PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sven Verdek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryo Yamazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamazaki has chosen Bounce With Me as his entrance music. Ryo Yamazaki has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Verdek
vs
Yamazaki

167 cm
25
162 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

184 cm
23
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sven Verdek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryo Yamazaki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verdek closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Verdek lands in his opponent's guard.
Verdek won't allow Yamazaki to get back to his feet.
Yamazaki keeping full guard, as Verdek tries to pass.
Verdek 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.
Verdek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Verdek looking to pass the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamazaki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Verdek trying to control but Yamazaki is working from the bottom.
Verdek is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdek wants to control from the top but Yamazaki keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Verdek misses.
Verdek fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yamazaki is out of range.
Verdek takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Verdek fails in his attempt to clinch.

Yamazaki takes the fight into the clinch.
Verdek avoiding damage as Yamazaki throws knees to the body.
Yamazaki tries a knee to the head but Verdek blocks it.
Yamazaki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Verdek lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Yamazaki misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamazaki tries a knee to the head but Verdek blocks it.
Verdek drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yamazaki pulls his leg out and moves away.

Verdek closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Verdek breaks from the clinch.
Yamazaki clinches but Verdek breaks the clinch

and Verdek counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Verdek.
Yamazaki gets underhooks to prevent Verdek's takedown attempt.
Yamazaki scores with a knee to the head.
The referee calls for Yamazaki to work.
Verdek tries to stall but Yamazaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yamazaki misses with a knee strike.
Verdek is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamazaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdek.

Verdek's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Verdek wants to clinch up but Yamazaki keeps it at a distance.

Verdek moves into the clinch.
Yamazaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdek.
Yamazaki missing with knees to the body.
Yamazaki missing with knees to the body.
Yamazaki trying to land knees to the body.
Yamazaki trying to land knees to the body.
Verdek is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Yamazaki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Verdek.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sven Verdek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamazaki misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verdek.
Yamazaki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Verdek's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yamazaki taking a breather.
Yamazaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Verdek blocks it with crossed arms.
Verdek tries to break the clinch but Yamazaki is controlling the position.
Yamazaki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The referee calls for Verdek to work.
Yamazaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Yamazaki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Verdek's brow.
Yamazaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Verdek avoids the damage to the body.
Yamazaki looks gassed!
Yamazaki trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yamazaki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Verdek blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verdek is trying to break the clinch but Yamazaki has him pressed against the ropes.
Yamazaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yamazaki tries a knee to the head but Verdek blocks it.
Verdek is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Verdek has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yamazaki uses from the top position.
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 Sven Verdek will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Verdek has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yamazaki lands a knee to the head.
Yamazaki trying to land knees to the body.
Yamazaki tries to land a knee to the head but Verdek blocks with his arms.
Yamazaki unloads a knee to the mid-section. Verdek lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

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

Yamazaki closes the distance and clinches.
Verdek blocks the elbow strike.
Yamazaki throws an elbow but it misses.
Yamazaki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Verdek has Yamazaki pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Verdek pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Yamazaki tumbling to the mat - Verdek dives into Yamazaki's guard.
Verdek advances to half guard.
Verdek is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Yamazaki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdek landing strikes, looking to finish!
Verdek lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Verdek wants to control the pace but Yamazaki is squirming around nicely.
Verdek landing strikes from the mount and Yamazaki is in trouble!
Verdek is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Verdek content just to control the position here.
Verdek breaks from Yamazaki's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verdek looking for a guillotine from mount but Yamazaki is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Verdek looking to control but Yamazaki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verdek mounts Yamazaki! Really nice guard pass there!
Verdek can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yamazaki is looking to escape.

Verdek goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Yamazaki turns into him and now he's in Verdek's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamazaki wanted to stand there but Verdek had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Verdek is on top in guard.
Yamazaki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Verdek. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yamazaki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Verdek.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Verdek postures up in Yamazaki's guard and throws a big left but Yamazaki blocks it.
Yamazaki wants to stand and escape but Verdek is having none of it.
Verdek sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yamazaki's guard.

Verdek seems to be working for a kimura but Yamazaki defends the submission attempt.
Verdek passes the guard and advances to mount!
Verdek takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Verdek dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Verdek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verdek throws a head kick but Yamazaki moves out of range.
Yamazaki tries to clinch

and Verdek counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yamazaki won't be happy with that.
Verdek scores with a couple of short elbows.
Verdek postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Verdek stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Verdek scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sloppy strikes there by Verdek.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdek trying to control the action but Yamazaki is working from the bottom.
Yamazaki is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yamazaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Verdek tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Verdek has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yamazaki is not content to let Verdek control the position.
Yamazaki bucks up and tries to throw Verdek off but instead Verdek has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Verdek missing with strikes.
Verdek controls the position.
Yamazaki is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Verdek off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Verdek sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Yamazaki taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sven Verdek!