PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takero Yoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gio Naza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gimme shelter - the rolling stones. Naza has chosen Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yoshi
vs
Naza

178 cm
23
170 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

185 cm
26
176 lbs
9 - 7 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Asphyxiation Ltd. (CBK)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Takero Yoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 2, fighting out of London, Gio Naza!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshi lands a nice shot to the body.
Yoshi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Naza avoids it really well and circles away.
Naza bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yoshi's head.
Yoshi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Naza swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Naza with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Yoshi to counter with a crisp jab.
Yoshi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Naza blocks a head kick by Yoshi.
Yoshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yoshi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Naza walks into a stiff left hand from Yoshi.

Naza shoots in and bounces Yoshi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Naza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Naza working some strikes from top position.
Yoshi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yoshi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Naza sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshi trying to control the action but Naza is working from the bottom.
Naza pushes Yoshi off looking to stand but Yoshi dives back in and keeps control.

Yoshi seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Naza has recovered full guard.
Naza wants to stand up but Yoshi is controlling him.
Yoshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Naza is keeping the position for now.
Yoshi is working hard here to advance position.
Naza wants to get back to his feet but Yoshi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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.

Yoshi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yoshi trying to control but Naza is working from the bottom.
Naza keeping full guard, as Yoshi tries to pass.
Yoshi forces his way into half guard.
Naza trying to control from the bottom.
Yoshi trying to advance position but Naza counters by regaining guard.
Yoshi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi won't allow Naza to get back to his feet.
Yoshi wants to control from the top but Naza keeps moving.
Yoshi tries to free his leg and advance position but Naza is retaining full guard.

Takero Yoshi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Yoshi throws a shot from downtown. Naza moves away and avoids it.
Yoshi blocks a head kick by Naza.
Yoshi throws a shot from downtown. Naza moves away and avoids it.
Naza fails with the takedown.
Naza shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yoshi as he jumps to the side.
Takero Yoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gio Naza.
Yoshi throws a head kick but Naza moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Naza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yoshi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yoshi punishes Naza's body with a nice straight punch.
Yoshi throws a leg kick but Naza sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yoshi lands with a right hand.
Yoshi loads up on a big right hand but Naza slips the punch.
Yoshi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Naza misses with a takedown attempt
letting Yoshi counter with a right hand.
Yoshi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yoshi misses with a few strikes there.
Naza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yoshi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Naza looks gassed!

Naza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yoshi did well to prevent Naza getting side control.
Yoshi gets back to full guard.

Naza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Yoshi is looking for a triangle but Naza pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takero Yoshi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Naza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yoshi.
Nice sprawl there from Yoshi as Naza shoots in.
Naza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yoshi circles away.
Yoshi missing with a left hand there. Naza was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Naza takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yoshi throws a nice looking combination but Naza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Yoshi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Naza regains full guard. Nicely done.
Naza wants to get back to his feet but Yoshi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

Naza gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Naza is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshi trying to strike off his back.
Yoshi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Naza!

Yoshi is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Naza can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Yoshi looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Yoshi goes for an armbar but Naza turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Naza.
Naza postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naza wants to control from the top but Yoshi keeps moving.
Naza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Naza won't allow Yoshi to sweep him here.
Naza lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yoshi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Yoshi has his foot on Naza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Naza works his way back into a safe position though.
Gio Naza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Naza works over Yoshi with some ground and pound from guard.
Yoshi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Naza.
Naza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Naza distracts Yoshi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Naza working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yoshi's head.

Yoshi working for a triangle but Naza defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naza with a nice head shot there.
Naza lands a couple of digs.
Naza chips away with some ground and pound.
Naza throwing strikes but missing.
Naza content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Naza stands and throws Yoshi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Naza is chipping away with strikes.
Naza is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Yoshi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Yoshi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi is looking for a sweep.
Yoshi taking a bit of punishment here - Naza scoring with strikes.
Yoshi tries to bench press Naza off him but Naza keeps the position.
Naza lands a few punches from side control.
Naza working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Yoshi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Yoshi tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Naza landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Naza looks up at the clock and then as Yoshi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Naza smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Yoshi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gio Naza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Naza fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yoshi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Naza scores a takedown into full mount!
Yoshi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Naza fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Yoshi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yoshi is squirming around, avoiding Naza's attempts to control the action.
Yoshi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Yoshi working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Yoshi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naza cracks Yoshi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Yoshi working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yoshi is bucking up trying to escape but Naza cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Naza with good strikes from the mount here!

It looks like Takero Yoshi has been cut.
Yoshi can't escape the position.
Naza lands a nice shot to the head.
Naza cracks Yoshi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Yoshi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space 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!
Naza wants to get back to his feet but Yoshi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Naza has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Yoshi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yoshi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Takero Yoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yoshi throws an overhand right that lands on Naza's shoulder, as Naza tries to avoid the shot.
Yoshi throws a jab but it's blocked by Naza.
Yoshi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naza manages to avoid it.
Yoshi tries to clinch up.
Yoshi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Naza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yoshi throws out the jab.
Yoshi leaves Naza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Naza shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Naza showed some decent athleticism there.
Yoshi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yoshi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yoshi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Naza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Yoshi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Naza won't allow Yoshi to sweep him here.
Naza landing some decent shots from guard.
Naza is in close to Yoshi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Naza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yoshi is keeping the position for now.
Naza makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Naza puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Naza drops an elbow to the side of Yoshi's head.
Naza winds up and cracks Yoshi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Yoshi tries to roll over but Naza keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Naza connects with a nice short shot to Yoshi's temple.
Naza prevents Yoshi from improving his position.
Naza lands strikes from half guard.
Yoshi regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Naza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Naza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Naza trying to control but Yoshi is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gio Naza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Naza 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gio Naza!