PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Nowitzki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yamamoto
vs
Nowitzki

180 cm
19
202 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
198 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sean Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dirk Nowitzki!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yamamoto is defended easily by Nowitzki.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nowitzki jumps guard but Yamamoto stands there with Nowitzki around his waist. Nowitzki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nowitzki can't get the takedown.
Yamamoto stops a takedown attempt from Nowitzki.
Sean Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki tries for a takedown but Yamamoto manages to get underhooks.
Nowitzki scores with a knee to the head.
Nowitzki is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nowitzki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yamamoto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nowitzki wants a takedown.
Yamamoto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Nowitzki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yamamoto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yamamoto is trying to break the clinch but Nowitzki has him pressed against the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Nowitzki has the dominant position.
Nowitzki looking for a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nowitzki obliges.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Sean Yamamoto has been cut.
Nowitzki prevents the takedown attempt.
Nowitzki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yamamoto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nowitzki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowitzki lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Nowitzki lands an elbow just above Yamamoto 's eye.
Nowitzki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nowitzki looks gassed!
Yamamoto can't get the takedown.
Yamamoto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nowitzki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Nowitzki has the dominant position.
Yamamoto prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamamoto goes for a takedown attempt but Nowitzki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yamamoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Nowitzki sprawls well. He's pushed Yamamoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sean Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nowitzki clinches up with Yamamoto and pushes him back against the cage.
Nowitzki looking for a takedown.
Nowitzki comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nowitzki lands a nice elbow.

Nowitzki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Nowitzki throwing strikes from guard but Yamamoto blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki throws a strike but Yamamoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Nowitzki looking for a sweep. Not yet Nowitzki, not yet.

Yamamoto drops back looking for a leg! Nowitzki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nowitzki manages to kick Yamamoto off! Yamamoto jumps back into Nowitzki's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nowitzki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nowitzki wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nowitzki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to avoid it but Nowitzki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yamamoto to the ground. Yamamoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nowitzki slips a straight right by Yamamoto.

Nowitzki moves into the clinch successfully.
Nowitzki tries to score a body lock takedown but Yamamoto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yamamoto can't break the clinch.
Yamamoto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nowitzki lands a damaging elbow.
Yamamoto takes an elbow to the temple.
Nowitzki is pressed up against the cage. Yamamoto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nowitzki down to the mat. Nowitzki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nowitzki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yamamoto tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nowitzki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nowitzki scoring with punches from side control.
Nowitzki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yamamoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Nowitzki are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Yamamoto on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Nowitzki throws an elbow but Yamamoto slips to the side and avoids it well.
Nowitzki is chipping away with strikes.
Nowitzki is working Yamamoto over with some ground and pound from side control.
Yamamoto manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Yamamoto is looking to advance position but Nowitzki won't allow it.
Nowitzki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yamamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yamamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nowitzki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Nowitzki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sean Yamamoto's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nowitzki rushes Yamamoto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yamamoto misses with a knee to the head.
Yamamoto fails to pull guard.

Yamamoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Yamamoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nowitzki punching from the bottom.
Yamamoto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nowitzki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nowitzki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Yamamoto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nowitzki is looking for a sweep. Yamamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nowitzki tries to kick Yamamoto off but Yamamoto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nowitzki throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Yamamoto prevents Nowitzki from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nowitzki tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Nowitzki takes the fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto gets underhooks to prevent Nowitzki's takedown attempt.
Yamamoto tries to break free but Nowitzki pushes him back against the cage.
Yamamoto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to break the clinch but Nowitzki is controlling him.
Nowitzki is working for takedown but Yamamoto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yamamoto working aggressively here.
Nice elbow from Nowitzki.
Yamamoto wants a takedown.
Nowitzki lands an elbow inside.
Nowitzki looking for a takedown.
Sean Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yamamoto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nowitzki lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Yamamoto trying to stall but Nowitzki improves his position.
Nowitzki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yamamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Nowitzki stalling the fight.
Yamamoto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nowitzki.

Nowitzki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto controls Nowitzki momentarily but Nowitzki frees himself.
Yamamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nowitzki.
Yamamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nowitzki is looking to stand up but Yamamoto won't let him.
Nowitzki wants to control from the top but Yamamoto keeps moving.
Yamamoto looking to control.
Nowitzki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nowitzki wanted to stand there but Yamamoto had control of the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nowitzki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yamamoto circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto looks to clinch

and Nowitzki holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nowitzki can't get the takedown.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nowitzki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.

Nowitzki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nowitzki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Yamamoto is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Yamamoto is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Yamamoto parries the strikes from Nowitzki easily there. Nowitzki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yamamoto to escape.
Yamamoto wants to control but Nowitzki postures up.
Nowitzki cracks Yamamoto with a big right hand but Yamamoto just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Yamamoto is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Nowitzki is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yamamoto's face.
Yamamoto is in a horrible position here. Nowitzki smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Yamamoto is bucking up trying to escape but Nowitzki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Nowitzki looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Yamamoto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Yamamoto is pressing down on Nowitzki's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nowitzki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Nowitzki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nowitzki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Nowitzki from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nowitzki manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Nowitzki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sean Yamamoto's cut.
That's time! Yamamoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yamamoto lands a two punch combo.
Nowitzki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Nowitzki clinches up against the cage.
Come on Nowitzki - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Yamamoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Nowitzki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nowitzki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nowitzki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yamamoto thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Nowitzki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yamamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowitzki is looking to work some ground and pound but Yamamoto has wrist control.
Nowitzki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamamoto's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Nowitzki scores with a takedown into Yamamoto's guard.
Nowitzki works over Yamamoto with some ground and pound from guard.
Yamamoto doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Yamamoto trying to control the position.
Yamamoto wants to stand up but Nowitzki is controlling him.
Nowitzki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nowitzki stands up over Yamamoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nowitzki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto has momentary wrist control but Nowitzki slips an elbow through the middle.
Nowitzki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nowitzki is in close to Yamamoto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nowitzki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nowitzki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nowitzki with a nice head shot there.
Yamamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Nowitzki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Nowitzki there.
Yamamoto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nowitzki scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamamoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yamamoto.
Nowitzki prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Nowitzki lands a couple of elbows.
Nowitzki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nowitzki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nowitzki trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Nowitzki prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nowitzki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nowitzki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yamamoto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yamamoto misses with a body shot.
Sean Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sean Yamamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nowitzki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Nowitzki counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nowitzki.
Yamamoto stops a takedown attempt from Nowitzki.
Nowitzki is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dirk Nowitzki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sean Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Yamamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Nowitzki blocks with his arms.
Yamamoto tries to score a body lock takedown but Nowitzki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nowitzki wants a takedown but no success here.
Yamamoto is looking to break free of the clinch but Nowitzki has double underhooks.

Nowitzki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nowitzki dives in and grabs Yamamoto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes down on Nowitzki's head and hops out.
Yamamoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Nowitzki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nowitzki 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Nowitzki!