PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ken Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sloat Gresham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sloat Gresham will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Yoshida
vs
Gresham

177 cm
20
161 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Berserker Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ken Yoshida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sloat Gresham!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gresham checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gresham moves in looking to clinch but Yoshida pushes him off.
Yoshida misses with a series of wild punches.
Gresham slips a jab from Yoshida.
Yoshida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Yoshida closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gresham is trying to improve his position.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gresham keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gresham is looking for a sweep.
Yoshida moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Gresham is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yoshida's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gresham flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gresham keeps working.
Gresham moves into full guard.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yoshida wants to control from the top but Gresham keeps moving.

Gresham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yoshida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gresham keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.
Gresham trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Yoshida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gresham swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yoshida has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yoshida wants to control from the top but Gresham keeps moving.

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.
Yoshida pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gresham is keeping the position for now.

Gresham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gresham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Gresham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Gresham is looking for a triangle but Yoshida pushes his legs off easily.
Yoshida wants to control from the top but Gresham keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshida won't allow Gresham to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gresham keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ken Yoshida just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gresham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gresham wants to clinch up but Yoshida keeps it at a distance.
Yoshida loads up on a big right hand but Gresham slips the punch.
Gresham is looking to clinch but Yoshida is avoiding it.
Yoshida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yoshida takes a swing at Gresham's ribcage but misses.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Yoshida fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gresham manages to avoid it.
Gresham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yoshida throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Yoshida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yoshida shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gresham but Gresham pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four 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.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gresham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yoshida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gresham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yoshida fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Yoshida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gresham drives through and clinches with Yoshida against the cage.
Gresham is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yoshida gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gresham misses with an elbow strike.
Gresham prevents a body shot from Yoshida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sloat Gresham dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.

Yoshida closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gresham is trying to get back to full guard.
Yoshida controlling the action here.
Gresham is looking to improve his position.
Gresham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yoshida seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Gresham is looking to improve his position.
Yoshida is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gresham!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gresham tries to reverse the position but Yoshida maintains control.

Yoshida is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gresham can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gresham is trying to escape the mount.
Gresham is squirming around, avoiding Yoshida's attempts to control the action.
Yoshida controlling the pace for now.
Gresham really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yoshida connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Yoshida working for a guillotine from mount but Gresham is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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.
Yoshida wants to control the pace but Gresham is squirming around nicely.
Gresham has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Yoshida's lack of action.
Gresham is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yoshida's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yoshida's back!
Yoshida is keeping busy.

Gresham working for the choke.

Gresham working for a choke but Yoshida is defending well.

Gresham is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gresham's guard. Nice work there by Yoshida.

Yoshida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gresham working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yoshida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yoshida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yoshida slips nicely into half guard.
Gresham wants to control but Yoshida is keeping busy.
Gresham wants to improve his position but Yoshida is controlling well.
Gresham is staying active underneath Yoshida, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gresham is looking to control Yoshida's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gresham avoid being mounted?
Well, if Yoshida 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.
Gresham tries to roll over but Yoshida keeps him under control.

Gresham looking for submissions off his back.
Yoshida is thwarting Gresham's attempts to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Yoshida shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yoshida showed some decent athleticism there.
Yoshida is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Yoshida dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gresham takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yoshida just misses with a punch to the body.
Gresham wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gresham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yoshida misses with a series of wild punches.

Gresham pushes Yoshida up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Gresham.

Gresham successfully pulls guard.
Gresham looking to control.

Gresham is looking for a triangle but Yoshida pushes his legs off easily.
Gresham keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.
Gresham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida content to stall in guard here.

Gresham keeping busy on the bottom but Yoshida has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gresham is pressing down on Yoshida's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yoshida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Yoshida looking to sit in guard and control but Gresham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Yoshida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gresham advances to half guard.
Gresham is stalling here. Yoshida is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gresham seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Yoshida has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gresham's shoulder. That is not cool.
Yoshida tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Gresham tries to buck Yoshida off but Yoshida is having none of it.
Yoshida controlling from side mount.

Yoshida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yoshida takes a little break here. Gresham wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gresham looking for a sweep but Yoshida has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Yoshida controlling his opponent.
Gresham is desperately trying to improve his position but Yoshida has a good base and remains in mount.
Gresham manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Yoshida not doing much here.
Gresham wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gresham keeps working.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ken Yoshida just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gresham tries to clinch up.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yoshida misses the shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gresham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida is having none of it.
Gresham is looking to clinch.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yoshida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yoshida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Yoshida looks to land a combination but Gresham avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Sloat Gresham just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Yoshida.
Yoshida misses with an uppercut. Gresham saw that one coming.
Yoshida swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gresham is looking to clinch.
Gresham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.
Yoshida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gresham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yoshida manages to avoid it.
Yoshida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gresham circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshida looks to score with a jab to the body but Gresham is just out of range.
Gresham wants to clinch.
Yoshida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gresham wants to clinch up but Yoshida keeps it at a distance.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida is having none of it.
Yoshida attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yoshida is looking to wear down Gresham with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yoshida tries a low kick but Gresham avoids it.
Gresham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida is having none of it.
Gresham is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yoshida stuffs the takedown.
Gresham tries to clinch up.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch but Yoshida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yoshida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gresham doesn't manage to clinch there - Yoshida circles away.

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.
Yoshida swats away the attempt to clinch by Gresham.
Ken Yoshida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Yoshida.
Gresham tries to clinch there but Yoshida circles away.
Gresham moves out of range of the body kick from Yoshida.
Yoshida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gresham wants to land a leg kick but Yoshida is out of range.
Gresham tries to clinch but Yoshida is having none of it.
Gresham moves in looking to clinch but Yoshida pushes him off.
Yoshida misses with a kick to the body.
Gresham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yoshida with a poor takedown

and Gresham counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Yoshida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gresham connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yoshida's face.
Yoshida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gresham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yoshida is looking to control Gresham's arms but Gresham gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yoshida has his back to the cage.
Gresham lands an elbow just above Yoshida 's eye.
Gresham lands a damaging elbow.
Gresham lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gresham tries to land knees in the clinch but Yoshida avoids the damage to the body.
Gresham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yoshida takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stalling in the clinch from Yoshida.

Yoshida has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Gresham clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Gresham tries to escape but Yoshida has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Gresham turns into Yoshida and is now in his guard.
Yoshida is controlling Gresham's posture.
Yoshida is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gresham is fighting to break Yoshida's control of his arms but Yoshida is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gresham throws and elbow that misses. Yoshida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gresham's guard. Nice move by Yoshida!
Yoshida stands up over Gresham, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yoshida looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Yoshida had his way with Sloat Gresham in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gresham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gresham wants to clinch up but Yoshida keeps it at a distance.
Yoshida misses with a two punch combination.

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

Gresham is looking for a triangle but Yoshida pushes his legs off easily.
Yoshida sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gresham looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yoshida is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ken Yoshida just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A punch combination from Yoshida misses.
Gresham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A punch combination from Yoshida misses.
Yoshida misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida takes a swing at Gresham's ribcage but misses.
Gresham avoids the body shot from Yoshida.
Yoshida tries to bum rush Gresham with a series of wild strikes but Gresham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gresham moves out of range as Yoshida throws a body kick.
Yoshida avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gresham tries to close the distance and clinch but Yoshida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yoshida thows a leg kick but Gresham checks it

and Gresham moves into the clinch.
Gresham missing with knees to the body.
Gresham unloads a knee to the mid-section. Yoshida lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gresham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yoshida blocks an elbow strike.
Yoshida controlling the action here for a moment.
Gresham pushes off an throws an elbow but Yoshida leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yoshida on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yoshida avoiding damage as Gresham throws knees to the body.
Gresham misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yoshida.

That's two 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.
Yoshida lands with a light punch inside.
Gresham lands an elbow inside that Yoshida shrugs off.
Yoshida prevents a takedown attempt there.

Yoshida breaks the clinch.
Yoshida looks for a takedown but Gresham sprawls well.

Gresham moves into range and clinches up with Yoshida.
Yoshida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yoshida prevents a takedown attempt there.
Gresham tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yoshida smiles and moves away.
Ken Yoshida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sloat Gresham.

Gresham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gresham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gresham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Yoshida is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gresham's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gresham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yoshida wants to improve his position but Gresham is controlling well.
Gresham is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yoshida!

That's four 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.
Gresham avoids the attempt from Yoshida to control.
Gresham in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Yoshida wants to control but Gresham is having none of it.
Gresham thowing shots but they're missing.

Yoshida defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gresham.
Yoshida is looking to improve his position but Gresham isn't that keen on the idea.
Gresham punching from mount but Yoshida doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gresham trying to control but Yoshida is having none of it.
Yoshida tries to hold on but Gresham postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sloat Gresham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gresham has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 47:48
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 47:48
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sloat Gresham!