PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Don Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hisato Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simon
vs
Yamamoto

163 cm
25
142 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hisato Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Simon misses the target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Simon.
Nice sprawl there from Simon as Yamamoto shoots in.
Simon slaps away a takedown attempt from Yamamoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Simon lands a glancing blow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Yamamoto staying out of range there.
Simon fails to land with a series of punches.
Simon throws a nice looking combination but Yamamoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simon misses with the combination.
Simon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Don Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hisato Yamamoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto dives in and grabs Simon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Simon pushes down on Yamamoto's head and hops out.
Simon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Simon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yamamoto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simon as he jumps to the side.
Simon misses with a low kick.
Don Simon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simon throws the left hand but Yamamoto avoids the punch easily.
Yamamoto dives in and grabs Simon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Simon pushes down on Yamamoto's head and hops out.
Simon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yamamoto moves forwards but Simon connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from Simon does no damage.
Simon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yamamoto at a distance.
Simon lands a jab to the nose.
Simon stuns Yamamoto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Simon throws a solid leg kick but Yamamoto takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Simon.
Simon looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Simon throws a low kick, looking for Yamamoto's leg but Yamamoto calmly moves out of range.
Yamamoto dodges the punch combination from Simon.
Simon throws a right hand that Yamamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Yamamoto also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon misses with a two punch combination.
Yamamoto blocks a head kick by Simon.

Yamamoto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simon did well to prevent Yamamoto getting side control.
Yamamoto looks gassed!
Simon is holding on to half guard well.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura but Simon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yamamoto to get the leverage.

Simon actively working from the bottom here.
Yamamoto prevents Simon from standing back up.
Simon is looking to control Yamamoto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Simon avoid being mounted?

Simon kicks off Yamamoto and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamamoto tries to move into range but Simon moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yamamoto blocks the body kick.
Simon looks to land a left hand but Yamamoto moved out of range nicely.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simon misses with a two punch combination.
Simon scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Yamamoto dodges the punch combination from Simon.
Simon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Simon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Simon connects with an inside leg kick.

Simon gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Yamamoto to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Simon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.

Simon has his foot on Yamamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yamamoto works his way back into a safe position though.

Simon pushes Yamamoto off and gets back to his feet.
Simon slaps away a takedown attempt from Yamamoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Don Simon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon misses with a two punch combination.
Yamamoto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A left and a right from Simon both land. Nice combination.
Simon lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Simon misses with an attempted mid kick.
Simon scores with a one two! Yamamoto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Simon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamamoto circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simon misses the shot to the body.
Yamamoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simon tries to avoid it but Yamamoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simon to the ground. Simon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Don Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hisato Yamamoto.
Simon throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yamamoto takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Simon lands a jab-cross combination.
A combination from Simon does no damage.
Simon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yamamoto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Simon lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yamamoto doesn't seem bothered though.
No joy there for Simon, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Simon scores with a jab. Yamamoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Simon scores with a hook.
Yamamoto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Simon.
Simon looks for the body kick but Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Simon scores with a one two! Yamamoto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Nice straight punches there by Simon. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Simon.
Simon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon connects with a solid leg kick.
Simon lands a body shot.
Simon thows a body shot but no joy.
Yamamoto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Simon throws a leg kick but Yamamoto checks it.
Yamamoto moves out of range of the body kick from Simon.
Simon connects with a solid leg kick.
Simon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Simon scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamamoto should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Simon dominated that second 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!

A jab lands there for Simon.
Yamamoto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Simon throws a series of punches but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Simon throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt - Simon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yamamoto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Simon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yamamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a takedown. Simon tries to sprawl out of it but Yamamoto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Simon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yamamoto at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Simon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simon as he jumps to the side.
Don Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hisato Yamamoto.
Simon connects with a looping right hand.
Yamamoto tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

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.
Simon lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Simon throws a body punch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Yamamoto's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yamamoto takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Good exchange - Simon coming out on top.
Simon connects with a leg kick. Yamamoto looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Yamamoto tries to move into range but Simon moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Simon misses with a low kick.
Simon lands a really nice looking cross but Yamamoto seems unphased.
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Simon.
Yamamoto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Simon throws a sloppy head kick and Yamamoto moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Simon.
Simon lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Simon throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Simon lands with a straight right. Yamamoto didn't see that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from Simon.
Yamamoto blocks a head kick by Simon.
Simon lands a nice looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Simon looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Simon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yamamoto.
Simon misses with an attempted mid kick.
Simon lands a body shot.
Yamamoto blocks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Simon.
Simon swinging wildly here.
Simon connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Simon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Simon, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Simon!