PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zhang Jun (ranked 528 p4p, 1373 weight class) and Takayama Yataro (ranked 31 p4p, 82 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Jun
vs
Yataro

150 cm
23
130
9 - 4 - 0

163 cm
26
143
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

SynCity Fightwear
Brooklyn Apothecary

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zhang Jun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Takayama Yataro!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Yataro.
Jun looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jun ducks under a wild hook from Yataro.
Jun half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jun staying out of range there.
Jun half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jun ducks under a wild hook from Yataro.
Takayama Yataro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yataro scores with a jab.
Yataro scores with a nice head shot.
Yataro looks to land a left hand but Jun moved out of range nicely.
Yataro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jun tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yataro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yataro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yataro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jun keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jun uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yataro.
Yataro looks to land a right hand but Jun moved out of range.
Jun tries to counter with a takedown but Yataro is quick to defend against it.
Yataro 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yataro misses the jab.
As Yataro tries to get set, Jun tries to push him back and clinch up but Yataro manages to avoid the attempt.

Jun shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Yataro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yataro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jun controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jun postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Yataro keeping moving, preventing Jun from controlling successfully.
Jun is looking to work some ground and pound but Yataro has wrist control.
Jun might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yataro wants to stand but Jun is controlling the position.
Jun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jun won't allow Yataro to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun lands a couple of elbows.
Jun prevents Yataro from getting back to his feet.
Jun works over Yataro with some ground and pound from guard.
Jun throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yataro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jun is controlling him.
Jun postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yataro wants to stand and escape but Jun is having none of it.
Yataro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jun.
Jun stops Yataro from standing up.
Jun controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jun prevents Yataro from getting back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yataro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Yataro throws a big shot that misses.
Yataro takes a swing at Jun's ribcage but misses.
Jun tries to counter by clinching up but Yataro breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yataro connects with the punch.

Jun feints and as Yataro raises his hands in defense, Jun changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yataro wants to stand up but Jun is controlling him.
Yataro being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jun connects with a couple of short punches.
Yataro wants to stand up but Jun is controlling him.
Jun working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jun postures up in Yataro's guard and throws a big left but Yataro blocks it.
Jun is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yataro is looking to stand up but Jun isn't so interested in that idea.
Jun throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yataro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jun is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Jun prevents Yataro from getting back to his feet.
Yataro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jun has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jun stops Yataro from standing up.
Jun scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jun accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yataro wants to stand and escape but Jun is having none of it.
Jun is looking to work some ground and pound but Yataro has wrist control.
Jun won't allow Yataro to get back to his feet.
Jun loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jun accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jun's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jun lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jun prevents Yataro from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takayama Yataro will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yataro misses the jab.
Yataro catches Jun with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jun.
Yataro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Jun lands with an overhand left.
Jun closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jun moves away from the strike by Yataro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jun staying out of range there.

Yataro gets caught napping as Jun dives in and scores a takedown. Yataro manages to retain guard.
Yataro wants to get back to his feet but Jun is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jun trying to control but Yataro is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun throws a big elbow that misses.
Yataro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jun is controlling him.
Jun showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Yataro wants to get back to his feet but Jun is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jun postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jun controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jun postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jun stops Yataro from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Jun closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Jun jumps guard.
Yataro wants to stand but Jun has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Yataro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jun is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Yataro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yataro wants to stand and escape but instead Jun has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Yataro wants to get back to his feet but Jun passes into half guard.
Yataro wants to get back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jun connects with a nice short shot to Yataro's temple.
Jun is keen to just control but Yataro is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jun sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yataro defending well though.
Jun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yataro is refusing to be controlled, as Jun sits in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jun connects with a nice short shot to Yataro's temple.
Yataro is staying active underneath Jun, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jun prevents Yataro from standing back up.

Jun is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jun winds up and cracks Yataro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jun stops Yataro from getting back to his feet.
Jun seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jun prevents Yataro from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yataro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jun throwing shots but Yataro is blocking nicely.
Yataro is looking to escape.
Jun drops an elbow to the side of Yataro's head.
Yataro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yataro is trying to escape back to his feet but Jun uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Jun trying to control the action but Yataro is working from the bottom.
Yataro is trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yataro is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Jun is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yataro can do to turn this around?
Jun works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jun landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Jun dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jun shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good standup being displayed there by Yataro as he connects with a hook.
Yataro is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A big left from Yataro misses.
Jun fails with the takedown
and Yataro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jun takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yataro connects with a right hand. Jun shakes it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yataro keeps the fight on the outside.
Jun fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yataro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jun.
As Yataro tries to get set, Jun tries to push him back and clinch up but Yataro manages to avoid the attempt.
Jun ducks under a wild hook from Yataro.
Jun tries to counter by clinching up but Yataro breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jun tries to close the distance and clinch but Yataro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yataro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yataro throws out a powerful jab.
Takayama Yataro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yataro throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jun sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Takayama Yataro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jun steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yataro.
Yataro smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yataro misses with a looping right.
Yataro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jun dives in for a single leg takedown but Yataro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zhang Jun. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jun takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yataro throws a body punch but Jun moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jun misses with a wild body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Yataro misses.
Jun moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jun tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yataro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jun lands with a nice body punch.
Yataro misses with a straight right.
Yataro throws a jab when Jun was well out of range.
Yataro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jun moves away.
Yataro might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jun shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jun showed some decent athleticism there.
Jun trying to control the action but Yataro is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yataro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jun.
Jun prevents Yataro from standing back up.
Jun working over Yataro with some ground and pound. Yataro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jun lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Still in half guard, Jun seems content to control.
Jun lands strikes from half guard.
Jun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yataro wants to get back to his feet.
Jun missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yataro wants to get back to his feet.
Yataro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jun.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yataro is trying to stand.
Yataro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jun is keen to just control but Yataro is a slippery customer.
Jun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yataro pushes Jun off looking to stand but Jun dives back in and keeps control.
Jun scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yataro is trying to stand.
Jun slips a nice elbow through Yataro's hands, connecting with Yataro's forehead.
Jun lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yataro is looking to escape.
Jun controlling the action here.
Jun takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jun looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yataro keeps working.
Yataro looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takayama Yataro.
I think Yataro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29

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