PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Yoshihira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shlemenko comes to the cage accompanied by Guf - Ice Baby. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shlemenko
vs
Yoshihira

181 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Yoshihira!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshihira keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Yoshihira shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Yoshihira was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Yoshihira thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Yoshihira sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshihira throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Shlemenko because Yoshihira loaded up on that one.
Yoshihira can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shlemenko is looking to escape.
Shlemenko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Yoshihira.
Yoshihira scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shlemenko?

Yoshihira jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Shlemenko manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshihira tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Yoshihira throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Yoshihira throws an elbow but Shlemenko slips to the side and avoids it well.
Yoshihira tries to advance to mount but Shlemenko denies him.
Yoshihira trying to control the position but Shlemenko is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira working the ground and pound but Shlemenko is defending the strikes.
Shlemenko is trying to improve his position.
Yoshihira taking a breather here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yoshihira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shlemenko keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko tries to escape but Yoshihira is in control.
Shlemenko prevents Yoshihira from moving into mount.
Yoshihira taking a break here but Shlemenko is having none of it and regains half guard.
Shlemenko tries to kick Yoshihira off but Yoshihira keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shlemenko is looking to improve his position but Yoshihira isn't that keen on the idea.
Yoshihira looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshihira unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Yoshihira dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shlemenko fails with the takedown.
Yoshihira is looking to clinch but Shlemenko is avoiding it.

Yoshihira clinches with his opponent.
Shlemenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Yoshihira has hold of one of Shlemenko's legs. Shlemenko is fighting the takedown attempt but Yoshihira gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yoshihira wants to pass the guard but Shlemenko is keeping the position.
Shlemenko wants to stand up but Yoshihira is controlling him.
Yoshihira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kenji Yoshihira has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yoshihira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shlemenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shlemenko tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshihira postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yoshihira tries to free his leg and advance position but Shlemenko is retaining full guard.
Yoshihira has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shlemenko looking to control.
Yoshihira throwing strikes but missing.
Shlemenko is looking to stand up but Yoshihira isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Yoshihira from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yoshihira keeping moving, preventing Shlemenko from controlling successfully.

Shlemenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yoshihira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shlemenko has managed to get both his arms back between Yoshihira's legs - danger averted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shlemenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shlemenko pushing down on Yoshihira's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yoshihira gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshihira looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Yoshihira looking for a guillotine here but Shlemenko defends easily.

Yoshihira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shlemenko is aware though and is defending well.

Yoshihira working for a triangle but Shlemenko defends it easily.
Yoshihira keeping moving, preventing Shlemenko from controlling successfully.

Shlemenko stands up and waves to Yoshihira to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shlemenko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yoshihira to the ground. Shlemenko is now in Yoshihira's guard.
Yoshihira wants to stand and escape but Shlemenko is having none of it.
Shlemenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshihira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshihira keeping full guard, as Shlemenko tries to pass.
Shlemenko is working Yoshihira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yoshihira trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Yoshihira is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshihira manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shlemenko wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Yoshihira.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenji Yoshihira 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!

Shlemenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yoshihira tries to avoid it but Shlemenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yoshihira to the ground. Yoshihira escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Alexander Shlemenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yoshihira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shlemenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Yoshihira has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shlemenko looking for a takedown.
Shlemenko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yoshihira prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Shlemenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshihira swings wildly with an uppercut but Shlemenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yoshihira is trying to stall.
Yoshihira scores a nice knee to the body.
Shlemenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yoshihira fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yoshihira fails to land with a series of punches.
Yoshihira tries to clinch but Shlemenko is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshihira fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yoshihira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shlemenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yoshihira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but Yoshihira shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Yoshihira as Shlemenko shoots in.
Yoshihira tries to close the distance and clinch but Shlemenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yoshihira shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shlemenko's guard.
Yoshihira prevents Shlemenko from getting back to his feet.
Yoshihira trying to control but Shlemenko is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yoshihira accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshihira trying to control but Shlemenko is working from the bottom.
Yoshihira lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yoshihira controlling from the top position.
Yoshihira postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shlemenko enables Yoshihira to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shlemenko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Yoshihira wants to pass the guard but Shlemenko is keeping the position.
Yoshihira passes Shlemenko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Yoshihira lands a nice short elbow.
Yoshihira is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Shlemenko!
Yoshihira controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexander Shlemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshihira raining down shots from the mount!
Yoshihira putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshihira pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kenji Yoshihira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shlemenko takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenji Yoshihira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yoshihira 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenji Yoshihira!