PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koichi Kamei (ranked 164 p4p, 146 weight class) and Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 20 p4p, 16 weight class). Yamaguchi has chosen Yama Yama as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kai Yamaguchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kamei
vs
Yamaguchi

182 cm
29
159
13 - 7 - 0

176 cm
37
157
38 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter
Zenith Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Koichi Kamei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kai Yamaguchi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamei ducks right into an uppercut from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kamei.
Kamei throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
Kamei comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamei was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi.
Kamei stuns Yamaguchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kamei moves out of range of the body kick.
Kamei stuns Yamaguchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kamei takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Decent striking displayed by Kamei there.
Yamaguchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kamei connects with the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Yamaguchi tries to score with a low kick but Kamei moves his leg out of the way.
Yamaguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Good exchange - Kamei coming out on top.
Yamaguchi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kamei checks a low kick from Yamaguchi.
Kamei misses with a straight right.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Kamei misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamei takes one to the chin there.
Yamaguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Kamei off balance momentarily.
Kamei throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamaguchi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Yamaguchi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kamei has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kamei and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kamei is looking to counter punch.
Kamei misses with a hook to the body
and Yamaguchi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kamei has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kamei.
Kamei throws a lazy uppercut
and Yamaguchi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Yamaguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi is looking to land body kicks.
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kamei.
Kamei ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Kamei misses the shot to the body.
Kamei tries to move into range but Yamaguchi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kamei is just out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A shot to the liver by Kamei. Beautiful body shot.
Kamei throws a shot from downtown. Yamaguchi moves away and avoids it.
Yamaguchi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kamei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kamei on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Kamei.
Kamei takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kamei.
Yamaguchi lands a nice looking body shot.
Kamei lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kamei cracks a nice hook into Yamaguchi's ribs.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that misses.
Yamaguchi lands a head shot.
Kamei lands with a shot to the body.
Kamei throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Kamei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kamei pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamaguchi misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Yamaguchi.
Kamei displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yamaguchi throws out the jab.
Yamaguchi throws a push kick but Kamei slaps the foot to one side.
A swing and a miss from Yamaguchi.
Kamei has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yamaguchi finds it's way round the side to connect with Kamei's head.
Kamei walks forward, straight into a front kick from Yamaguchi.
Kamei checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamaguchi walks into a jab.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Kamei blocks the low kick.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Kamei misses the shot to the body.
Kamei swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kamei looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Yamaguchi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kamei had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Kamei uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi.
Kamei chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yamaguchi can pounce on him.
Yamaguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kamei.
Kamei throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kamei slips under a jab from Yamaguchi.
Kamei swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kamei misses with the combination.
Kamei misses with a straight right.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Kamei.
Kamei misses the body punch
and Yamaguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi lands a slapping body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yamaguchi.
Kamei clobbers Yamaguchi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Yamaguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Kamei.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi thinks about the counter body kick.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Kamei lands a jab.
Kamei looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi tries a head kick but it misses.
Kamei lands with a straight right. Yamaguchi didn't see that one coming.
Yamaguchi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yamaguchi moves away from the strike by Kamei.
Kamei misses with a wild body shot.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kamei swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Yamaguchi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kamei takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Kamei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamaguchi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kamei checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Koichi Kamei will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamaguchi jabs Kamei right on the nose. Kamei blinks but takes it well.
Kamei misses the jab.
Kamei moves out of range of the strikes.
Koichi Kamei is winning the standup battle so far.
Yamaguchi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Yamaguchi lands a nice hook to Kamei's body. Kamei takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yamaguchi dodges the punch combination from Kamei.
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kamei was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi.
Kamei is looking to wear down Yamaguchi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yamaguchi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kamei has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kamei misses with a wild combination.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kamei.
Kamei throws a jab when Yamaguchi was well out of range.
Kamei waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Yamaguchi!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jab, jab by Yamaguchi - just one landing.
Yamaguchi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Yamaguchi throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Yamaguchi misses.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamei manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kamei momentarily.
Kamei drops his hands momentarily and Yamaguchi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Yamaguchi ducks under a wild hook from Kamei.
Yamaguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Kamei off balance momentarily.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Yamaguchi.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
Yamaguchi connects with a body shot that sends Kamei's belly button to the back.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the side of Kamei's head but Kamei sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yamaguchi lands with a hook. Kamei tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Yamaguchi lunges at Kamei with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kamei's hand.
Kamei tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Kamei.
Kamei slips a jab from Yamaguchi.
Kamei moves out of range of the body kick from Yamaguchi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Kamei misses.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Kamei strikes.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi looks to throw the jab but Kamei is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Kamei.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kamei throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi missing with a left hand there. Kamei was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Kamei.
Yamaguchi thinks about the counter body kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a head kick.
Kamei missing with a left hand there. Yamaguchi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kamei moves away.
Kamei misses with a looping left.
Yamaguchi slips a straight right by Kamei.
Kamei misses with a wild body shot.
Kamei misses with a body shot.
Yamaguchi wants to clinch.
Kamei misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a low kick.
Yamaguchi lands with a shot to the body.
Kamei connects with a good right hand that stumbles Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamei manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Yamaguchi lands with a nice body punch.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Kamei's front leg with a kick but Kamei checks it.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi misses the jab.
Kamei misses with a jab to the body
and Yamaguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kamei lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yamaguchi at a distance.
Kamei slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kamei misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kamei is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kamei uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamaguchi.
It looked like Kamei wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kamei looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kamei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamaguchi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Kamei strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kamei takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kamei catches Yamaguchi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Yamaguchi throws a lazy uppercut
and Kamei connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamaguchi connects with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi blocks a jab.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yamaguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Yamaguchi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yamaguchi throws a sloppy head kick and Kamei moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Kamei misses its target.
Kamei steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Kamei moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kamei defending well as Yamaguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab.
Nice uppercut there from Kamei.
Kamei uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamaguchi.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kamei throws a big shot that misses.
Yamaguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kamei momentarily.
Yamaguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kamei moves out of range as Yamaguchi throws a body kick.
Kamei throws a big counter combination but Yamaguchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Yamaguchi moves away from the strike by Kamei.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kamei misses with a hook to the body
and Yamaguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice defenses there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands a slapping body shot.
Kamei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kamei ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Kamei moves out of range of the body kick from Yamaguchi.
Kamei ducks under a wild hook from Yamaguchi.
Kamei swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kamei manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kamei smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A solid body kick from Yamaguchi.
Kamei avoids the head kick by Yamaguchi.
Kamei is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kamei.
Kamei tests Yamaguchi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kamei looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi motions for Kamei to come forward. Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kamei.
A cross from Kamei lands.
Yamaguchi tries to land a front kick but Kamei steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kamei lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamei throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Kamei takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kamei takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kamei swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kamei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi with the inside leg kick.

Kamei tries to keep at a distance but Yamaguchi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kamei swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yamaguchi gets through Kamei's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi misses with the head strike.
Kamei misses with some punches.
Kamei tries to throw a body punch but Yamaguchi avoids it by throwing Kamei back against the cage.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Yamaguchi lands an uppercut.
Kamei misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kamei blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi lands a right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
I was talking to Kamei's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is leaning against Kamei and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kamei misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kamei backwards.
A right hand to the body from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Kamei controls his hands.
Yamaguchi lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Kamei fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yamaguchi.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yamaguchi.
Kamei throws a head punch that misses.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kamei backwards.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yamaguchi.
Kamei is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamei lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kamei scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kamei blocks an uppercut.
Kamei blocks a body shot from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kamei backwards.
Yamaguchi has Kamei pressed against the cage.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi misses with some punches.
Yamaguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Kamei controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yamaguchi.
Kamei misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Kamei controls the action.
Kamei blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamei being controlled against the cage.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kamei lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Yamaguchi as the two fighters clinch.
Kamei misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the head.
A short left from Kamei.
Kamei blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Yamaguchi.
Kamei misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kamei lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kamei throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kamei lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Yamaguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamaguchi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
A relieved looking Kai Yamaguchi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.