PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuudai Yanagi (ranked 3669 p4p, 3217 weight class) and Noah Stevenson (ranked 408 p4p, 380 weight class). Yuudai Yanagi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yanagi
vs
Stevenson

188 cm
25
160
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
167
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Can Moonwalk

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 London, Yuudai Yanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Noah Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yanagi gets caught napping as Stevenson dives in and scores a takedown. Yanagi manages to retain guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Stevenson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stevenson stays in close to Yanagi's body and controls the position.
Yanagi keeping full guard, as Stevenson tries to pass.
Stevenson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Yanagi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson preventing the sweep.
Stevenson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yanagi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stevenson defends it easily.
Stevenson cracks Yanagi with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yanagi has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Stevenson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Yanagi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stevenson has him pressed against the cage.
Yanagi has Stevenson pressed against the cage, preventing Stevenson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yanagi dodges an elbow strike from Stevenson.
Yanagi is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yanagi pinned against the cage. Yanagi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yuudai Yanagi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stevenson.
Yanagi tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Yanagi tries to clinch up but Stevenson circles away and keeps his distance.

Stevenson rushes Yanagi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stevenson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Yanagi after a bit of a struggle.
Stevenson is trying to break free.
Yanagi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stevenson backwards.

Yanagi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson fails to land the takedown.
Yuudai Yanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Stevenson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Stevenson pushes Yanagi up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yanagi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stevenson.

Stevenson gets a double leg takedown into Yanagi's guard.
Stevenson wants to get up but he can't break Yanagi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stevenson controlling from the top position.
Stevenson postures up and lands a big shot to Yanagi's brow.
Yanagi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Stevenson is standing up over Yanagi. Yanagi looks to escape but Stevenson dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Let's hope that Stevenson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yanagi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Stevenson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Stevenson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Yanagi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stevenson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Yanagi on the side of the head.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yanagi as he jumps to the side.

Stevenson clinches up with Yanagi and pushes him back against the cage.
Yanagi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stevenson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yanagi defends it nicely.
Yanagi throwing a counter right hand but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Yuudai Yanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Stevenson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yanagi lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanagi is looking to clinch but Stevenson is avoiding it.
Yuudai Yanagi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson throws a head kick but Yanagi moves out of range.

Stevenson looking to score a takedown here. Yanagi is defending well but Stevenson drives through and ends up in Yanagi's guard.
Stevenson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yanagi is on top in guard.

Stevenson wants to improve his position but instead Yanagi has moved into half guard.
Yanagi throwing shots but Stevenson is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yanagi is looking to take a break and control but Stevenson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yanagi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi thows a huge punch but Stevenson dodges it nicely.
Stevenson wants to get back to his feet.
Stevenson desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Yanagi decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Yanagi stuffs the takedown.

Stevenson pushes Yanagi up against the cage in a clinch.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yanagi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yanagi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Yanagi moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yanagi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Stevenson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Stevenson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stevenson pulls Yanagi in close to his closed guard and prevents Yanagi from doing any damage or advancing position.
Stevenson wants to sweep here but Yanagi controlling him for the moment.
Yanagi is fighting to break Stevenson's control of his arms but Stevenson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stevenson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi won't allow Stevenson to sweep him here.
Stevenson wants to stand but Yanagi is controlling the position.
Stevenson wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yanagi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevenson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yanagi defends it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuudai Yanagi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Yanagi'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!

A nice leg kick from Yanagi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yanagi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It appears Yanagi was looking to counter with a kick there.
Stevenson lands with an uppercut that bounces Yanagi off the cage and back into range.
Nice takedown defense from Yanagi. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
Yanagi stuffs the takedown.
Yuudai Yanagi is winning the standup battle so far.
Stevenson tries to clinch up
and Yanagi counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yanagi tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Yanagi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson shoots and misses
and Yanagi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stevenson thinking.
Yuudai Yanagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Stevenson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stevenson.
Stevenson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevenson dives in and grabs Yanagi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yanagi pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stevenson, as that shot connected.
Yanagi lands with a kick to the temple. Stevenson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Stevenson misses with a takedown attempt - Yanagi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stevenson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yanagi doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.
Yanagi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Stevenson's hands.
Yanagi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi tries to clinch but Stevenson moves out of range.
Yanagi lands a glancing blow to the side of Stevenson's head.
Yanagi tries a head kick but it misses.
Yanagi throws a body kick that misses.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Yanagi keeps it at a distance.
Yanagi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Yanagi slaps away a takedown attempt from Stevenson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yanagi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Yanagi is looking to counter the offense by Stevenson and move into the clinch.
Stevenson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yanagi cracks Stevenson with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stevenson takes a step back to recover.
Yanagi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stevenson.
Yanagi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stevenson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yanagi defends well and Stevenson ends up having to push Yanagi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A quick step to the side and Yanagi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yanagi tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stevenson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yanagi circles away.
Yanagi misses with a looping right.
Stevenson dives in and grabs Yanagi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yanagi pushes down on Stevenson's head and hops out.
Stevenson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nice shot lands for Yanagi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yanagi as he jumps to the side.
Yanagi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yanagi tries to bum rush Stevenson with a series of wild strikes but Stevenson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Yanagi does no damage.
Yanagi scores with a kick to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stevenson shoots for a takedown but Yanagi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Yanagi.
Stevenson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No luck for Stevenson with that takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuudai Yanagi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yanagi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!