PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mario Yamasaki (ranked 915 p4p, 2364 weight class) and George Hale (ranked 82 p4p, 201 weight class). Hale has chosen Tenggar Cavalry - Lone Wolf as his entrance music. Mario Yamasaki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yamasaki
vs
Hale

167 cm
26
145
8 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
146
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

White Gorilla

Seventh Circle Clothing
White Gorilla

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mario Yamasaki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, George Hale!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamasaki throws a series of punches but Hale moves out of range.
Yamasaki scores with a hook to the body. Hale takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Yamasaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hale sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamasaki takes one to the side of the head.
Hale lands a nice shot that snaps Yamasaki's head back.
Yamasaki lands a body shot.
Yamasaki lands a really nice looking cross but Hale seems unphased.
Hale defending well as Yamasaki loads up on a big left hand.

Hale closes the distance and clinches.
Hale tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yamasaki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hale.
Hale lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale lands a shot to the body.
Hale lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Yamasaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hale creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hale lands a shoulder strike.
Hale throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamasaki.
Hale missing with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Hale.
Hale struggles to land a body shot inside as Yamasaki controls his hands.
Hale goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yamasaki is defending well for now.
Hale effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale struggles to land a body shot inside as Yamasaki controls his hands.
Yamasaki blocks an uppercut.
Yamasaki looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
A short right from Hale.
Yamasaki is pressed up against the cage. Hale has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yamasaki down to the mat. Yamasaki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yamasaki cracks Hale with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Hale clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Hale fails to land.
Yamasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hale has him pressed against the cage.
Hale misses with some punches.
Hale lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Hale misses with an elbow over the top.
Yamasaki is trying to break the clinch but Hale has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale digs a right hand underneath Yamasaki's ribcage. Yamasaki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hale swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hale misses with a punch to the body.
Hale missing with knees to the body.
Yamasaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Still in the clinch, Hale scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hale throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamasaki.
Yamasaki prevents a body shot from Hale.
Hale misses with the head strike.
Yamasaki can't break the clinch.
Hale stalling.
Hale misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands with a short shot to the head.
Hale working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hale.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Yamasaki tries to break the clinch but Hale is controlling the position.
Hale looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Yamasaki working hard to break the clinch.
Hale tries a body shot but Yamasaki blocks it.
Yamasaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Hale won't allow it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hale.
Hale lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yamasaki is trying to force a seperation but Hale has the dominant position.
Hale is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yamasaki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hale moves in looking to clinch but Yamasaki pushes him off.
Hale looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamasaki is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Hale.
Hale has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hale tries to clinch up but Yamasaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Hale is looking to clinch but Yamasaki is avoiding it.
Hale wants to clinch up but Yamasaki keeps it at a distance.
Yamasaki throws a body punch but Hale moves out of range.

Hale clinches up against the cage.
George Hale seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Yamasaki prevents a body shot from Hale.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Hale on the inside.
Yamasaki effectively controlling the action here.
Hale misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamasaki blocks an uppercut.
Hale throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yamasakis head.
A head punch on the inside from Hale fails to land.
Hale missing with knees to the body.
Yamasaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Yamasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yamasaki.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hale.
A head punch on the inside from Hale fails to land.
Hale lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hale.
Yamasaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Hale has double underhooks.
Hale tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hale misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamasaki avoiding damage as Hale throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hale as Yamasaki tries to tie him up.
Hale tries to work over Yamasaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yamasaki tries to break the clinch but Hale is controlling the position.
Yamasaki wants to break free but Hale has control.
Hale lands a left hand.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yamasaki avoids the elbow strike from Hale, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hale.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Hale scores with a shot to the side of Yamasaki's head.
Hale lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hale is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yamasaki prevents a body shot from Hale.
Hale tries to land knees in the clinch but Yamasaki avoids the damage to the body.
Yamasaki can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hale.
Yamasaki tries to circle away but Hale has him pinned against the cage.
Hale tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hale tries to land a knee to the head but Yamasaki blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hale softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yamasaki blocks an uppercut.
Hale swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hale looking to throw knees to the head but Yamasaki is blocking nicely.
Hale tries for a takedown but Yamasaki manages to get underhooks.
Hale lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Hale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hale.
Hale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamasaki's elbow.
Hale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yamasaki takes a shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Hale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Yamasaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A left and a right from Hale both land. Nice combination.
Yamasaki with a jab.
George Hale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamasaki lands a head shot.

Hale drives through and clinches with Yamasaki against the cage.
Hale lands a nice uppercut.
Yamasaki avoiding damage as Hale throws knees to the body.
Yamasaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hale lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hale misses with a knee strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Yamasaki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hale goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamasaki blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Hale.
Yamasaki tries to break free but Hale pushes him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hale as Yamasaki tries to tie him up.
Hale lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hale misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamasaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hale.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Hale misses with a punch on the inside.
Hale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamasaki's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands with a right to the head.
Yamasaki managing to block the knees to the body from Hale.
Hale prevents Yamasaki from breaking the clinch.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hale doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Hale pushes Yamasaki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hale drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yamasaki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hale can't find room to land a body shot as Yamasaki controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamasaki or not.
Hale lands a shoulder strike.
Yamasaki takes a shot to the head.
Yamasaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamasaki is pushing Hale up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hale lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Hale throws a head punch that misses.
Yamasaki is trying to force a seperation but Hale has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki blocks an elbow strike from Hale.
Hale scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Hale.
Hale scores with a hook to the body.
Hale misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hale misses with some punches.
Yamasaki takes a shot to the head.
Hale lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Hale tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamasaki's elbow.
Yamasaki tries to circle away but Hale has him pinned against the cage.
Yamasaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hale is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Hale really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hale throws a body punch but Yamasaki moves out of range.
Yamasaki thuds a left hand into Hale's body.
Yamasaki moves forwards but Hale connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yamasaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamasaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamasaki throwing a counter right hand but Hale manages to avoid it.
Yamasaki lands a slapping body shot.
Hale moves in looking to clinch but Yamasaki pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamasaki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Hale has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamasaki blocks a body shot from Hale.
Hale tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Hale working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hale misses with a punch to the body.
Hale throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamasaki.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Yamasaki is trying to push Hale away but Hale has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A body shot lands from Hale.
Yamasaki is trying to break the clinch but Hale has him pressed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hale.
Hale lands a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki blocks an elbow strike from Hale.
A head punch on the inside from Hale fails to land.
Hale misses with a punch to the body.
Hale misses with a punch to the body.
Yamasaki blocks a body shot from Hale.
Hale throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hale.
Hale lands a body punch.
Hale works on Yamasaki's body with a couple of short punches.
Hale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hale misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yamasaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Yamasaki blocks an elbow strike.
Hale has Yamasaki pressed against the cage, preventing Yamasaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hale digs a right hand into Yamasaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamasaki's gas tank.
Hale lands a shoulder strike.
Hale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yamasaki is defending well for now.
Hale lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hale gets through Yamasaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The referee calls for Yamasaki to work.
Hale pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale trying to land knees to the body.
Hale misses with an elbow strike.
Yamasaki blocks the elbow strike.
Yamasaki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yamasaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamasaki blocks a body shot from Hale.
Yamasaki blocks an uppercut.
Yamasaki blocks a body shot from Hale.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yamasaki is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hale misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Hale dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamasaki lands a jab to the head.
Hale walks into a jab.
Yamasaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamasaki was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamasaki swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Jab from Yamasaki.
Yamasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamasaki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamasaki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hale to score with a decent uppercut.
Hale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamasaki throws a hook but Hale avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamasaki misses with a two punch combination.
Nice jab there from Hale.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hale looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little feinted left hand from Yamasaki on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Yamasaki tries to keep at a distance but Hale has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yamasaki avoids it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hale creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hale lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Yamasaki can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yamasaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yamasaki wants to break free but Hale has control.
Yamasaki blocks an uppercut.
Yamasaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamasaki tries to break the clinch but Hale is controlling the position.
Hale tries a body shot but Yamasaki blocks it.
Hale is leaning against Yamasaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hale doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hale throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamasaki.
Hale throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yamasakis head.
Hale digs a right hand into Yamasaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamasaki's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hale lands with a light punch inside.

Hale breaks from the clinch.
Hale jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hale tries to clinch
and Yamasaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Hale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yamasaki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
George Hale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hale is looking to clinch.
Yamasaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamasaki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mario Yamasaki is winning the standup battle so far.
Yamasaki misses with a looping right.

Hale has Yamasaki up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki tries to break the clinch but Hale is controlling the position.
Yamasaki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yamasaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamasaki can't break the clinch.
Mario Yamasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hale has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Hale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hale winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 44:50
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 44:50
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Hale!
George Hale is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath George Hale thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.