PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuuto Yoshida (ranked 4065 p4p, 4092 weight class) and Phil Anselmo (ranked 498 p4p, 501 weight class). Yoshida comes to the cage accompanied by Blue Oyster Cult Godzilla . Yuuto Yoshida has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Yoshida
vs
Anselmo

184 cm
43
210
31 - 20 - 0

180 cm
30
207
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Yuuto Yoshida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phil Anselmo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anselmo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Anselmo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Yoshida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yoshida looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yoshida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Anselmo walks into a stiff left hand from Yoshida.
Yoshida lands with a nice combination. Anselmo backs away looking to recover.
Yoshida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yuuto Yoshida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anselmo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Anselmo's coach down at Gym of Rock was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Anselmo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Anselmo clinches up with Yoshida and pushes him back against the cage.
Yoshida throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Yoshida is leaning against Anselmo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Yoshida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoshida connects with a looping right hand.
Yoshida lands a right hook to the body.
Yoshida throws out a powerful jab.
Good leg kick by Yoshida.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yoshida.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshida darts in and clinches Anselmo up against the cage.
Yoshida lands a right hand that snaps the head of Anselmo backwards.
Yoshida lands with a right to the head.

Yoshida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anselmo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yoshida lands a leg kick that knocks Anselmo off balance momentarily.
Yoshida scores with a sloppy right hand. Anselmo should have avoided that one.

Yoshida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yoshida lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Yoshida breaks the clinch.
Yoshida jabs Anselmo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yoshida.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yoshida scores with a crisp jab that stopped Anselmo in his tracks.

Anselmo tries to keep at a distance but Yoshida has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yoshida softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Yoshida lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Phil Anselmo has been cut.
Yoshida pushes Anselmo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yoshida is leaning against Anselmo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good body shot from Yoshida.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yoshida creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yoshida.
Good body shot from Yoshida.
Yoshida working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Yoshida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yoshida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yoshida lands with an uppercut that bounces Anselmo off the cage and back into range.
An inside leg kick lands from Yoshida.

Anselmo tries to keep at a distance but Yoshida has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yoshida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yoshida with a jab.
Yoshida lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Anselmo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Anselmo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a right hook to the body.
Yoshida scoring well with a low kick there.
Yoshida lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Anselmo backs up against the cage.
Yoshida throws a nice outside leg kick.
Anselmo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Anselmo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anselmo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yoshida.
A shot to the liver by Yoshida. Beautiful body shot.

Yoshida clinches up with Anselmo and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Yoshida on the inside.

Yoshida breaks the clinch.
Yoshida connects with a body shot.
Anselmo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Yoshida is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Yoshida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yoshida lands the left hand.
Yoshida thuds his shin into the meat of Anselmo's side.

Yoshida drives through and clinches with Anselmo against the cage.

Yoshida breaks from the clinch.
Yuuto Yoshida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yoshida scores with a jab. Anselmo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Yoshida rushes Anselmo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshida lands a body punch in the clinch.
Yoshida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yoshida lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Yoshida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuuto Yoshida dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phil Anselmo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Anselmo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Anselmo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yoshida lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Yoshida throws a one two combo.
A left and a right from Yoshida both land. Nice combination.
Yoshida scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Yoshida lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yoshida scores with a spinning back kick!

Yoshida has closed the distance and engaged Anselmo in a clinch.
Yoshida lands a body punch in the clinch.

Yoshida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yoshida. That's going to slow Anselmo down.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yoshida catches Anselmo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshida drives through and clinches with Anselmo against the cage.
Yuuto Yoshida has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Yoshida breaks the clinch.
Yoshida throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yoshida scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice shot lands for Yoshida.

Yoshida clinches with his opponent.
Yoshida scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yoshida works on Anselmo's body with a couple of short punches.

Yoshida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshida with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yoshida lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anselmo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yoshida. Yoshida obviously looking to wear him down.
Yoshida lands a body shot.
Yoshida uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yoshida is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anselmo can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida cracks a nice hook into Anselmo's ribs.
Yoshida lands a two punch combo.
Anselmo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yoshida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Anselmo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yoshida lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Good exchange - Yoshida coming out on top.
Yoshida scores with a jab to the body.

Yoshida clinches.

Yoshida breaks from the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yoshida.
Yoshida lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yoshida works Anselmo's body with a nice hook.
Anselmo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Yoshida lets loose with a powerful body kick. Anselmo will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Yoshida scores with a nice body kick.
Anselmo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A cross from Yoshida lands.
Donk. Yoshida catches Anselmo right on the button with a cross.
Yuuto Yoshida is winning the standup battle so far.
Yoshida connects with a leg kick.
Yoshida lands with a straight right. Anselmo didn't see that one coming.

Yoshida moves into the clinch.
Anselmo jumps guard but Yoshida stands there with Anselmo around his waist. Anselmo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yoshida lands a left hand.

Yoshida's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshida keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anselmo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida lands a slapping body shot.
Crunch! Yoshida slams his shin into Anselmo's torso.
Anselmo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yoshida thows a body kick. Anselmo tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A shot to the liver by Yoshida. Beautiful body shot.

Yoshida clinches with his opponent.
A shot in the inside from Yoshida.
Yoshida cracks Anselmo with a nice body shot.

Yoshida breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yoshida rushes Anselmo and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yoshida breaks the clinch.
Yoshida with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yoshida.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yoshida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuuto Yoshida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phil Anselmo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yoshida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yoshida works the jab nicely.
Yoshida works Anselmo's body with a nice hook.

Yoshida rushes Anselmo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Yoshida breaks from the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Yoshida as he connects with a hook.
A nice leg kick from Yoshida, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Anselmo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Yoshida scores with a kick to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshida connects with an inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yoshida has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yoshida lands a nice shot to the body.
Yoshida is leaning against Anselmo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yoshida lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Yoshida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshida fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Anselmo, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yoshida.
Yoshida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yoshida lands a left hand that snaps the head of Anselmo backwards.
Yoshida lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Anselmo or not.

Yoshida breaks from the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Yoshida scores with a four punch combination!
Yoshida fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Anselmo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Anselmo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida cracks a nice hook into Anselmo's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yoshida chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.
A low kick lands for Yoshida.
Yuuto Yoshida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Anselmo if he has to take too many more of those.
A jab lands there for Yoshida.
Anselmo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yoshida connects with a looping right hand.
Yoshida stuns Anselmo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yoshida comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anselmo walks into a left hand.
Yoshida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Anselmo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yoshida fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Anselmo.
Yoshida takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yoshida lands a nice looking kick to the body. Anselmo takes a step back to recover.
Anselmo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a nice hook to Anselmo's body. Anselmo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Anselmo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A low kick lands for Yoshida.
Yoshida lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Anselmo at a distance.
Yoshida scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yoshida lands a slapping body shot.
Yoshida getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Yoshida with a hook.
Anselmo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Yoshida throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
An inside leg kick lands from Yoshida.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anselmo tries to close the distance and clinch but Yoshida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yoshida lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yoshida.

Yoshida moves into the clinch successfully.
Yoshida pushes Anselmo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Anselmo has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Yoshida.
Yoshida lands with a left to the head.
Yoshida lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anselmo backwards.
Yoshida lands a body punch.
Yoshida lands with a light punch inside.
Yoshida scores with a nice hook to the head.

Yoshida manages to break the clinch.
Yoshida feints and then cracks Anselmo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Anselmo down.
Yoshida scores with a jab to the body.
Phil Anselmo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshida thuds his shin into the meat of Anselmo's side.
Yoshida lands a body shot.
Yoshida wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuuto Yoshida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yoshida has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:24
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:24
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuuto Yoshida!
A determined Yuuto Yoshida didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!