PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takeru Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and nef inocencio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). inocencio is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by eyes of the tiger. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yamaguchi
vs
inocencio

176 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

161 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, nef inocencio!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
inocencio throws a head kick that misses.
Yamaguchi dives in and grabs inocencio's left leg, looking for a takedown. inocencio pushes down on Yamaguchi's head and hops out.

inocencio looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
inocencio wants to stand up but Yamaguchi manages to regain full guard.
Yamaguchi keeping full guard, as inocencio tries to pass.

Yamaguchi is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Yamaguchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yamaguchi tries for a takedown but inocencio circles away easily
and Yamaguchi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
inocencio is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says inocencio as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takeru Yamaguchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

inocencio gets the takedown into side control.
Yamaguchi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

inocencio stands up.
inocencio wants to clinch up but Yamaguchi keeps it at a distance.
inocencio throws a sloppy head kick and Yamaguchi moves out of range easily.

inocencio darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
inocencio trying to control the action but Yamaguchi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

inocencio is looking for a kimura but Yamaguchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for inocencio to get the leverage.
inocencio looks gassed!

Yamaguchi manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Yamaguchi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yamaguchi showed some decent athleticism there.
Yamaguchi prevents inocencio from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
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!
Yamaguchi prevents inocencio from improving his position.
inocencio is looking to control Yamaguchi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can inocencio avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
inocencio looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yamaguchi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
inocencio wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping busy.
inocencio wants to improve his position but Yamaguchi is controlling well.
Yamaguchi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Yamaguchi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamaguchi controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
inocencio wants to get back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Yamaguchi lands a nice short elbow.
Yamaguchi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamaguchi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamaguchi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yamaguchi working some strikes from top position.
Yamaguchi 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.
inocencio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yamaguchi has one foot on inocencio's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
inocencio blocks a head kick by Yamaguchi.
inocencio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
inocencio throws a sloppy head kick

and Yamaguchi counters with a nice double leg into side control. inocencio won't be happy with that.
Yamaguchi wants to control but inocencio is keeping him busy.
inocencio is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Yamaguchi is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamaguchi works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but inocencio keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi working the head and body with strikes.
Check out the look on Yamaguchi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Yamaguchi landing a few strikes.
Yamaguchi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
A lull in the action here as Yamaguchi stalls from top position.
You can see the frustration on inocencio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yamaguchi lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi working the ground and pound.
Yamaguchi lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear inocencio down.
Yamaguchi cracks inocencio with an elbow. That is naaassty.
inocencio can't do much from the bottom here.
Yamaguchi scores with a couple of short elbows.
Yamaguchi just content to control the position.
Yamaguchi looks up at the clock and then as inocencio takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Yamaguchi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi trying to control the action but inocencio is working from the bottom.
inocencio takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
inocencio is trying to get back to half guard.
Yamaguchi cracks inocencio with a big elbow.

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.
Yamaguchi landing strikes.
inocencio takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Yamaguchi cracks inocencio with a big elbow.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Yamaguchi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down inocencio for as long as he can get away with.
Yamaguchi working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Yamaguchi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Yamaguchi misses with a takedown

and inocencio counters with a single leg into guard. Yamaguchi didn't expect that.
Yamaguchi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst inocencio is controlling him.
inocencio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
inocencio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamaguchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Yamaguchi pushes inocencio off and scrambles back to his feet.

inocencio closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
inocencio trying to control the action but Yamaguchi is working from the bottom.
Yamaguchi wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is not content to let inocencio control the position.
The strikes coming from inocencio are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
inocencio laying and praying for a moment but Yamaguchi takes advantage and regains half guard.
inocencio prevents Yamaguchi from standing back up.

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.
inocencio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yamaguchi tries to kick inocencio off but inocencio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Yamaguchi is refusing to be controlled, as inocencio sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. nef inocencio wasn't active enough on the ground.

Yamaguchi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. inocencio quickly recovers to half guard.
Yamaguchi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
inocencio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yamaguchi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yamaguchi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Yamaguchi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but inocencio sees it coming and defends easily.
Yamaguchi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Takeru Yamaguchi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
inocencio tries to get to full guard but Yamaguchi has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
inocencio is trying to maintain the position but Yamaguchi is very close to passing his half guard.
Yamaguchi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yamaguchi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
inocencio wants to get back to his feet.
Yamaguchi content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
nef inocencio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think inocencio 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... nef inocencio!