PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ken Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Masters
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
22
187 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ken Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Takeshi Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masters rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamamoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Yamamoto as he connects with a hook.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
A shot to the liver by Masters. Beautiful body shot.

Masters clinches.

Masters breaks the clinch.
Masters tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.
Nice uppercut there from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Masters shoots in but no luck this time.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
and Masters counters with a stiff right hand.
Masters shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yamamoto scores with a decent looking hook.
Yamamoto throws a combination. Masters tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Masters shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Masters trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Masters. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Masters is controlling him.
Masters working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Masters stops Yamamoto from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Masters 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.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Masters isn't so interested in that idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamamoto can do anything to dispel that myth.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Masters punishes Yamamoto's body with a nice straight punch.
Yamamoto looks gassed!
Masters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto throws a nice looking combination but Masters bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Masters throws a one two combo.
Masters throws a series of punches but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Masters misses with a series of wild punches.
Masters fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masters moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
Yamamoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Masters circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamamoto misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masters misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masters staying out of range there.
Yamamoto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Masters.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
and Masters counters with a three punch combo that has Yamamoto backing up. Yamamoto nods at Masters to acknowledge the strikes.
Takeshi Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Masters pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Masters connects with a single shot there.
Masters shoots in for a double leg but Yamamoto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yamamoto misses with a combination

and Masters counters with a shoot takedown. Yamamoto fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamamoto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Masters postures up and lands a big shot to Yamamoto's brow.
Masters slips nicely into half guard.
Yamamoto is refusing to be controlled, as Masters sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Masters is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Masters seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masters scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Masters not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Masters digs a good body shot into Yamamoto's ribs.
Masters tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Masters lands with an uppercut that bounces Yamamoto off the cage and back into rage.
A cross from Masters lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Masters with that takedown attempt.

Masters scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Masters trying to control the position but Yamamoto is working away.
Yamamoto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Masters asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Masters scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Yamamoto to see if he's OK.
Masters prevents Yamamoto from escaping the position.

Masters decides to stand back up. Masters steps back and let's Yamamoto get back to his feet.
Masters throws a nice head kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
and Masters counters with a two punch combo.
Masters fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
and Masters counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab.
Masters lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A nice combination there by Masters.
Masters shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yamamoto lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab

and Masters moves into the clinch.

Masters manages to pull guard.
Yamamoto wants to stand and escape but instead Masters has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Masters throwing strikes but missing.
Masters prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Masters passes into half guard.

Masters is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yamamoto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Masters.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters trying to control the action but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

Yamamoto manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown.
Yamamoto throws a series of strikes that have Masters backpedaling.
Ken Masters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masters tries for a takedown but Yamamoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yamamoto lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Yamamoto works over Masters's head and body with a nice combination.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamamoto misses with a combination

and Masters counters with a single leg into guard. Yamamoto didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Masters is controlling him.

Masters stands up from Yamamoto's guard - Masters perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses

and Masters counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto tries to kick Masters off but Masters keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yamamoto is refusing to be controlled, as Masters sits in half guard.
Yamamoto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Masters looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yamamoto with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Yamamoto is in trouble now - Masters has advanced to mount!
Yamamoto wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Yamamoto is squirming around, avoiding Masters's attempts to control the action.
Yamamoto wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters controlling from the full mount.
Yamamoto is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Masters pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Yamamoto is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Masters.
Yamamoto is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Masters lands a big elbow.
Yamamoto tries to buck Masters off but he can't manage it.

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.
Masters has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yamamoto's face.
Masters scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Yamamoto tries to buck Masters off but he can't manage it.
Yamamoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.
Masters trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Masters with good strikes from the mount here!
Masters with the ground and pound from mount.
Yamamoto holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Masters tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Yamamoto really wants to buck Masters off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Masters dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yamamoto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yamamoto lands with a nice combination. Masters backs away looking to recover.
Masters tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
Masters shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masters wants to clinch up but Yamamoto keeps it at a distance.
Yamamoto cracks a nice hook into Masters's ribs.
Masters misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamamoto.
Masters fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch lands to the side of Masters 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yamamoto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Yamamoto throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Masters stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Yamamoto throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Masters stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Danga de danga de dang - Yamamoto scores with a four punch combination!
Masters on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masters dives in and grabs Yamamoto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes down on Masters's head and hops out.
Masters takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Masters has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters dodges the punch combination from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Masters avoids it well.
Yamamoto throws a hook to the side of Masters's head but Masters sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamamoto throws a left and a right that both miss
and Masters counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yamamoto thinking.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab
and Masters connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Masters slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a hook to the side of Masters's head but Masters sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Masters counters with a thumping low kick.

Masters clinches with his opponent.

Masters breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Masters shoots in but Yamamoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yamamoto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yamamoto scores with the left hand. Masters knows he should have avoided that one.

Masters closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Yamamoto's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yamamoto wants to get back to striking at distance but Masters won't allow it.
Yamamoto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Masters has Yamamoto pressed against the cage, preventing Yamamoto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Masters manages to break the clinch.
Masters throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Masters throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamamoto's waist but Yamamoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Masters off to one side.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Masters counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Masters trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Masters throws a big right hand that misses.

Yamamoto wriggles free and stands up.
Masters pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yamamoto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Masters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto defends it nicely.
Yamamoto lands the left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses with a few strikes there.
Masters moves away from the strike by Yamamoto.
A punch combination from Masters misses.
Masters tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
A nice combination there by Yamamoto.

Masters clinches with his opponent.
Masters is looking to control Yamamoto's arms but Yamamoto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Masters has his back to the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to break free.

Masters breaks the clinch.
Yamamoto falls off balance throwing a combination

and Masters holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Masters goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yamamoto prevents it.
Yamamoto working hard to break the clinch.
Yamamoto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masters tries to score a body lock takedown but Yamamoto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Masters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamamoto's efforts to push away.

Masters has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yamamoto uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters controls Yamamoto momentarily but Yamamoto frees himself.

Masters wriggles free and stands up.
Masters fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masters looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Masters slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.
Takeshi Yamamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Yamamoto takes a shot to the head.
Masters jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yamamoto walks away with a smile on his face. Masters gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Masters closes the distance and clinches.

Masters breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Masters throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takeshi Yamamoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab

and Masters counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Takeshi Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ken Masters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto is staying active underneath Masters, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Masters showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Masters, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Masters!