PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takeru Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ry de Belen (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.

Yamaguchi
vs
de Belen

176 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeru Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ry de Belen!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamaguchi.
de Belen takes one on the button.
Yamaguchi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from de Belen.
de Belen shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamaguchi sprawls well. He's pushed de Belen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
de Belen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yamaguchi counters with a thumping low kick.
Takeru Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ry de Belen.

de Belen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Yamaguchi keeping full guard, as de Belen tries to pass.
de Belen won't allow Yamaguchi to get back to his feet.
de Belen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamaguchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Belen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Yamaguchi misses with the combination.
de Belen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takeru Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamaguchi is breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi throws a solid leg kick but de Belen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi looks to land a right hand but de Belen moved out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a kick to the body.

de Belen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Yamaguchi manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yamaguchi wants to stand and escape but de Belen is having none of it.

de Belen stands up from Yamaguchi's guard - de Belen perhaps looking for a knockout.
A combination from Yamaguchi does no damage.
de Belen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Belen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

de Belen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than de Belen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Yamaguchi trying desperately to get to his feet.
Yamaguchi is in a horrible position here. de Belen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
A nice elbow there by de Belen.
Yamaguchi is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! de Belen has taken his back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

de Belen working for a choke but Yamaguchi is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de Belen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Even with his hooks in, de Belen manages to miss with strikes from the back.
de Belen is looking to control Yamaguchi but Yamaguchi is wriggling around and keeping busy.

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.
Yamaguchi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
de Belen keeps control of the position easily here as Yamaguchi tries to buck him off.
Yamaguchi wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

de Belen looks to clinch
and Yamaguchi counters with a straight right hand.
No luck for de Belen with that takedown attempt.
Yamaguchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
de Belen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yamaguchi can pounce on him.
Yamaguchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and de Belen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yamaguchi's guard.
Yamaguchi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as de Belen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
de Belen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamaguchi's head.

de Belen stands up and waves to Yamaguchi to follow him.
Yamaguchi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from de Belen finds it's way round the side to connect with Yamaguchi's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamaguchi.
Horrible takedown by de Belen or perhaps it was just good defense by Yamaguchi which made him look bad.
Yamaguchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
de Belen moves in looking to clinch but Yamaguchi pushes him off.
Yamaguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
de Belen shoots in for a takedown but Yamaguchi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Takeru Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ry de Belen.

de Belen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Yamaguchi is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Belen wants to pass the guard but Yamaguchi is defending well.
de Belen is just content to waste time from the top position. Yamaguchi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ry de Belen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yamaguchi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
de Belen trying to control but Yamaguchi postures up.
de Belen tries to roll over but Yamaguchi keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi blocks the strikes from de Belen.
de Belen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
de Belen is looking to get back to full guard here but Yamaguchi has managed to pass to side control instead.
de Belen tries to hold on but Yamaguchi pushes him away.
de Belen squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
de Belen tries to hold on but Yamaguchi pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
de Belen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
de Belen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Yamaguchi avoids the attempt from de Belen to control.

Yamaguchi is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Yamaguchi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yamaguchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
de Belen tries to clinch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi works over de Belen's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ry de Belen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

de Belen gets a takedown into half guard.

de Belen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Yamaguchi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
de Belen trying to pass the guard but Yamaguchi defending well.

Yamaguchi has one foot on de Belen's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

de Belen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Yamaguchi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
de Belen trying to control the action but Yamaguchi is working from the bottom.
de Belen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from de Belen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
de Belen taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamaguchi is looking to get back to his feet here but de Belen is keeping cool and he's managed to take Yamaguchi's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Belen lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Oooh a big shot gets through from de Belen. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Yamaguchi is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Yamaguchi looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

de Belen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Yamaguchi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
de Belen is controlling the position but Yamaguchi somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
de Belen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Yamaguchi.

That's four 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.
Yamaguchi tries to kick de Belen off but de Belen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
de Belen is pressing down on Yamaguchi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yamaguchi is holding on for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
de Belen works Yamaguchi's body with a nice hook.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but de Belen moves out of range.
de Belen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

de Belen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamaguchi looking for a sweep. Not yet Yamaguchi, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ry de Belen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got de Belen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ry de Belen!