PBP Commentary

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

Benavidez
vs
Yamamoto

163 cm
26
134 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

172 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joesph Benavidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Isoroku Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benavidez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Benavidez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yamamoto is just riding it out for now. Benavidez eventually gives up the hold.
Yamamoto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Benavidez is working away from the top position though.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benavidez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Yamamoto is defending against the submission attempts here by Benavidez.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to pass the guard but Yamamoto is defending well.

Benavidez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Benavidez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yamamoto has managed to free his arm - good work.
Benavidez tries to pass to full mount but Yamamoto defends it.
Benavidez passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yamamoto can't escape the position.

Benavidez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Yamamoto turns into him and now he's in Benavidez's guard.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Benavidez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Benavidez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Yamamoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benavidez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yamamoto has managed to get both his arms back between Benavidez's legs - danger averted.
Yamamoto passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yamamoto trying to control the action but Benavidez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez sneaks back into half guard.

Benavidez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yamamoto pulls his head out easily.

Yamamoto escapes and gets back to his feet.

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Benavidez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yamamoto wants to control the pace but Benavidez is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Benavidez is looking to get to half guard.
Benavidez is working hard here to advance position.
Yamamoto trying to control but Benavidez is having none of it.
Yamamoto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benavidez can't escape the position.
Benavidez is squirming around, avoiding Yamamoto's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joesph Benavidez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yamamoto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benavidez.
Joesph Benavidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benavidez misses with a takedown attempt

and Yamamoto counters by clinching up.
A short body shot lands from Yamamoto as the two fighters clinch.
Yamamoto stops a takedown attempt from Benavidez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joesph Benavidez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benavidez goes for a takedown attempt but Yamamoto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Benavidez misses with a takedown attempt

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.

Yamamoto jumps guard.
Benavidez won't allow Yamamoto to get back to his feet.

Benavidez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yamamoto is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yamamoto has escaped and now he's on top!
Yamamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benavidez is keeping the position for now.

Benavidez is looking for a triangle but Yamamoto pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez has a closed guard, preventing Yamamoto from standing up.
Yamamoto trying to control but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Isoroku Yamamoto hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Benavidez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Yamamoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Benavidez keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Isoroku Yamamoto wasn't active enough on the ground.
Benavidez shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well. He's pushed Benavidez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Yamamoto drives through with a takedown into Benavidez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Benavidez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Yamamoto is sitting in close to Benavidez's body. Benavidez has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Yamamoto is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Yamamoto is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Benavidez.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Joesph Benavidez!