PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hunter
vs
Yoshida

180 cm
19
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yoshida counters with a left and a right that stings Hunter.
Jay Hunter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter connects with a crisp jab.
Hunter throws a body punch but Yoshida moves out of range.
Hunter throws a hook but Yoshida avoids it easily.
Hunter is looking to clinch but Yoshida is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Hunter misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida misses with a looping left.
Yoshida thows a body shot but no joy.
Yoshida avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yoshida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hunter is looking to clinch but Yoshida is avoiding it.
Yoshida throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hunter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hunter doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yoshida counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Jab by Hunter.
Hunter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunter throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Yoshida counters with a takedown into side control.
Hunter is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hunter's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hunter tries to bench press Yoshida off him but Yoshida keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yoshida is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hunter has escaped the position, nice work there.
Yoshida tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hunter's legs.
Hunter tries to buck Yoshida off but Yoshida is having none of it.
Hunter sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Hunter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hunter keeps working.

Hunter actively working from the bottom here.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yoshida works his way into full mount!
Hunter can't escape the position.
Yoshida postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hunter looks a forlorn figure.
Yoshida looking to finish Hunter with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hunter!
Yoshida has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hunter's face.
Yoshida landing strikes from the mount.

Yoshida is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hunter can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hunter is trying to escape the mount.
Yoshida controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Yoshida has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Yoshida dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hunter looks to score with a jab to the body but Yoshida is just out of range.
A big right from Hunter misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter misses with an uppercut
and Yoshida counters with a stiff right hand.
Yoshida throws the left hand but Hunter avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hunter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hunter misses with a takedown

and Yoshida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hunter is looking for a sweep. Yoshida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yoshida perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hunter tries to get to full guard but Yoshida has control of the leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Yoshida lands a nice short elbow.
Hunter is staying active underneath Yoshida, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hunter tries to get to full guard but Yoshida has control of the leg.
Yoshida slips a nice elbow through Hunter's hands, connecting with Hunter's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yoshida is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yoshida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yoshida winds up and cracks Hunter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Yoshida winds up and cracks Hunter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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. Yoshida connects with a nice short shot to Hunter's temple.
Yoshida is controlling the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshida is looking to take a break and control but Hunter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yoshida moves into full mount! Hunter won't be happy about that!
Hunter keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yoshida wants to control the pace but Hunter is squirming around nicely.
Yoshida landing strikes, looking to finish!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter can't escape the position.
Yoshida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hunter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yoshida punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hunter manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
Yoshida wants to take a breather but Hunter is having none of it.
Yoshida working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hunter works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hunter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yoshida keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hunter's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida is in close to Hunter's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hunter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yoshida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hunter is looking for a triangle but Yoshida pushes his legs off easily.
Yoshida content to stall in guard here.
Hunter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yoshida is one step ahead there.
Yoshida trying to control but Hunter is working from the bottom.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Yoshida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Hunter jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hunter avoids the body shot from Yoshida.
Yoshida throws a nice looking combination but Hunter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter tries for a takedown but Yoshida circles away easily

and Yoshida counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hunter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter tries to reverse the position but Yoshida maintains control.
Hunter tries to lock up and control but Yoshida gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yoshida scoring with strikes but Hunter is staying in there.
Yoshida looking to control but Hunter is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hunter is desperately trying to improve his position but Yoshida has a good base and remains in mount.
Yoshida lands with some strikes.
Yoshida is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hunter can't escape the position.
Hunter is in a horrible position here. Yoshida smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hunter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yoshida working Hunter over with strikes here.
Yoshida controlling from mount.
Hunter is working to get back to half guard.
Mark Yoshida has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hunter taking shots to the head.
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!
Hunter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hunter tries to roll over but Yoshida keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yoshida wants to control but Hunter is keeping him busy.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Yoshida's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
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. Yoshida connects with a nice short shot to Hunter's temple.

Hunter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hunter tries to get to full guard but Yoshida has control of the leg.
Yoshida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida prevents Hunter from improving his position.
Yoshida is keen to just control but Hunter is a slippery customer.
Yoshida lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yoshida tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hunter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yoshida prevents Hunter from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Yoshida.
Yoshida prevents Hunter from improving his position.
Hunter is not content to let Yoshida control the position.
Hunter manages to get to full guard.

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.
Yoshida with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hunter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yoshida keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hunter's head.
Yoshida is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hunter is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hunter looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter thows a huge punch but Yoshida dodges it nicely.
Jay Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Yoshida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hunter looks to land a strike but Yoshida avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Yoshida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yoshida has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Yoshida!