PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cadwallader Gutkus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cadwallader Gutkus will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Yamamoto
vs
Gutkus

187 cm
22
277 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

200 cm
26
285 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cadwallader Gutkus!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamamoto tries to keep at a distance but Gutkus has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gutkus pulls Yamamoto into guard.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Gutkus has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.

Yamamoto gets to his feet - Gutkus follows without any prompting.
Gutkus moves out of range of the body kick from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.

Gutkus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Yamamoto!
Yamamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yamamoto is trying desperately to improve position.
Yamamoto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gutkus.
Gutkus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yamamoto is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutkus lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gutkus misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gutkus misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Gutkus thowing shots but they're missing.
Gutkus has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yamamoto's face.
Yamamoto avoids a strike by Gutkus and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Gutkus's guard! Fantastic escape!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gutkus wants to stand up but Yamamoto is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutkus looking for a sweep. Not yet Gutkus, not yet.
Yamamoto prevents Gutkus from getting back to his feet.
Gutkus has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yamamoto has passed into side control.
Gutkus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yamamoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gutkus tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Yamamoto presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Gutkus is desperately trying to improve his position but Yamamoto has a good base and remains in mount.

Yamamoto gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Yamamoto throws a left and a right that both miss

and Gutkus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gutkus trying to control the action but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutkus throwing shots but Yamamoto is blocking nicely.
It looks like Gutkus is going to stand back up.
Gutkus is looking to take a break and control but Yamamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamamoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yamamoto.
Gutkus being controlled here momentarily.
Gutkus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yamamoto is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gutkus's guard.

Yamamoto decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yamamoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Gutkus is having none of it.

Gutkus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gutkus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gutkus throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gutkus's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!
Gutkus wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadwallader Gutkus dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamamoto looks for the body kick but Gutkus saw that one coming.

Gutkus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yamamoto to the ground. Gutkus is now in Yamamoto's guard.
Gutkus throws a strike but Yamamoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gutkus wants to hit a switch here but Yamamoto passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gutkus there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yamamoto is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Yamamoto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yamamoto looks for the body kick but Gutkus saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab.
Yamamoto misses with a combination

and Gutkus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yamamoto's guard now.
Gutkus throws a strike but Yamamoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gutkus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gutkus throws a sloppy strike and Yamamoto uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Yamamoto has ended up in Gutkus's guard.
Gutkus wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutkus trying to keep a closed guard but Yamamoto is proving a slippery customer.

Yamamoto gets to his feet - Gutkus follows without any prompting.
Yamamoto misses with a double jab.
Gutkus dodges the punch combination from Yamamoto.

Gutkus drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gutkus lands some shots froms side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gutkus is trying to ground and pound but Yamamoto uses the momentary lack of control by Gutkus to regain half guard.
Yamamoto slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutkus trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Yamamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Yamamoto gets to his feet. Gutkus looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Yamamoto gets caught napping as Gutkus dives in and scores a takedown. Yamamoto manages to retain guard.
Gutkus wants to stand and escape but instead Yamamoto has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gutkus is looking for a triangle here but Yamamoto uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Gutkus is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto stands up.

Gutkus moves into the clinch successfully.

Gutkus drags the fight down to the ground.
Gutkus is looking to sweep but instead, Yamamoto has passed into half guard.
Gutkus wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gutkus tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Yamamoto has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cadwallader Gutkus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto wants to clinch up but Gutkus keeps it at a distance.
Yamamoto lands a jab-cross combination.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Gutkus moves out of range.
Norifumi Yamamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gutkus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Gutkus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gutkus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gutkus is keen to just control but Yamamoto is a slippery customer.
Yamamoto regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yamamoto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gutkus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gutkus is squirming around, avoiding Yamamoto's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gutkus keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gutkus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gutkus can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yamamoto trying to control but Gutkus is having none of it.

Yamamoto is standing up, even though he is in mount.

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.
Gutkus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gutkus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gutkus blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Gutkus moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Gutkus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cadwallader Gutkus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gutkus stalling away here and it's allowed Yamamoto to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gutkus postures up in Yamamoto's guard and throws a big left but Yamamoto blocks it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yamamoto holds on and takes a little breather.
Cadwallader Gutkus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gutkus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gutkus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gutkus is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gutkus preventing the sweep.
Gutkus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cadwallader Gutkus hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Gutkus closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gutkus lands in his opponent's guard.
Yamamoto 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gutkus trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gutkus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cadwallader Gutkus.
I've got Gutkus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cadwallader Gutkus!