PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between JP Alcano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kira Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Alcano
vs
Yamato

178 cm
27
153 lbs
11 - 8 - 1

165 cm
24
152 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, JP Alcano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kira Yamato!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alcano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamato.
Alcano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamato.
Alcano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yamato takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Alcano slips under a jab.
Yamato is looking to clinch but Alcano is avoiding it.
Alcano throws a head kick but Yamato moves out of range.
Alcano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
Yamato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alcano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Alcano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Alcano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamato moves in looking to clinch but Alcano pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamato wants to clinch.
Yamato misses with a straight left.
Yamato throws a hook but Alcano blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alcano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Alcano trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Alcano goes for an armbar but Yamato turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Yamato.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Alcano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yamato can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yamato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alcano looking for a guillotine here but Yamato defends easily.

Yamato decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Alcano, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Alcano.
Alcano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Alcano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamato is looking to clinch.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alcano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alcano dives in and grabs Yamato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamato pushes down on Alcano's head and hops out.
Yamato misses with a straight left.
Yamato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch but Alcano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yamato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alcano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yamato tries to clinch but Alcano moves out of range.
Alcano swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nice takedown defense from Yamato. No joy for Alcano on that attempt.
A combination from Yamato does no damage.
Yamato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Alcano.
Alcano shoots in but Yamato avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JP Alcano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alcano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yamato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yamato tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Alcano.
Yamato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Alcano circles away quickly and effectively.
Kira Yamato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Decent striking displayed by Yamato there.
Yamato throws a lazy right hand but Alcano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Yamato misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kira Yamato will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamato misses with an uppercut.
Yamato takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yamato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kira Yamato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alcano scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Alcano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No joy there for Yamato, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alcano swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Alcano gets the takedown into side control.
Yamato prevents Alcano from moving into mount.
Sloppy strikes there by Alcano.
Yamato managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Alcano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcano works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Alcano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Alcano scores with a couple of short elbows.
Yamato parries the strikes from Alcano easily there. Alcano is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yamato to escape.
Yamato is pushing Alcano's head away, looking to escape. Alcano manages to hold on to the position though.

Alcano working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Alcano throws an elbow but Yamato slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Alcano is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yamato knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yamato tries to escape but Alcano is in control.
Alcano tries to advance to mount but can't.
Alcano passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Yamato!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Yamato really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alcano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Alcano trying to control but Yamato is having none of it.

Alcano stands up from mount. Strange move.
Yamato moves in looking to clinch but Alcano pushes him off.
Alcano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamato.
JP Alcano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yamato gets caught flat footed, as Alcano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alcano throws and elbow that misses. Yamato uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alcano's guard. Nice move by Yamato!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alcano looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yamato passes into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alcano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yamato wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yamato working away.
Alcano is looking to regain half guard here but Yamato keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JP Alcano dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yamato misses with an uppercut.
Alcano staying out of range there.
Yamato leaves Alcano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yamato tries to clinch but Alcano is having none of it.
Yamato might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Yamato misses with a takedown

so Alcano counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alcano working some strikes from top position.
Alcano wants to pass the guard but Yamato is keeping the position.

Alcano drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yamato dives on top into guard.
JP Alcano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alcano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alcano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamato wants to get up but he can't break Alcano's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Alcano looking for a guillotine here but Yamato defends easily.

Alcano working for a triangle but Yamato defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Alcano wants to sweep here but Yamato controlling him for the moment.
Yamato wants to stand but Alcano has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alcano is working an open guard so Yamato takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Yamato misses with a wild combination.
Alcano scoring well with a low kick there.
Alcano shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamato but Yamato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yamato tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Alcano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yamato's guard.
Yamato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alcano.
Yamato wants to get back to his feet but Alcano is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alcano looking to sit in guard and control but Yamato gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Alcano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Alcano working for submissions but it's allowed Yamato to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
JP Alcano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Alcano 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JP Alcano!