works the neck with a cravate and I like how he incorporates the knees into the hold. Overall great counterwork, especially from Tonai. At one point, he sweeps the leg out from Mogami and hits a gnarly kick to the injured arm. He keeps forcing Mogami to the ropes but Mogami fights back and traps Tonai in like a grounded octopus hold. When he tries for the fisherman suplex, Tonai gets a hold of the arm and Mogami quickly rolls through to escape. After Mogami hits a fisherman suplex for two, they go counter-for-counter with the submission attempts until Mogami can pin Tonai's shoulders to the mat for a believable nearfall. Without missing a beat, Mogami goes right back into the grounded octopus hold. After fighting out, Tonai counters a whip attempt into a cool springboard armbreaker and goes right into the seated armbreaker. Mogami makes one last go at the ropes but Tonai rolls him through and quickly re-asserts the armbreaker, forcing him to submit. The crowd was invested, the matwork technically sound. Really good match.