PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Takahara Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Gold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ari Gold was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Yamaguchi
vs
Gold

168 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
148 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

FIREPOWER NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahara Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ari Gold!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gold throws a head kick that misses.
Gold throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Yamaguchi blocks a head kick by Gold.
A combination from Gold does no damage.
Gold scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Takahara Yamaguchi has been cut.
Yamaguchi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gold to score with a decent uppercut.
Gold connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Yamaguchi's hands.

Yamaguchi is rocked!
Gold misses with an uppercut.
Oh Yamaguchi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Horrible takedown by Yamaguchi or perhaps it was just good defense by Gold which made him look bad.
Yamaguchi seems to have got his legs back now.
Gold tries to bum rush Yamaguchi with a series of wild strikes but Yamaguchi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gold throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamaguchi blocks a head kick by Gold.
Yamaguchi misses with a takedown attempt - Gold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Yamaguchi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gold is looking to get back to is feet but Yamaguchi passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Yamaguchi crashes against the mat.
Yamaguchi misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gold is trying to get back to his feet.
Gold looks gassed!
Yamaguchi wants to control but Gold is keeping him busy.
Yamaguchi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Gold some visible discomfort.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yamaguchi tries to clinch there but Gold circles away.
Ari Gold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gold throws a series of punches but Yamaguchi avoids them all with ease.
Gold is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gold is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Yamaguchi is controlling him well.
Gold is not content to let Yamaguchi control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gold tries to escape but Yamaguchi is in control.
Yamaguchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gold keeps working.
Gold is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yamaguchi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gold is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Yamaguchi is looking to take a break and control but Gold is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gold throws a left and a right that both miss

and Yamaguchi moves into the clinch.
Gold tries to break the clinch but Yamaguchi is controlling the position.
Yamaguchi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gold smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahara Yamaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Gold misses with a double jab

and Yamaguchi counters by moving into the clinch.
Yamaguchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yamaguchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Gold won't allow it.
Gold is trying to break free.
Gold tries to break the clinch but Yamaguchi is controlling the position.
Yamaguchi prevents Gold from breaking the clinch.

Gold escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gold misses with a wild combination.
Gold plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Yamaguchi dodges the punch combination from Gold.
Gold throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Gold misses with a leg kick

and Yamaguchi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gold's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi prevents Gold from getting back to his feet.

Gold scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Gold.
Gold throws a sloppy head kick and Yamaguchi moves out of range easily.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gold.
Gold throws a chopping leg kick but Yamaguchi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Yamaguchi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Yamaguchi closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gold is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Yamaguchi is controlling him well.
Yamaguchi tries to advance to mount but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gold is trying to buck Yamaguchi off.
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 Takahara Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takahara Yamaguchi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Gold lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gold scores with a hook.

Yamaguchi clinches with his opponent.

Yamaguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Gold. No joy for Yamaguchi on that attempt.
Gold throws a push kick but Yamaguchi slaps the foot to one side.
Gold swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gold misses with a few strikes there.

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

Yamaguchi drags the fight down to the ground.
Gold postures up.
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.
Gold is breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi wants to sweep here but Gold controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yamaguchi is on top in guard.
Gold keeping moving, preventing Yamaguchi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is looking to stand up but Gold won't let him.
Yamaguchi stops Gold from standing up.
Yamaguchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamaguchi prevents Gold from getting back to his feet.
Yamaguchi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gold's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yamaguchi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gold throws a head kick that misses.

Yamaguchi instigates a clinch.

Yamaguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamaguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gold has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Yamaguchi.
Takahara Yamaguchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamaguchi misses with a double jab.
Gold swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Yamaguchi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gold wants to stand and escape but Yamaguchi is having none of it.
Yamaguchi cracks Gold with a solid left hand.
Yamaguchi won't allow Gold to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gold throws a sloppy head kick
and Yamaguchi counters with a head kick. That will keep Gold thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Gold misses with a two punch combination.
Gold misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaguchi throws a jab when Gold was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gold falls off balance throwing a combination

and Yamaguchi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yamaguchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahara Yamaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamaguchi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yamaguchi can't get the takedown.

Gold breaks from the clinch.
Gold throws a head kick that misses

and Yamaguchi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gold's guard now.
Gold is looking to stand back up but Yamaguchi counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Gold.
Gold tries to escape but Yamaguchi is in control.
Gold is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Gold managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Yamaguchi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takahara Yamaguchi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Takahara Yamaguchi's cut.
That's time! Yamaguchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gold keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gold throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamaguchi.
A combination from Gold does no damage.

Yamaguchi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gold to the mat! Gold manages to get full guard.

Yamaguchi stands and steps away. Gold gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gold throws a right hand that Yamaguchi ducks under and follows up with a left that Yamaguchi also avoids with ease.
Gold throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamaguchi.
Gold avoids the head kick by Yamaguchi.

Gold knocks Yamaguchi to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
Takahara Yamaguchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yamaguchi tries to buck Gold off but Gold is having none of it.

Gold decides to stand back up. Gold steps back and let's Yamaguchi get back to his feet.
Yamaguchi misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gold tries to keep at a distance but Yamaguchi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gold wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gold escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamaguchi shoots in but no luck this time.
Gold throws a combination that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a big head kick but Gold shrugs it off.
Ari Gold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gold takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yamaguchi shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takahara Yamaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yamaguchi has managed to clinch.

Gold breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamaguchi throws a series of punches but Gold moves out of range.
Yamaguchi blocks a head kick by Gold.
Gold's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Gold duly obliges.
Gold throws a sloppy head kick and Yamaguchi moves out of range easily.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gold as he jumps to the side.
Yamaguchi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gold circles away.
Gold fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamaguchi throws a series of punches but Gold moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gold is looking to score with low kicks.
Yamaguchi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gold throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yamaguchi counters with a thumping low kick.
Gold throws a series of punches but Yamaguchi avoids them all with ease.
Yamaguchi scores with a body shot.
Gold throws a series of punches but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but Gold checks it.
Yamaguchi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gold scores with a spinning back kick!
Yamaguchi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamaguchi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gold swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gold throws a head kick that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a solid body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Gold scores with a four punch combination!
Gold avoids the head kick by Yamaguchi.
Gold throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a takedown but Gold shows good takedown defense.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice body kick.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gold as he avoids it easily.
A head kick by Gold misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a head kick.
Gold throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Yamaguchi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yamaguchi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Yamaguchi is looking to advance position but Gold won't allow it.

Gold manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Gold looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ari Gold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamaguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gold sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a double leg but Gold sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gold misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamaguchi forces Gold back against the ropes and clinches.
Gold wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Yamaguchi breaks from the clinch.

Yamaguchi gets a clinch.
Gold wants to break the clinch but can't.

Yamaguchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gold as he jumps to the side.
Yamaguchi shoots for a takedown but Gold saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Gold as Yamaguchi shoots in.
Danga de danga de dang - Yamaguchi scores with a four punch combination!
Gold throws a body kick the misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a good, hard body kick but Gold shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamaguchi lands a jab-cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gold swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Yamaguchi counters with an outside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Gold.
Yamaguchi looks to land a combination but Gold avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Gold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yamaguchi 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takahara Yamaguchi!