This was my most awaited match up of the first round - and it absolutely ruled. Thatcher gave Kanemoto most of the match - Kanemoto got to showcase his awesome submissions & striking combinations, which Thatcher sold like a boss. He truly helped make Kanemoto look like million bucks w/ his tremendous facial expressions, selling & just by giving him the majority of the match. Really good stuff. ***3/4

I enjoyed this as a 7 minute little compact mat worked match. Kanemoto in the legend role is a bit difficult for him to pull off only because his most dynamic reputation is as an ultra athletic ass kicker which time has passed him by as. Thatcher going after the arm was intriguing and I thought Kanemoto fed into that well while also getting in his crowd pleasing spots. Enjoyable first round tournament match. ***

This was kind of mediocre. It was kind of like, Kanemoto on a WCW syndicated match vs., I dunno, Alex Wright? There was no real great matwork and Kanemoto didn't really lay in his strikes. I mean, I don't want him to concuss his opponent, but even his chops and slaps looked week. Also, Thatcher did all these goofy "I am evil" faces and Kanemoto seemed to threat the match like a light hearted affair, waving to the crowd and being all big smiles.