PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kawakami Gensai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gensai might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SAMURAI X - Opening. Katsu Yamamoto has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kawakami Gensai's chin.

Gensai
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
26
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

163 cm
24
143 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

GTi - MTG - New Stock !!

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kawakami Gensai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Katsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto is looking to land body kicks.

Yamamoto tries to keep at a distance but Gensai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gensai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gensai tries a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks it.
A knee to the head by Yamamoto.
Gensai misses with a knee to the head.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A clash of legs there as Gensai blocks the low kick.

Yamamoto drives through and clinches with Gensai against the cage.
Gensai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yamamoto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
Gensai tries to clinch there but Yamamoto circles away.

Yamamoto clinches.
Nice body punch from Gensai.
Gensai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gensai misses with a knee to the head.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto misses with a head kick.
Yamamoto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A jab from Gensai misses.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Crunch! Yamamoto slams his shin into Gensai's torso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gensai. Yamamoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamamoto lands with a nice body punch.
Gensai just misses with a punch to the body.
Gensai tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves away

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.
Gensai is looking to control Yamamoto's arms but Yamamoto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gensai has his back to the cage.
Gensai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
Gensai misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamamoto.
Gensai throws an overhand right that lands on Yamamoto's shoulder, as Yamamoto tries to avoid the shot.
Yamamoto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yamamoto misses with an uppercut. Gensai saw that one coming.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gensai backs up against the cage.
Yamamoto slips under a jab from Gensai.

Yamamoto pushes Gensai up against the cage in a clinch.
Yamamoto has had enough of the clinch but Gensai keeps him there for the moment.
Gensai misses with an elbow strike.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Gensai has the dominant position.
Gensai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gensai is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto crunches a lovely knee into Gensai's ribcage.
Yamamoto lands an elbow inside.
Gensai tries to land knees in the clinch but Yamamoto avoids the damage to the body.
Yamamoto taking a breather.
Yamamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gensai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gensai lands with a light punch inside.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gensai looks to land a left hand but Yamamoto moved out of range nicely.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gensai backs up against the cage.
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
Yamamoto clobbers Gensai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gensai with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gensai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gensai keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamamoto's efforts to push away.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks with his arms.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gensai walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto connects with a jab.
Yamamoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt
and Yamamoto counters with a right hand to the body.
Gensai misses with a wild body shot.
Gensai throws the left hand but Yamamoto avoids the punch easily.

Yamamoto forces Gensai back against the cage and clinches.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gensai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yamamoto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto scores with a three punch combo!
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Gensai avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gensai backs up against the cage.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
Yamamoto takes a swing at Gensai's ribcage but misses.
Yamamoto just misses with a punch to the body.

Yamamoto clinches.
Yamamoto is trying to break the clinch but Gensai is controlling him.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks with his arms.
Gensai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Knees to the body from Gensai.
Gensai being controlled against the cage.
Yamamoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gensai has him pressed against the cage.
Gensai misses with a knee to the head.
Gensai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gensai trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gensai as Yamamoto tries to tie him up.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.

Yamamoto has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Yamamoto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamamoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good exchange - Yamamoto coming out on top.
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Gensai moves out of range.
Gensai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gensai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yamamoto fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gensai on the side of the head.
Yamamoto misses with a straight right.
Gensai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Yamamoto counters with a one-two to the body.
Gensai darts in trying to clinch

and Yamamoto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gensai landing knees to the body.
Gensai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Gensai has the dominant position.
Gensai looking to throw knees to the head but Yamamoto is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto is looking to land body kicks.
Gensai wants to clinch but Yamamoto slips to the side

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.
Gensai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yamamoto stalling against the cage.
Yamamoto tries to stall but Gensai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Gensai blocks with his arms.
Yamamoto wants to break free but Gensai has control.
Gensai connects with a knee to the head.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Gensai has the dominant position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yamamoto stalling in the clinch but Gensai improves position.
Gensai misses with a knee strike.
Gensai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yamamoto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yamamoto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gensai misses with a knee to the head.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yamamoto avoids it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gensai throws an elbow but misses.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Gensai takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gensai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Yamamoto jumps into guard, dragging Gensai to the mat.
Yamamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yamamoto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Yamamoto has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto trying to control but Gensai is having none of it.
Gensai is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Yamamoto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Katsu Yamamoto just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gensai wants to clinch but Yamamoto slips to the side
and Yamamoto counters with a thumping low kick.
Katsu Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamamoto looks for the body kick but Gensai saw that one coming.
Yamamoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gensai's hands.
Yamamoto throws a hook to the side of Gensai's head but Gensai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamamoto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gensai wants to clinch.
Gensai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Gensai avoids it well.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Gensai is having none of it.
A shot to the body from Gensai misses
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yamamoto misses with a head kick.
Yamamoto misses with a body punch
enabling Gensai to counter with a crisp jab.
Gensai takes one on the button.
Gensai misses with a body shot

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.

Yamamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamamoto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gensai tries to clinch up.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gensai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gensai takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Yamamoto tries to clinch

and Gensai holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gensai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yamamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gensai tries a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks it.
Gensai working aggressively here.
Yamamoto wants to get back to striking at distance but Gensai won't allow it.
Gensai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto tries to circle away but Gensai has him pinned against the cage.
Yamamoto missing with knees to the body.
Gensai tries to stall but Yamamoto uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Yamamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gensai keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamamoto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gensai's sensitive parts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gensai trying to land knees to the body.
Yamamoto tries to land a knee to the head but Gensai blocks with his arms.
Yamamoto has Gensai pressed against the cage.
Gensai is pressed up against the cage. Yamamoto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gensai down to the mat. Gensai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yamamoto wants to clinch up but Gensai keeps it at a distance.
Gensai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yamamoto. Yamamoto obviously looking to wear him down.
Yamamoto throws a series of strikes that have Gensai backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gensai takes the fight into the clinch.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yamamoto wants to clinch
and Gensai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Gensai moves out of range.
Gensai darts in trying to clinch
and Gensai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamamoto misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gensai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Yamamoto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gensai misses with a knee strike.
Yamamoto blocks an elbow strike.
Gensai misses with a knee strike.
Gensai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yamamoto blocks it with crossed arms.
Yamamoto cracks Gensai with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gensai trying to control the position but instead, Yamamoto has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gensai into the cage.
Yamamoto can't break the clinch.
Kawakami Gensai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gensai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gensai swings wildly with an uppercut but Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Yamamoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamamoto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Yamamoto delivers a nice body kick.
Yamamoto throws a lazy body kick

and Gensai counters by moving into the clinch.
Gensai avoiding damage as Yamamoto throws knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Yamamoto is trying to maintain a safe position but Gensai gets an underhook and turns Yamamoto into the cage.
Gensai is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yamamoto is keeping busy.
Yamamoto is trying to break the clinch but Gensai is controlling him.
Yamamoto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gensai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gensai tries to land a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks with his arms.
Yamamoto lands a knee to the head.
Gensai trying to land knees to the body.

Yamamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
Yamamoto walks into a left hand.
Gensai wants to clinch but Yamamoto slips to the side

and Yamamoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yamamoto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yamamoto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A knee to the head by Gensai.
Gensai tries to land knees in the clinch but Yamamoto avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto stalling against the cage.
Gensai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Gensai throws a series of punches but Yamamoto moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Katsu Yamamoto.
Well Yamamoto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsu Yamamoto!