PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenshiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yamamoto
vs
James

183 cm
25
190 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

190 cm
23
185 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael James!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for James with that takedown attempt.
Yamamoto shoots and misses

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yamamoto keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
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.
James manages to get to full guard.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

James looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.
Yamamoto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
James 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto won't allow James to sweep him here.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Yamamoto pushing down on James's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yamamoto won't allow James to sweep him here.

James isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Yamamoto stacks James on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Yamamoto!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at James to see if he's OK.

Yamamoto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yamamoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
James wants to sweep but Yamamoto has passed to side control!
James tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Yamamoto presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
James is looking to get to half guard.
James is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.
BOOM! Yamamoto connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Yamamoto working the ground and pound effectively.
James is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Yamamoto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from James.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James pushing down on Yamamoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

James seems to be looking for submissions.
James is pressing down on Yamamoto's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yamamoto is holding on for now.
James frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

James jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yamamoto manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Yamamoto tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yamamoto, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael James 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 gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is keeping the position.

James stands up from Yamamoto's guard - James perhaps looking for a knockout.
James with a poor takedown

and Yamamoto decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in James's guard.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yamamoto has managed to escape the submission attempt.
James prevents Yamamoto from getting the reversal.

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yamamoto has managed to escape the submission attempt.

James stands up from mount. Strange move.

Yamamoto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Yamamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but James keeps working.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

James working for a submission but Yamamoto is keeping him at bay.

James is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Yamamoto to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Yamamoto shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamamoto is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James looking to secure an arm triangle but Yamamoto defends it well.

James is working for a guillotine from mount but Yamamoto frees his head quite easily.

James moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Yamamoto has worked his arm free - good work by Yamamoto!

James looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yamamoto, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yamamoto, who protects the arm well.

James is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yamamoto is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

James goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Yamamoto rolls with the submission and now he's on top in James's guard! Nice work there by Yamamoto!
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from James.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto doesn't succeed with the takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yamamoto keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yamamoto is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.
James wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!

That's one minute gone in the round.

James working for a submission but Yamamoto is keeping him at bay.

James working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Yamamoto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
James looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

James escapes and gets back to his feet.
James shoots and misses

and Yamamoto counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yamamoto's best efforts.
James wants to get back to full guard but Yamamoto has passed into side control.
James is trying to escape the mount.
James sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
James 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.
Yamamoto trying to stand up but can't free himself from James's guard.
James looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yamamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James has hold of Yamamoto's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Yamamoto manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

James is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Yamamoto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Yamamoto!
Yamamoto trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now James is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
James advances position into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got James 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael James!