PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mykhailo Yakovenko (ranked 5457 p4p, 6622 weight class) and Ichiro Shimizu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ichiro Shimizu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yakovenko
vs
Shimizu

175 cm
25
158
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
158
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mykhailo Yakovenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ichiro Shimizu!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakovenko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Yakovenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Shimizu scores with a nice body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Yakovenko. No joy for Shimizu on that attempt.
Yakovenko scores with a jab to the body.
Yakovenko throws a low kick but Shimizu avoids it.
Yakovenko sets himself, and Shimizu steps forward looking for the clinch! Yakovenko avoids it this time.
Shimizu shoots in and drives through. Yakovenko sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Yakovenko with that takedown attempt.
Shimizu thuds his shin into the meat of Yakovenko's side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimizu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yakovenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Shimizu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mykhailo Yakovenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichiro Shimizu.
Shimizu shoots for a double leg takedown but Yakovenko sprawls well. He's pushed Shimizu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shimizu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yakovenko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shimizu stuffs the takedown attempt from Yakovenko. Yakovenko gets slowly back to his feet.

Yakovenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shimizu, pushing him back against the cage.
Yakovenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shimizu misses with a knee strike.
Yakovenko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yakovenko jumps guard.
Yakovenko looking to control.
Shimizu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shimizu preventing the sweep.
Yakovenko is trying to keep Shimizu in close.
Shimizu is looking to advance position but Yakovenko has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Yakovenko unloads with some shots from mount but Shimizu bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Yakovenko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Yakovenko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shimizu is trying to reverse the position but instead Yakovenko has taken his back - oops!
Yakovenko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yakovenko's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Shimizu is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yakovenko has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shimizu has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Shimizu wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Shimizu is squirming around, avoiding Yakovenko's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yakovenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mykhailo Yakovenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shimizu fails to land the takedown.
Shimizu tries for a takedown but Yakovenko circles away easily

and Yakovenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shimizu is trying to break free.
Shimizu has Yakovenko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yakovenko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mykhailo Yakovenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichiro Shimizu.
Shimizu looking to slow down the pace here.
Shimizu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yakovenko to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shimizu prevents the takedown attempt.
Yakovenko has Shimizu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shimizu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shimizu is trying to break the clinch but Yakovenko is controlling him.
Shimizu is trying to maintain a safe position but Yakovenko gets an underhook and turns Shimizu into the cage.
Shimizu wants to get back to striking at distance but Yakovenko won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimizu is trying to break the clinch but Yakovenko is controlling him.
Shimizu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yakovenko to keep the fight standing.
Shimizu goes for a takedown attempt but Yakovenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yakovenko throws a looping overhand right but Shimizu ducks down to avoid it.
Shimizu shoots in for a takedown but Yakovenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yakovenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yakovenko shoots in and drives through. Shimizu sprawls well.
Shimizu throws a nice head kick!

Yakovenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Shimizu tries to pull guard but Yakovenko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yakovenko pulls guard.
Yakovenko has his hands on Shimizu's head, controlling the position.
Shimizu stays in close to Yakovenko's body and controls the position.
Yakovenko controls Shimizu momentarily but Shimizu frees himself.
Shimizu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Yakovenko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shimizu defends it easily.
Shimizu wants to control from the top but Yakovenko keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimizu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shimizu preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Yakovenko moves into range and clinches up with Shimizu.

Yakovenko pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yakovenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shimizu is looking to improve his position.
Mykhailo Yakovenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yakovenko moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Shimizu.
Shimizu tries to bench press Yakovenko off him but Yakovenko keeps the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shimizu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mykhailo Yakovenko dominated that second round.
That's time! Yakovenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shimizu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakovenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yakovenko.
Shimizu tries to clinch there but Yakovenko circles away.

Yakovenko has taken the fight to the clinch.

Yakovenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakovenko shoots in for a takedown but Shimizu shows good takedown defense.
Shimizu scores with a three punch combo!
Shimizu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yakovenko sprawls well. Yakovenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shimizu gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakovenko looks for a takedown but Shimizu sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mykhailo Yakovenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shimizu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yakovenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick lands for Shimizu.
Shimizu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakovenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yakovenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yakovenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yakovenko misses with a takedown attempt - Shimizu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Yakovenko. No joy for Shimizu on that attempt.
Shimizu fails to land with a series of punches.
Shimizu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yakovenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Yakovenko moves into the clinch.
Shimizu is trying to push Yakovenko away but Yakovenko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakovenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shimizu can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shimizu tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yakovenko smiles and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Shimizu as Yakovenko shoots in.
Shimizu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yakovenko dodges the punch combination from Shimizu.

Yakovenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yakovenko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shimizu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yakovenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shimizu's efforts to push away.
Shimizu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yakovenko just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shimizu trying to stall but Yakovenko improves his position.
Shimizu is trying to push Yakovenko away but Yakovenko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Yakovenko manages to pull guard.
Shimizu wants to control from the top but Yakovenko keeps moving.
Shimizu wants to pass the guard but Yakovenko is keeping the position.
Yakovenko trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Shimizu preventing the sweep.
Shimizu being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yakovenko continues to stall.

Yakovenko is looking for a triangle but Shimizu pushes his legs off easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yakovenko shoots in but Shimizu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shimizu is looking to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shimizu doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakovenko circles away.
Shimizu with a poor takedown

and Yakovenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Ichiro Shimizu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mykhailo Yakovenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yakovenko tries to circle away but Shimizu has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mykhailo Yakovenko.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Yakovenko, 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mykhailo Yakovenko!