PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shunsuke Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AB Sly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sly has chosen In Flames - My Sweet Shadow 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.

Yamamoto
vs
Sly

194 cm
22
223 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

187 cm
26
212 lbs
7 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Nippon ™
Nippon ™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Shunsuke Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, AB Sly!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto misses with a two punch combination.
Sly fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sly dodges the punch combination from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sly shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yamamoto sprawls well. Yamamoto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sly gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination. Sly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like AB Sly has been cut.
Yamamoto throws a looping overhand right but Sly ducks down to avoid it.
Yamamoto loads up on a big right hand but Sly slips the punch.
Shunsuke Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sly looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Sly looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamamoto is fending him off so far but Sly persists. Nope, Yamamoto circles away and we're back to standing.
Shunsuke Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AB Sly.
Nice takedown defense from Yamamoto. No joy for Sly on that attempt.
A right-left combo lands from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sly holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yamamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Danga de danga de dang - Yamamoto scores with a four punch combination!

Sly is rocked!
Yamamoto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sly counters with a three punch combo that has Yamamoto backing up. Yamamoto nods at Sly to acknowledge the strikes.
Sly shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yamamoto sprawls well. Yamamoto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sly gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sly counters with a shoot takedown. Yamamoto fights it but they end up in guard.
Sly is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yamamoto keeping full guard, as Sly tries to pass.
Sly loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sly trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamamoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sly stands and steps away. Yamamoto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Sly.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Sly avoids nicely.
Sly shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense.
Yamamoto misses with an uppercut.
Sly has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yamamoto finds it's way round the side to connect with Sly's head.
Yamamoto throws a looping overhand right but Sly ducks down to avoid it.
Yamamoto misses with a two punch combination.
Sly throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Sly moves out of range.
Yamamoto tries to bum rush Sly with a series of wild strikes but Sly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice takedown defense from Yamamoto. No joy for Sly on that attempt.
Yamamoto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sly drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yamamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamamoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yamamoto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sly with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sly trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sly trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sly throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sly's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!

Sly working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yamamoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yamamoto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Yamamoto misses with a combination
and Sly counters with a one-two to the body.
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.
Yamamoto works over Sly's head and body with a nice combination.
Shunsuke Yamamoto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto slaps away a takedown attempt from Sly, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yamamoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sly circles away quickly and effectively.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sly tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
Yamamoto leaves Sly with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yamamoto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sly counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Sly stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yamamoto pinned against the cage. Yamamoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamamoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sly fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A punch combination from Yamamoto misses.
Sly moves away from the strike by Yamamoto.
A combination from Yamamoto does no damage.
Yamamoto falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sly counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yamamoto!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sly throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Yamamoto because Sly loaded up on that one.
Sly controlling the position easily from mount.
Yamamoto is squirming around, avoiding Sly's attempts to control the action.
Sly sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yamamoto is trying to stand.
Sly scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Yamamoto?
Yamamoto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sly.

Sly is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Yamamoto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Yamamoto!
Yamamoto postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sly's guard.

Sly is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yamamoto trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sly's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sly 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AB Sly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on AB Sly's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sly shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yamamoto misses with a combination
and Sly counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yamamoto pinned against the cage. Yamamoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sly moves out of range of the strikes.
Sly closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yamamoto circles away.
Shunsuke Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AB Sly.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Sly avoids it well.
Yamamoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamamoto misses with a combination
and Sly counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sly shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yamamoto sprawls well. Yamamoto wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sly gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sly fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab

and Sly counters with a shoot takedown. Yamamoto fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sly throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sly's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!
Sly controls Yamamoto momentarily but Yamamoto frees himself.
Yamamoto trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sly's guard.
Sly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sly missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Sly is trying to work for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending well.

Yamamoto kicks Sly off and gets back to his feet.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Sly avoids it well.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yamamoto misses with a double jab
and Sly counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Yamamoto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Sly closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yamamoto quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sly is trying to control the action in half guard but Yamamoto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sly thows a huge punch but Yamamoto dodges it nicely.
Sly sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yamamoto defending well though.
Sly thows a huge punch but Yamamoto dodges it nicely.
Sly not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Sly tries to stand but can't do so whilst Yamamoto controls his leg.
Sly perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Sly is trying to work for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending well.

Sly is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Sly with the ground and pound but Yamamoto uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Yamamoto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's six 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.
Sly wants to control from the top but Yamamoto keeps moving.

Sly stands up and waves to Yamamoto to follow him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sly!
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Sly avoids them all with ease.
Sly changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to avoid it but Sly manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yamamoto to the ground. Yamamoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yamamoto throws a hook but Sly avoids it easily.
Yamamoto throws a shot from downtown. Sly moves away and avoids it.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab.
Yamamoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sly.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto swinging wildly here.
Sly tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamamoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sly is looking to clinch but Yamamoto is avoiding it.
Sly showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Sly counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yamamoto keeping full guard, as Sly tries to pass.
Sly looking to sit in guard and control but Yamamoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sly lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!
Shunsuke Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Sly goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yamamoto is on top in guard.

Sly escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yamamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto stands and steps away. Sly gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Yamamoto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Sly ducks under and follows up with a left that Sly also avoids with ease.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
and Sly counters with a series of strikes. Yamamoto will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sly shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamamoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sly tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamamoto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
AB Sly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sly 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for AB Sly!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for AB Sly!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for AB Sly!

AB Sly wins by unanimous decision!