PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Kourdakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kourdakov comes into the arena with Sonata Arctica - San Sebastian blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kourdakov
vs
Yamamoto

165 cm
21
141 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

163 cm
24
143 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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THE STEEL PENN NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Kourdakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Katsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto is looking to land body kicks.
Kourdakov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yamamoto as he jumps to the side.
Kourdakov shoots in for a double leg but Yamamoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kourdakov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Kourdakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kourdakov throws a low kick but Yamamoto avoids it.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kourdakov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kourdakov tries to pass to full mount but Yamamoto defends it.
Yamamoto wants to improve his position but Kourdakov is controlling well.
Kourdakov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kourdakov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yamamoto's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Kourdakov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto gets back to full guard.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Kourdakov from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto controlling the position.
Kourdakov throwing strikes but missing.
Kourdakov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kourdakov is looking to stand up but Yamamoto won't let him.

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.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Kourdakov isn't so interested in that idea.
Yamamoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
An inside leg kick lands from Yamamoto.
Kourdakov wants to clinch up but Yamamoto keeps it at a distance.
Kourdakov shoots in but no luck this time.
Sergei Kourdakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Yamamoto misses.
Kourdakov fails to land the takedown.
Kourdakov moves out of range of the body kick from Yamamoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Kourdakov. Kourdakov gets slowly back to his feet.
Yamamoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kourdakov.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kourdakov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kourdakov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto avoids it really well and circles away.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kourdakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yamamoto counters with a body kick that stops Kourdakov in his tracks momentarily.
Kourdakov fails with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kourdakov's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Yamamoto pushes Kourdakov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Yamamoto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kourdakov is breathing heavily.
Kourdakov with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Kourdakov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Kourdakov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kourdakov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yamamoto's head.
Yamamoto taking some punishment here, with Kourdakov in his half guard.
Kourdakov prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.
Yamamoto is refusing to be controlled, as Kourdakov sits in half guard.
Kourdakov slips a nice elbow through Yamamoto's hands, connecting with Yamamoto's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Katsu Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kourdakov scores with a jab to the body.
Kourdakov avoids a kick to the body.
Kourdakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kourdakov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kourdakov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yamamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yamamoto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kourdakov fails with the takedown.
Kourdakov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Kourdakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kourdakov with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kourdakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yamamoto's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to keep Kourdakov in close.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Kourdakov isn't so interested in that idea.
Kourdakov wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is keeping the position.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kourdakov's guard.

Kourdakov kicks Yamamoto off and gets to his feet.

Kourdakov gets the takedown into side control.
Yamamoto is trying to control Kourdakov's posture but Kourdakov avoids it.
Kourdakov wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is looking for a sweep.
Kourdakov controlling from side mount.
Yamamoto wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Kourdakov decides to stand back up. Kourdakov steps back and let's Yamamoto get back to his feet.

Kourdakov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kourdakov stops Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kourdakov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kourdakov looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to hold on but Kourdakov postures up.
Yamamoto is working to get back to half guard.
Yamamoto is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kourdakov unloading with bombs!
Kourdakov landing strikes from the mount.
Kourdakov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Yamamoto takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kourdakov looking to control but Yamamoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kourdakov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kourdakov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kourdakov landing punches.
Kourdakov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Yamamoto is in a horrible position here. Kourdakov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kourdakov landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kourdakov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kourdakov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kourdakov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yamamoto looks a forlorn figure.
Yamamoto taking shots to the head.

Yamamoto is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Kourdakov! Yamamoto is hurt baaadly! Kourdakov is firing away with more strikes - Yamamoto is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Sergei Kourdakov!
Sergei Kourdakov is the new bantamweight champion!