PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Li Tsang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yamamoto Sama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tsang
vs
Sama

164 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Li Tsang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yamamoto Sama!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tsang clinches up with Sama and pushes him back against the cage.

Sama breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sama has a takedown stuffed.
Tsang lands with a nice combination. Sama backs away looking to recover.
No luck for Sama with that takedown attempt.
Tsang stalks Sama and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sama's face. Sama staggers backwards, shaken.
Tsang throws a sloppy head kick and Sama moves out of range easily.
Sama closes the distance and clinches up with Tsang, looking for a takedown. Sama pushes Tsang against the cage but Tsang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Li Tsang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yamamoto Sama.
Sama shoots in and drives through. Tsang sprawls well.
Tsang misses with a two punch combination.
Sama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tsang.
Tsang throws a combination. Sama tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tsang looks to land a combination but Sama avoids it well.
Tsang circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tsang. That's going to slow Sama down.
Sama tries to clinch up
and Tsang counters with a three punch combo that has Sama backing up. Sama nods at Tsang to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsang clinches with his opponent.
Sama wants a takedown but no success here.
Tsang looking to slow down the pace here.
Sama takes an elbow to the temple.

Tsang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsang throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sama.

Tsang darts in and clinches Sama up against the cage.
Tsang is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tsang gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sama.

Tsang breaks the clinch.
Sama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tsang counters with a series of strikes. Sama will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tsang counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sama looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tsang gets to his feet. Sama looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sama has a takedown stuffed.
Sama on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tsang lands a jab-cross combination.
Sama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tsang as he avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tsang lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sama backs up against the cage.

Tsang decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tsang slows the pace down in half guard.

Tsang postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Sama to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsang throws a combination. Sama tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tsang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yamamoto Sama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sama shoots in but Tsang avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Tsang gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sama is trying to buck Tsang off.
Tsang working away.
Sama tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsang looks up at the clock and then as Sama takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tsang smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sama is trying to improve his position.

Sama throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Tsang throws a series of strikes that have Sama backpedaling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sama misses with a takedown attempt
and Tsang counters with a head kick. That will keep Sama thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sama shoots for a double leg takedown but Tsang sprawls well. He's pushed Sama's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tsang takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Tsang dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sama tries to close the distance and clinch but Tsang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sama dives in and grabs Tsang's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tsang pushes down on Sama's head and hops out.
Sama misses with a takedown attempt
and Tsang connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Tsang gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tsang breaks from the clinch.
Tsang looks to land a combination but Sama avoids it well.
Sama tries to clinch

and Tsang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sama drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tsang pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li Tsang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yamamoto Sama.
Tsang lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sama is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tsang.
Sama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tsang but Tsang pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Tsang has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sama keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tsang's efforts to push away.

Tsang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tsang throws a one two combo.
Sama looks to clinch
and Tsang counters with a three punch combo that has Sama backing up. Sama nods at Tsang to acknowledge the strikes.
Sama takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tsang tries a head kick but it misses.
Tsang throws a nice looking combination but Sama bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sama shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tsang as he jumps to the side.
Sama fails with the takedown
and Tsang counters with a body kick.
Sama darts in trying to clinch
and Tsang finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

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.
Sama fails with a takedown attempt.
Tsang circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tsang counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sama is defended easily by Tsang.
Sama tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tsang swivels and escapes.
Sama tries to clinch there but Tsang circles away.
Sama tries for a takedown but Tsang circles away easily

and Tsang counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sama kicks Tsang off and gets to his feet.
Sama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tsang but Tsang pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tsang leaves Sama with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tsang lands a two punch combo.
Tsang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tsang is working the combinations to good effect here.
Sama jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tsang throws a series of strikes that have Sama backpedaling.
A combination from Tsang does no damage.
Sama shoots in and drives through. Tsang sprawls well.
Tsang wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A left and a right from Tsang both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sama ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tsang moves away.
Sama shoots for a takedown but Tsang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Li Tsang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sama shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tsang is squirming around, avoiding Sama's attempts to control the action.
Tsang is bucking up trying to escape but Sama cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Sama controlling the position easily from mount.
Tsang holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sama tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Tsang dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Horrible takedown by Sama or perhaps it was just good defense by Tsang which made him look bad.
Tsang scores with a one two! Sama had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Tsang closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sama tries to escape but Tsang is in control.
Tsang working away.
Sama is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Tsang crashes against the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sama tries to buck Tsang off but Tsang is having none of it.

Tsang decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Sama or perhaps it was just good defense by Tsang which made him look bad.
Sama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tsang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Li Tsang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yamamoto Sama.
Tsang is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sama pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tsang takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sama drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tsang pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tsang rushes Sama and presses him up against the cage.
Yamamoto Sama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sama has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tsang is trying to keep an underhook but Sama manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tsang moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sama showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sama is looking to stand up but Tsang won't let him.
Tsang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sama wants to stand but Tsang has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sama looking to pass the guard.
Li Tsang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sama trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tsang misses with the combination.
Sama changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tsang tries to avoid it but Sama manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tsang to the ground. Tsang escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sama fails to land the takedown.
Sama tries for a takedown but Tsang circles away easily

and Tsang counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tsang.

Sama pulls Tsang into guard.
Sama looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tsang puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sama is trying to maintain the position but Tsang is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like Tsang is going to stand back up.
Tsang is looking to take a break and control but Sama is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sama manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Li Tsang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tsang throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sama.
Sama throws a jab but it's blocked by Tsang.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Tsang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tsang 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Tsang!