PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maurcio Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Yakimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rua
vs
Yakimoto

170 cm
22
153 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maurcio Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Yakimoto!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakimoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rua closes the distance and pushes Yakimoto back into the cage.
Yakimoto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yakimoto is trying to break free.
Rua has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yakimoto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rua goes for a takedown attempt but Yakimoto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurcio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yakimoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rua avoids it really well and circles away.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakimoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua wants to clinch up but Yakimoto keeps it at a distance.
Yakimoto with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a stiff right hand.
Yakimoto looks gassed!

Yakimoto has Rua up against the cage in a clinch.
Yakimoto goes for a takedown attempt but Rua pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yakimoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Yakimoto tries to clinch but Rua moves out of range.
Yakimoto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Yakimoto stuffs the takedown.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Yakimoto pushes him off.
Yakimoto misses with a takedown

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Yakimoto is retaining full guard.
Rua is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rua looking to pass the guard.

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.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yakimoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rua looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yakimoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurcio Rua dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rua lands a two punch combo.
Yakimoto tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rua.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
Yakimoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rua.
Rua tries to stand but Yakimoto is controlling from the bottom.
Rua looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua trying to control but Yakimoto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Yakimoto pulls Rua in to control the position.
Yakimoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yakimoto is defended easily by Rua.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakimoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rua is defended easily by Yakimoto.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yakimoto but Yakimoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yakimoto misses with a takedown attempt
and Rua counters with a one-two to the body.
Rua tries for a takedown but Yakimoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurcio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yakimoto with a poor takedown

and Rua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yakimoto's guard now.
Yakimoto is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yakimoto is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua showing good wrestling skills to control the 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.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yakimoto is keeping the position for now.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Yakimoto.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt
and Yakimoto counters with an inside leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Rua or perhaps it was just good defense by Yakimoto which made him look bad.
Yakimoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurcio Rua dominated that second round.
That's time! Rua's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yakimoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yakimoto tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Yakimoto tries to clinch up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rua.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maurcio Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yakimoto tries to clinch but Rua is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yakimoto is defended easily by Rua.
Rua throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakimoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Rua looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yakimoto is fending him off so far but Rua persists. Nope, Yakimoto circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Yakimoto.
A jab from Yakimoto misses.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rua tries to clinch up but Yakimoto circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakimoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yakimoto sprawls well. Yakimoto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Yakimoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yakimoto tries to clinch up.
Yakimoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice sprawl there from Yakimoto as Rua shoots in.
Yakimoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Rua circles away.
Yakimoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Yakimoto misses the shot to the body.
Rua is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yakimoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yakimoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua leaves Yakimoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rua is looking to clinch but Yakimoto is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakimoto thuds his shin into the meat of Rua's side.
Rua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua shoots in for a double leg but Yakimoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yakimoto as he jumps to the side.
Rua throws a body punch but Yakimoto moves out of range.

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.
Yakimoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua has his takedown stuffed
and Yakimoto counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Yakimoto misses with a combination
and Rua counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.
Yakimoto wants to clinch
and Rua counters with a right hand to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yakimoto.
Rua fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Yakimoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rua 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurcio Rua!