PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Black Leben (ranked 626 p4p, 874 weight class) and Kotetsu Yama (ranked 96 p4p, 121 weight class). Leben comes to the cage accompanied by Wynona's Big Brown Beaver. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Leben
vs
Yama

182 cm
23
164
5 - 2 - 0

168 cm
22
159
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

The Pharmacy Phuket
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Black Leben!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kotetsu Yama!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leben takes a swing at Yama's ribcage but misses.
Leben's jab looks to have found its range, popping Yama under the eye.
Leben cracks a nice hook into Yama's ribs.
A left lands for Leben.
Yama missing with a left hand there. Leben was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yama closes the distance and clinches up with Leben, looking for a takedown. Yama pushes Leben against the cage but Leben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yama takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Leben scores with a nice head shot.
Yama misses the shot to the body.
Leben connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Leben displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yama throws out the jab.
Leben throws a hook to the side of Yama's head but Yama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yama feints the counter takedown.
A jab from Leben does it's job there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leben uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice straight punches there by Leben. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Leben.
Black Leben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leben throws a body punch but Yama moves out of range.
Yama slips a straight right by Leben.
A combination from Leben does no damage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Yama has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben throws a lazy right hand but Yama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yama scores with a nice strike.
Yama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Leben finds it's way round the side to connect with Yama's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Leben misses the target.
Leben throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Leben misses.
Leben has been working on his boxing with his coaches at SYDNEY ELITE GYM in the buildup to the fight.
Yama takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Leben loads up on a big right hand but Yama slips the punch.
Yama has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Leben finds it's way round the side to connect with Yama's head.
Leben throws a shot from downtown. Yama moves away and avoids it.
The fighters circling - Leben throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Leben slips a jab from Yama.
Yama throws a body shot but no joy.
Leben is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Leben is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Yama throws out a loose jab but Leben uses good head movement to avoid it.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yama staying out of range there.
Yama throws a lazy right hand but Leben sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yama is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Yama just misses with a punch to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leben slips a straight right by Yama.
Leben looks to land a right hand but Yama moved out of range.
Yama with the counter takedown but Leben avoids it easily.
Leben smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yama misses with a body shot.
Yama slips a jab from Leben.
Black Leben is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Leben moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Leben. Yama does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Leben.
Yama slips a jab and a cross from Leben.
Leben throws a one two combo.
Yama digs a good hook to Leben's body.
Leben wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice uppercut there from Leben.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben cracks a nice hook into Yama's ribs.
Leben tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yama was well out of range. Poor timing from Leben.
Yama defending well as Leben loads up on a big left hand.
Yama with the counter takedown but Leben avoids it easily.
Leben jabs Yama to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Leben steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yama.
Yama blocks a jab.
Leben is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yama.
Yama with the counter takedown but Leben avoids it easily.
Leben throws the left hand but Yama avoids the punch easily.
Yama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Leben throws a hook but Yama avoids it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Leben!
Leben throws a lazy right hand but Yama sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Leben.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yama darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A lazy left from Yama finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yama on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yama.
Leben throwing a counter right hand but Yama manages to avoid it.
Black Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kotetsu Yama.
Jab from Leben.
Nice shot lands for Leben.
Leben scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Leben jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leben throws a hook but Yama avoids it easily.
Yama misses with a looping left.
Leben swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Yama dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yama just misses with a punch to the body.
Leben is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leben misses with a hook. Yama ducked under it nicely.
Yama tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Leben throws out a loose jab but Yama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yama misses with a wild body shot.
Leben throws an overhand right that lands on Yama's shoulder, as Yama tries to avoid the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Black Leben dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leben uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yama.
Leben is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yama can do to turn this around?
Leben misses with a hook. Yama ducked under it nicely.
Leben ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yama takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Leben smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Yama darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leben wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben wants to get back to his feet.
Yama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leben regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Yama.
Yama postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Leben is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leben is looking to stand back up but Yama counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Leben.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leben actively working from the bottom here.
Yama has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yama wants to control but Leben is keeping him busy.
Yama might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Leben haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nice strikes from Yama there.
Yama drops an elbow to the side of Leben's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yama seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Yama throwing shots but Leben is blocking nicely.

Leben is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yama pulls his head out easily.
Yama wants to pass the guard but Leben is defending well.
Yama landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Leben keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yama seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yama working over Leben with some ground and pound. Leben looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yama is nestled in close to Leben, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Leben taking some punishment here, with Yama in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yama is thwarting Leben's attempts to control the position.
Leben holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Yama trying to mount his opponent but Leben defends it.
Leben wants to get back to full guard.
Leben is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yama scores with a couple of nice shots.
Yama wants to free his trapped foot but Leben is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Leben is concentrating on defense, preventing Yama from advancing 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.
Yama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leben's head.
Yama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Leben tries to kick Yama off but Yama keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yama is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Leben taking some punishment here, with Yama in his half guard.
Leben is staying active underneath Yama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yama is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Yama.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yama misses with a head shot. Leben uses the momentum to regain guard.
Yama scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kotetsu Yama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Leben.
Leben misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yama.
Yama lands with an uppercut that bounces Leben off the cage and back into range.
Leben swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Leben moves into range and connects with a jab.
Black Leben is winning the standup battle so far.
Yama looks to score with a jab to the body but Leben is just out of range.
Leben takes a swing at Yama's ribcage but misses.
Yama misses with a straight left.
Leben throwing a counter right hand but Yama manages to avoid it.
Yama slips under a jab.
Yama lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yama blocks a jab.
Leben uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yama.
Yama misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Yama misses the target.
Yama uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Leben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Yama shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yama connects with a nice short shot to Leben's temple.
Leben wants to improve his position but Yama is controlling well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Yama lands a nice short elbow.
Yama working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Leben avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yama.
Yama scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yama is trying to control the action in half guard but Leben is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yama looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yama is looking to advance position but Leben won't allow it.
Kotetsu Yama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yama seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Leben does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Leben wants to improve his position but Yama is controlling well.
Leben wants to control but Yama is keeping busy.
Yama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yama working the head and body with strikes.
Leben avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yama not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Leben wants to get back to full guard.
Yama throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Leben is staying active underneath Yama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yama is taking a breather. Leben says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leben jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yama shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Leben as he jumps to the side.
Leben throws a jab but it's blocked by Yama.
Yama takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Yama swings for the body but Leben moves out of range.
A slow jab from Leben misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yama goes for a double leg but Leben avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Leben continues to drive forward.
Leben swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Yama jabs Leben to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Leben was well out of range. Poor timing from Yama.
Leben throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.
Yama lands with a straight right. Leben didn't see that one coming.
Yama fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Leben was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Black Leben has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kotetsu Yama.
Leben throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yama takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yama throws a body shot but no joy.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yama.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Kotetsu Yama just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leben.
Leben lands a jab.
Yama gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yama fails with a takedown attempt.
Leben throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yama is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Leben misses with a series of wild punches.
Leben throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yama throws a body punch but Leben moves out of range.
Leben lands a glancing blow to the side of Yama's head.
Yama displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Leben throws out the jab.
Yama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yama feints the counter takedown.
Leben misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Yama.
Leben defending well as Yama loads up on a big left hand.
Leben throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yama lands with a shot to the body.
Yama lands a jab to Leben's midsection.
Leben looks to land a right hand but Yama moved out of range.
Yama scores with the left hand. Leben knows he should have avoided that one.
Leben throws a jab but it's blocked by Yama.
Yama connects with a body shot.
A jab from Yama misses.
Yama moves out of range as Leben strikes.
Yama dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Leben misses with an uppercut. Yama saw that one coming.
Yama feints the counter takedown.
Leben lands a jab to Yama's midsection.
Leben throws a lazy uppercut

and Yama counters with a single leg into guard. Leben didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yama working some strikes from top position.
Yama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Leben manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yama manages to get himself to full guard.

Yama has his hands on Leben's head, controlling the position.
Leben stopping the sweep attempt from Yama.
Yama wants to hit a sweep here but Leben passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yama there!
Yama tries to control Leben's body but Leben pushes him off. Yama squirms to his side and now Leben has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yama tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Yama keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yama tries to lock up and control but Leben gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yama is wriggling around trying to escape.
Leben tries to control but Yama wriggling away.
Leben is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yama is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Leben stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Black Leben had his way with Kotetsu Yama in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice cross by Leben.
Yama ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yama has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yama moves out of range as Leben strikes.
Yama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leben.
Yama drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Leben defends it well.
Yama feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lebens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Leben ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Leben misses its intended target.
Yama keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Leben.
Yama with the counter takedown but Leben avoids it easily.
Yama thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leben misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leben pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yama. Leben does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yama jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Leben thows a left - swing and a miss!
Leben throws an overhand right that lands on Yama's shoulder, as Yama tries to avoid the shot.
Yama with the counter takedown but Leben avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leben loads up on a big right hand but Yama slips the punch.
Yama feints the counter takedown.
Leben lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Leben throws a shot from downtown. Yama moves away and avoids it.

Yama closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Leben did well to prevent Yama getting side control.
Leben is looking for a sweep. Yama is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Leben is trying to stand up here but Yama is controlling him well.

Leben pushes Yama off and gets back to his feet.
Leben scores with a jab to the body.
Yama scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Leben avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Leben fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yama manages to avoid it.
Yama misses with a looping right.
Leben connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Yama's hands.
Leben lands with an uppercut that bounces Yama off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Leben.
Leben was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Donk. Leben catches Yama right on the button with a cross.
Yama throws a hook but Leben avoids it easily.
Leben misses with a looping left.
Yama ducks under a wild hook from Leben.
Leben waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yama.
Leben swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Leben misses with a two punch combination.
Leben throws out a loose jab but Yama uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yama moves away from the strike by Leben.
Leben throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leben throws a series of punches but Yama moves out of range.
Leben throws a body shot but no joy.
Yama lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leben throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Leben misses with an uppercut

and Yama counters with a takedown into side control.
Leben manages to get back to half guard.
Yama lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yama throwing shots but Leben is blocking nicely.
Leben blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yama.
Leben trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Leben wants to hold on but Yama pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yama breaks from Leben's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Yama wants to control the pace but Leben is squirming around nicely.
Yama with shots to the head and body - Leben looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yama in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yama is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Leben can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Leben is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yama wants to control the pace but Leben is squirming around nicely.
Leben is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yama lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

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 Black Leben.
I think Leben 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 48:47
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 48:48
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Black Leben!
Black Leben retains his lightweight title!
After winning the bout, Black Leben thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.