PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jin Lee Yan Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Yakimoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Yakimoto has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Lee Yan Kim
vs
Yakimoto

171 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Lee Yan Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Yakimoto!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakimoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lee Yan Kim looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Lee Yan Kim stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lee Yan Kim wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Yakimoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Lee Yan Kim which made him look bad.
Lee Yan Kim keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jin Lee Yan Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Yakimoto.

Lee Yan Kim darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Lee Yan Kim wants to work for an arm triangle but Yakimoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yakimoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee Yan Kim is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yakimoto wants to sweep but no luck.

Lee Yan Kim is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yakimoto is trying to keep Lee Yan Kim in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yakimoto looking for a sweep. Not yet Yakimoto, not yet.
Lee Yan Kim wants to get up but he can't break Yakimoto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Lee Yan Kim drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yakimoto looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yakimoto looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yakimoto!
The ground and pound from Yakimoto seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yakimoto cracks Lee Yan Kim with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lee Yan Kim regains half guard.
Lee Yan Kim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yakimoto is working away from the top position though.
Yakimoto thows a huge punch but Lee Yan Kim dodges it nicely.
Yakimoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lee Yan Kim gets full guard.
Lee Yan Kim manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yakimoto tries to hold on but Lee Yan Kim postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee Yan Kim is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yakimoto can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Lee Yan Kim wants to finish this one by submission but Yakimoto is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lee Yan Kim.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lee Yan Kim goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yakimoto is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Lee Yan Kim 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.

Yakimoto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yakimoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Lee Yan Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lee Yan Kim misses with a takedown
and Yakimoto counters with a flying knee. Nice.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakimoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakimoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Lee Yan Kim counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Yakimoto has a closed guard, preventing Lee Yan Kim from standing up.
Lee Yan Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lee Yan Kim decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice takedown defense from Lee Yan Kim. No joy for Yakimoto on that attempt.

Lee Yan Kim has closed the distance and engaged Yakimoto in a clinch.
Yakimoto tries to score a body lock takedown but Lee Yan Kim shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jin Lee Yan Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenji Yakimoto.
Yakimoto misses with a hook to the ribs.

Lee Yan Kim gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yakimoto trying to hold on to Lee Yan Kim's head to control him but Lee Yan Kim postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee Yan Kim is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yakimoto has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yakimoto trying to control but Lee Yan Kim postures up.

Lee Yan Kim wants to work for an arm triangle but Yakimoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Lee Yan Kim stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakimoto misses with a kick to the body.
Lee Yan Kim fails to land the takedown.

Yakimoto rushes Lee Yan Kim and presses him up against the cage.

Lee Yan Kim breaks the clinch.
Yakimoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Yakimoto shoots and misses

and Lee Yan Kim counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yakimoto won't be happy with that.

Lee Yan Kim swings around for an armbar but Yakimoto sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Lee Yan Kim's guard.
Lee Yan Kim is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Lee Yan Kim has his feet on Yakimoto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee Yan Kim shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lee Yan Kim was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Lee Yan Kim mounts Yakimoto! Really nice guard pass there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lee Yan Kim fails to take his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yakimoto bucks Lee Yan Kim off and manages to get back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Lee Yan Kim dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lee Yan Kim instigates a clinch.
Yakimoto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lee Yan Kim.
Yakimoto connects with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Lee Yan Kim is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yakimoto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yakimoto misses with a punch to the body.
Yakimoto misses with a body punch.
Lee Yan Kim jumps guard but Yakimoto stands there with Lee Yan Kim around his waist. Lee Yan Kim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yakimoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lee Yan Kim prevents it.

Lee Yan Kim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakimoto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lee Yan Kim circles away from the clinch attempt

and Lee Yan Kim decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yakimoto's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yakimoto throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lee Yan Kim uses it to pass to side control.

Lee Yan Kim stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Yakimoto has his takedown stuffed

and Lee Yan Kim counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yakimoto won't be happy with that.

Lee Yan Kim has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Yakimoto tries to clinch but Lee Yan Kim moves away

and Lee Yan Kim counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yakimoto won't be happy with that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Lee Yan Kim thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Lee Yan Kim wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yakimoto, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee Yan Kim working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lee Yan Kim tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakimoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lee Yan Kim off and has taken his back!
Yakimoto missing with punches from the back.
Yakimoto misses with punches from the back.
Yakimoto is controlling the position but Lee Yan Kim somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Lee Yan Kim blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yakimoto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
It looks like Yakimoto is going to stand back up.
Lee Yan Kim pushes Yakimoto off looking to stand but Yakimoto dives back in and keeps control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lee Yan Kim tries to land a body kick
and Yakimoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Lee Yan Kim gets a clinch.

Lee Yan Kim has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Yakimoto regains guard immediately.
Lee Yan Kim sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jin Lee Yan Kim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jin Lee Yan Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lee Yan Kim has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Lee Yan Kim!