PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rani Yahya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saito Shinji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rani Yahya has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Yahya
vs
Shinji

168 cm
20
148 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

155 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rani Yahya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Saito Shinji!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yahya misses with a takedown attempt

and Shinji counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Shinji breaks the clinch.
Yahya fails with the takedown

and Shinji counters with a takedown into side control.
Shinji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yahya keeps working.
Yahya takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Yahya is looking to regain half guard here but Shinji keeps moving and retains side control.

Shinji is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yahya is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Yahya struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yahya is looking for a sweep.
Yahya defending against the ground and pound.
Yahya is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Shinji asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Yahya is looking for a sweep.
Yahya is working hard here to advance position.

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.

Shinji tries for a kimura but Yahya is defending well.
Shinji trying to control the position but Yahya is working away.
Yahya tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

Shinji is working for a guillotine from mount but Yahya frees his head quite easily.
Yahya is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinji thowing shots but they're missing.
Yahya 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.
Shinji sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yahya defending well though.
Shinji trying to pass the guard but Yahya defending well.

Yahya looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yahya is pressing down on Shinji's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Shinji drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shinji jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shinji wants to pass the guard but Yahya is keeping the position.
Shinji wants to control from the top but Yahya keeps moving.

Yahya is looking for a triangle here but Shinji uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Yahya can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saito Shinji dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yahya shoots and misses

and Shinji counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yahya!
Shinji sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Yahya tries to lock up and control but Shinji gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shinji wants to control the pace but Yahya is squirming around nicely.
Shinji controlling from the full mount.
Yahya is working to get back to half guard.

Yahya defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shinji.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinji can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yahya is looking to escape.
Yahya gets back to half guard.

Shinji is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shinji stops Yahya from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shinji is trying to control the action in half guard but Yahya is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yahya wants to control but Shinji is keeping busy.
Shinji wants to take a breather but Yahya is having none of it.
Shinji prevents Yahya from improving his position.
Shinji throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yahya regains full guard. Nicely done.

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

Yahya looking for a guillotine here but Shinji defends easily.
Yahya keeping moving, preventing Shinji from controlling successfully.

Yahya throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Shinji escapes and throws Yahya's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Shinji working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shinji is looking to take a break and control but Yahya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yahya tries to buck Shinji off but Shinji is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shinji moves into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saito Shinji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yahya misses with a takedown

and Shinji counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yahya!
Shinji trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Yahya regains half guard.
Shinji wants to take a breather but Yahya is having none of it.
Shinji trying to mount his opponent but Yahya defends it.
Yahya keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yahya works his way to full guard. Good work.

Shinji postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yahya is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shinji, into his guard.

Yahya is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Shinji is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Shinji has escaped and now he's on top!
Shinji wants to control from the top but Yahya keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yahya looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yahya keeping full guard, as Shinji tries to pass.

Shinji 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.
Shinji controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yahya keeping moving, preventing Shinji from controlling successfully.

Yahya looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shinji passes into half guard.
Yahya trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Shinji manages to pass to mount!
Shinji thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Yahya regains half guard.

Shinji looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shinji is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Saito Shinji is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yahya is looking to get back to full guard here but Shinji has managed to pass to side control instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saito Shinji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shinji 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saito Shinji!