PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Oleksandr Nakonechniy (ranked 6325 p4p, 24839 weight class) and Goro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goro Yamamoto has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Oleksandr Nakonechniy's chin.

Nakonechniy
vs
Yamamoto

177 cm
25
157
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
25
158
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Oleksandr Nakonechniy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Goro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nakonechniy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nakonechniy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt.

Yamamoto drops Nakonechniy with a beautiful combination! Nakonechniy stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Yamamoto is looking for the KO!

Nakonechniy is rocked!

It looks like Oleksandr Nakonechniy has been cut.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
Nakonechniy tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Yamamoto manages to circle out of the way.
Oh Nakonechniy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nakonechniy swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamamoto.

Nakonechniy moves into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yamamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nakonechniy has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nakonechniy seems to have got his legs back now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Nakonechniy breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto wants to clinch up but Nakonechniy keeps it at a distance.
Nakonechniy appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nakonechniy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamamoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakonechniy rushes Yamamoto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nakonechniy manages to break the clinch.
Nakonechniy goes for a double leg but Yamamoto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yamamoto continues to drive forward.
Yamamoto is looking for the big counter here.
Nakonechniy lands a jab.
A punch combination from Nakonechniy misses.
Yamamoto shoots in but no luck this time.
Yamamoto is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nakonechniy but Nakonechniy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Oleksandr Nakonechniy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goro Yamamoto.
Yamamoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yamamoto tries to land a body kick

and Nakonechniy counters by moving into the clinch.
Yamamoto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nakonechniy has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yamamoto uses from the top position.
Nakonechniy wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nakonechniy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Nakonechniy escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yamamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nakonechniy holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakonechniy is looking for a triangle but Yamamoto pushes his legs off easily.
Yamamoto prevents Nakonechniy from getting back to his feet.
Nakonechniy trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nakonechniy is defended easily by Yamamoto.
And Yamamoto tries to counter it with a takedown but Nakonechniy pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nakonechniy is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Nakonechniy circles away and we're back to standing.
Nakonechniy is looking to counter the offense by Yamamoto and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakonechniy falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Nakonechniy backing up. Nakonechniy nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nakonechniy counters by moving into the clinch.

Nakonechniy manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nakonechniy managing to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nakonechniy is on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nakonechniy controls from within his opponent's guard.
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 Oleksandr Nakonechniy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Oleksandr Nakonechniy's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yamamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakonechniy defends it nicely.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown but Nakonechniy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yamamoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nakonechniy pinned against the cage. Nakonechniy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Oleksandr Nakonechniy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goro Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Nakonechniy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Nakonechniy breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto has his takedown stuffed

and Nakonechniy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nakonechniy landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Nakonechniy jumps into guard, dragging Yamamoto to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nakonechniy is pulling down on Yamamoto's head. It's preventing any offense from Yamamoto, at least for the moment.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Nakonechniy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakonechniy trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Yamamoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yamamoto won't allow Nakonechniy to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nakonechniy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto looks for the body kick but Nakonechniy saw that one coming.

Nakonechniy forces Yamamoto back against the cage and clinches.

Nakonechniy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nakonechniy fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nakonechniy closes the distance and clinches.

Nakonechniy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nakonechniy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Oleksandr Nakonechniy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nakonechniy tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yamamoto defends well and Nakonechniy ends up having to push Yamamoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Nakonechniy moves out of range easily.
Nakonechniy blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Nakonechniy misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a left and a right that stings Nakonechniy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakonechniy defends it nicely.
Yamamoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nakonechniy stuffs the takedown attempt from Yamamoto. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yamamoto.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nakonechniy throws a head kick that misses.
Goro Yamamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nakonechniy has his takedown stuffed
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Oleksandr Nakonechniy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Oleksandr Nakonechniy's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A head kick misses from Yamamoto.

Nakonechniy closes the distance and pushes Yamamoto back into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nakonechniy.
Yamamoto tries to score a body lock takedown but Nakonechniy shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yamamoto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nakonechniy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamamoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nakonechniy defends it nicely.
Nakonechniy half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Oleksandr Nakonechniy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Goro Yamamoto.
Yamamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nakonechniy connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakonechniy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Nakonechniy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamamoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamamoto wants it to stay on the feet.
Yamamoto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nakonechniy. Yamamoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamamoto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nakonechniy's head backwards.
Yamamoto misses with the body kick

and Nakonechniy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Nakonechniy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yamamoto with a poor takedown

and Nakonechniy counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nakonechniy.
Yamamoto managing to block the knees to the body from Nakonechniy.
Nakonechniy has Yamamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nakonechniy drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yamamoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakonechniy has Yamamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nakonechniy has Yamamoto pressed against the cage, preventing Yamamoto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Nakonechniy decides to pull guard.
Nakonechniy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamamoto trying to control but Nakonechniy is working from the bottom.

Nakonechniy throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Yamamoto escapes and throws Nakonechniy's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakonechniy is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yamamoto has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nakonechniy is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
Nakonechniy is looking to reverse the position.
Yamamoto wants to control for a moment but Nakonechniy uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Nakonechniy is staying active underneath Yamamoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nakonechniy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yamamoto looking to sit in guard and control but Nakonechniy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakonechniy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nakonechniy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Nakonechniy tries to free his leg and advance position but Yamamoto is retaining full guard.
Goro Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oleksandr Nakonechniy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamamoto being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleksandr Nakonechniy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nakonechniy, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleksandr Nakonechniy!