PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ithalo Foreman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Yamamoto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Foreman
vs
Yamamoto

189 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ithalo Foreman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lyoto Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
Foreman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Foreman takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Yamamoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Foreman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a big shot that misses.
Yamamoto lands a with a good body shot.
Yamamoto throws a series of strikes that have Foreman backpedaling.
Yamamoto slips under a jab from Foreman.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Foreman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foreman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yamamoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ithalo Foreman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto slips a straight right by Foreman.
Yamamoto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Foreman tries to clinch up but Yamamoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Ithalo Foreman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman misses with a body punch
and Yamamoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yamamoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Foreman.
Foreman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Foreman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Foreman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Foreman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
Foreman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Foreman misses with a takedown attempt
and Yamamoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Foreman misses with a body shot
and Yamamoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Foreman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Foreman slips a jab from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Foreman moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Foreman misses with a combination
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yamamoto lands a nice looking body shot.
Foreman is looking to clinch but Yamamoto is avoiding it.
Foreman misses with a wild body shot.
Yamamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A combination from Foreman does no damage.
Foreman is breathing heavily.
Foreman swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Foreman avoids nicely.
Foreman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Foreman backing up. Foreman nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto throws a combination. Foreman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Foreman missing with a left hand there. Yamamoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamamoto lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Foreman's hands.
Lyoto Yamamoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Foreman misses with the combination.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Foreman ducks under and follows up with a left that Foreman also avoids with ease.
Foreman throws a combination that misses
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yamamoto misses with a jab to the body

so Foreman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Foreman trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto trying to control the position.
Foreman preventing the sweep.
Foreman trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Foreman is controlling him.
Yamamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Foreman postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Foreman misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Foreman with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Yamamoto dominated that 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.

Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Foreman.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamamoto throws a hook but Foreman avoids it easily.
Foreman misses with a double jab
and Yamamoto counters with a left to the body.
Foreman throws a big shot that misses.
Yamamoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Foreman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Foreman misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foreman tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
A slow jab from Foreman misses its intended target.
Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Foreman.
Foreman rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamamoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman fails with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Foreman.
Foreman lands a jab to the nose.
Yamamoto throws a combination. Foreman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Foreman tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.
Foreman misses the body punch
and Yamamoto counters with a body kick.
Foreman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Yamamoto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yamamoto moves in looking to clinch but Foreman pushes him off.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Foreman misses the shot to the body.
Foreman misses with a combination
and Yamamoto counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foreman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yamamoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ithalo Foreman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foreman lands with a nice combination. Yamamoto backs away looking to recover.
Yamamoto lands a jab-cross combination.
Foreman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Foreman wants to clinch up but Yamamoto keeps it at a distance.
Yamamoto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Foreman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamamoto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamamoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Foreman.
Foreman misses with a combination
and Yamamoto counters with a thumping low kick.
Yamamoto wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Foreman moves out of range.
Foreman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Foreman looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamamoto is just out of range.
Yamamoto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Foreman misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Yamamoto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Foreman counters with a left to the body.
Yamamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Foreman circles away.
Yamamoto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Foreman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Foreman backing up. Foreman nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Foreman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to bum rush Foreman with a series of wild strikes but Foreman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yamamoto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Foreman.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Foreman circles away and keeps his distance.
Ithalo Foreman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to the body from Foreman misses
and Yamamoto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Foreman takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Foreman misses with a jab to the body
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Foreman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yamamoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamamoto misses the jab.
Foreman with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a left to the body.
Yamamoto lands a slapping body shot.
Foreman gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto connects with a crisp jab.
Foreman misses with a hook to the body
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamamoto displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Foreman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Foreman misses with a body shot.
Foreman on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Foreman misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yamamoto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Foreman tries to clinch up but Yamamoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Foreman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Foreman backing up. Foreman nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto avoids the body shot from Foreman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Yamamoto.
Foreman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Foreman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Foreman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Foreman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Yamamoto's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Yamamoto prevents Foreman from taking his back.
Yamamoto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Foreman looking to land elbow strikes but Yamamoto uses the position to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foreman wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping him busy.
Yamamoto is trying to maintain the position but Foreman is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Foreman wants to clinch.
Yamamoto is working the combinations to good effect here.
Foreman takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Foreman.
Yamamoto lands a jab to the nose.
Yamamoto scores with a jab to the head.
Yamamoto slips a straight right by Foreman.
Lyoto Yamamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Foreman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Foreman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamamoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Foreman.
Foreman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamamoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Foreman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Foreman's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ithalo Foreman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch but Foreman is avoiding it.
Yamamoto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Foreman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yamamoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Foreman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yamamoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ithalo Foreman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Foreman misses with a hook. Yamamoto ducked under it nicely.
A shot to de liver by Yamamoto. Beautiful body shot.
Yamamoto throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Foreman throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yamamoto counters with a big head kick but Foreman shrugs it off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Foreman fails with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lyoto Yamamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yamamoto stalks Foreman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Foreman's face. Foreman staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yamamoto 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Yamamoto!