PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Go Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Bashir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julian Bashir will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Yamamoto
vs
Bashir

171 cm
22
156 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

182 cm
19
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Go Yamamoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julian Bashir!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Bashir is having none of it.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bashir paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Bashir is having none of it.
Bashir throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bashir throws out a powerful jab.
No luck for Yamamoto with that takedown attempt.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
Bashir lands with a nice body punch.
Nice uppercut lands for Bashir. That snapped Yamamoto's head back.
Bashir punishes Yamamoto's body with a nice straight punch.
Bashir lands an overhand right.
Yamamoto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashir digs a good body shot into Yamamoto's ribs.
Bashir paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bashir throws a series of strikes that have Yamamoto backpedaling.
Bashir scores with a jab to the head.
Bashir stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bashir throws a nice looking combination but Yamamoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yamamoto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yamamoto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bashir fails to land with a series of punches.
Bashir looks to land a combination. Yamamoto sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yamamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Bashir.
Bashir bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Bashir fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
Bashir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamamoto circles away quickly and effectively.
Bashir lands a two punch combo.
Julian Bashir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bashir bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yamamoto's head backwards.
Go Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bashir fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yamamoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bashir is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round!Yamamoto had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Bashir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Yamamoto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bashir pulls Yamamoto in close to his closed guard and prevents Yamamoto from doing any damage or advancing position.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Bashir.

Bashir kicks Yamamoto off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bashir clinches but Yamamoto breaks the clinch
and Yamamoto counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bashir is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Yamamoto wants to clinch
and Bashir counters with a three punch combo that has Yamamoto backing up. Yamamoto nods at Bashir to acknowledge the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto ducks right into an uppercut from Bashir.
Yamamoto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yamamoto is looking to land body kicks.
Yamamoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yamamoto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
Bashir avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Bashir.
Bashir lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Yamamoto backs up against the cage.
Bashir scores with a nice right hand.
Yamamoto shoots in but no luck this time.
Yamamoto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bashir circles away.
Yamamoto wants to clinch but Bashir slips to the side
letting Bashir counter with a right hand.
Bashir looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bashir tries to keep at a distance but Yamamoto has taken the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bashir wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yamamoto has him pressed against the cage.
Yamamoto working aggressively here.
Yamamoto keeps control of Bashir as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yamamoto misses with the head strike.

Bashir's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yamamoto misses with a hook to the body
and Bashir counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yamamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bashir misses with the combination.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown but Bashir circles away easily
and Bashir counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Go Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bashir with a hook.
Yamamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
A nice combination there by Bashir.
Yamamoto walks into a jab.
Yamamoto darts in trying to clinch
and Bashir counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir misses with a double jab

and Yamamoto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yamamoto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Bashir has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bashir wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.
Bashir is controlling Yamamoto's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto throws and elbow that misses. Bashir uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yamamoto's guard. Nice move by Bashir!
Yamamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bashir decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Yamamoto, up you get!
Bashir ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamamoto moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bashir throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bashir wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Bashir is having none of it.
Bashir's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bashir duly obliges.
Bashir thuds a left hand into Yamamoto's body.
Yamamoto tries to clinch
and Bashir counters with a straight right hand.
Bashir lands with a straight right. Yamamoto didn't see that one coming.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up.
Bashir swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamamoto.
Go Yamamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Bashir circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that half lands.
Horrible takedown by Yamamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Bashir which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bashir avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamamoto closes the distance but Bashir moves to the side
and Bashir counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bashir stuffs the takedown.
Yamamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Julian Bashir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bashir moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bashir misses with a double jab.
Yamamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bashir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamamoto circles away quickly and effectively.

Yamamoto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yamamoto throws a punch but it's blocked by Bashir.
Yamamoto pressing his opponent against the cage.
Bashir has had enough of the clinch but Yamamoto keeps him there for the moment.
Yamamoto keeps control of Bashir as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yamamoto has Bashir pressed against the cage, preventing Bashir from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Bashir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bashir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bashir is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bashir moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yamamoto trying to move into half guard but instead Bashir has managed to sweep!
Bashir 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to keep Bashir in close.
Bashir stopping the sweep attempt from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is looking to sweep but instead, Bashir has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir really 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.

Bashir connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Yamamoto tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bashir counters with a two punch combo.
A left lands for Bashir.
Bashir misses with a double jab.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Bashir, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Bashir against the cage but Bashir circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto moves in looking to clinch but Bashir pushes him off.
Bashir stalks Yamamoto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Yamamoto's face. Yamamoto staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown but Bashir shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yamamoto wants to clinch
and Bashir counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Yamamoto looks to clinch
enabling Bashir to counter with a crisp jab.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bashir counters with a three punch combo that has Yamamoto backing up. Yamamoto nods at Bashir to acknowledge the strikes.
Bashir dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bashir tries to bum rush Yamamoto with a series of wild strikes but Yamamoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yamamoto throws a leg kick which misses Bashir's front leg but catches the back leg as Bashir tries to avoid it.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir cracks Yamamoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bashir takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Bashir is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bashir misses with a few strikes there.
Yamamoto walks into a left hand.
Bashir digs a good body shot into Yamamoto's ribs.
Bashir connects with a jab.
Yamamoto shoots in and drives through. Bashir sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Go Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bashir with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt
letting Bashir counter with a right hand.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bashir!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir throws a one two combo.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Bashir moves away
and Bashir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Yamamoto is rocked!
Bashir tries to bum rush Yamamoto with a series of wild strikes but Yamamoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bashir fails to land with a series of punches.
Bashir circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bashir counters with a left to the body.
Yamamoto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Bashir is having none of it.
Bashir misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Oh Yamamoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bashir thuds a left hand into Yamamoto's body.
Yamamoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Bashir misses with a two punch combination.
Bashir closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Yamamoto clinches with his opponent.
Yamamoto is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bashir is keeping busy.
Bashir is trying to break the clinch but Yamamoto is controlling him.
Bashir has had enough of the clinch but Yamamoto keeps him there for the moment.
Yamamoto pushes Bashir back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bashir tries to break the clinch but Yamamoto is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bashir lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bashir throws a series of punches but Yamamoto moves out of range.

Yamamoto clinches up with Bashir and pushes him back against the cage.
Yamamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yamamoto manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yamamoto trying to control the position but instead, Bashir has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yamamoto into the cage.
Yamamoto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bashir managing to block the knees to the body from Yamamoto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashir has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bashir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yamamoto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Yamamoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Yamamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Bashir is blocking nicely.
Bashir tries a body shot but Yamamoto blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yamamoto keeps control of Bashir as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yamamoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Bashir is blocking nicely.
Bashir takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bashir can't break the clinch.
Bashir blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yamamoto prevents a body shot from Bashir.
Bashir tries to circle away but Yamamoto has him pinned against the cage.
Yamamoto is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bashir is defending well for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yamamoto obliges.
Bashir is trying to force a seperation but Yamamoto has the dominant position.
Bashir looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yamamoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bashir is trying to maintain a safe position but Yamamoto gets an underhook and turns Bashir into the cage.
Yamamoto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bashir's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yamamoto controlling the action here for a moment.
Bashir is looking to break free of the clinch but Yamamoto has double underhooks.
Bashir has had enough of the clinch but Yamamoto keeps him there for the moment.
Bashir tries to break the clinch but Yamamoto is controlling the position.
Yamamoto prevents Bashir from breaking the clinch.
Bashir tries to break the clinch but Yamamoto is controlling the position.
Bashir misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bashir misses with some punches.
Yamamoto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bashir blocks an elbow strike from Yamamoto.
Bashir misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Nice body punch from Bashir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yamamoto trying to land knees to the body.
Bashir tries to circle away but Yamamoto has him pinned against the cage.
Yamamoto just leaning against Bashir, taking a breather.
Bashir fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yamamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bashir has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yamamoto slowing the pace effectively.
Bashir misses with a punch to the body.
Bashir presses Yamamoto against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bashir is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bashir is looking to break free of the clinch but Yamamoto has double underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Bashir.
Bashir misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamamoto.
Yamamoto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bashir's efforts to push away.
Yamamoto prevents Bashir from breaking the clinch.

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.
Yamamoto throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yamamoto trying to control the position but instead, Bashir has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yamamoto into the cage.
Bashir has a couple of punches blocked by Yamamoto.
Bashir is trying to break the clinch but Yamamoto has him pressed against the cage.
Bashir has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bashir blocks an elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Yamamoto.
Go Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bashir lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Bashir manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto clinches but Bashir breaks the clinch
and Bashir counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bashir throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Julian Bashir is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bashir scores with the left hand. Yamamoto knows he should have avoided that one.

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 Go Yamamoto.
I think Bashir has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 46:49
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 46:49
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Bashir! Julian Bashir retains his featherweight title!