I am becoming a pretty big Taira fan. He really attacks Usuda's leg throughout the match and it pays dividends with the submission finish. This was heavily mat oriented which is a good contrast to the strike exchange I saw Usuda have with Ikeda right before. He came in as the champion and seemed to have taken Taira lightly which was a huge mistake. ***1/4 (6.7)

Another cool mat-focused match, with Taira's unpredictability and perseverance being a key part of this. Early into the match, he shows Usuda's he ready for the strike game, catching a kick and planting him with the capture suplex. Usuda tries going after the arm on the mat, then switches to the leg, but Taira catching him in these unrefined submission predicaments. Loved when he traps Usuda's arm and then grabs his face and arm, trying to wrench him away from the ropes. Toward the end, Taira is relentless with his targeting of Usuda's leg and keeps taking him down until Usuda has no choice but to give up.