PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Busch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoko Wakari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Busch
vs
Wakari

184 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ken Busch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Yoko Wakari!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wakari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Donk. Wakari catches Busch right on the button with a cross.
Busch tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Wakari misses

and Busch counters by clinching up.
Busch wants a takedown.
Busch tries for a takedown but Wakari manages to get underhooks.
Wakari tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Busch just stands there and leans against the cage.

Busch works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Wakari is trying to keep Busch in close.

Wakari is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Wakari is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Busch can't fight it off and eventually Wakari manages to take the fight to the floor. Busch looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Busch keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Busch has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wakari has gone for a leg lock! Busch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Wakari's guard.
Busch is fighting to break Wakari's control of his arms but Wakari is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Wakari throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Busch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Busch trying to control but Wakari is working from the bottom.
Wakari is trying to control the position but Busch postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wakari 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.
Busch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wakari is keeping the position for now.
Wakari wants to stand and escape but Busch is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wakari misses with a takedown attempt

and Busch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wakari is trying to control but Busch passes into side control!
Busch tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Busch creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Wakari sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Wakari tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Busch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Wakari looks gassed!
Wakari is looking to get back to his feet here but Busch is keeping cool and he's managed to take Wakari's back.
Busch has the hooks in. Wakari is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Busch go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Wakari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

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.
Wakari is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Busch avoids the attempt from Wakari to control.
Busch manages to capitalize on a mistake by Wakari to take his back!
Busch cracks Wakari with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Wakari from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Wakari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Busch lands a heavy elbow.
Wakari is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Busch 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.

Wakari scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Busch regains half guard.
Busch moves into full guard.
Busch keeping moving, preventing Wakari from controlling successfully.
Wakari postures up in Busch's guard and throws a big left but Busch blocks it.
Wakari is breathing heavily.
Wakari advances to half guard.
Wakari wants to take a breather but Busch is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakari works his foot free and advances to mount.

Wakari working for a guillotine from mount but Busch is in no mood to give up.
Wakari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Busch is looking to escape.
Wakari controlling his opponent.

That's two 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.
Wakari 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.
Wakari controlling from the full mount.
Wakari tries to control but Busch wriggling away.
Wakari with the ground and pound from mount.
Wakari lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakari throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Wakari wants to control the pace but Busch is squirming around nicely.
Busch can't escape the position.
Busch holds of for dear life.
Busch working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Busch is in a horrible position here. Wakari smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Busch wants to hold on but Wakari pushes him away.
Wakari takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Busch is looking to improve his position but Wakari isn't that keen on the idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Busch in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoko Wakari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Busch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Busch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wakari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Yoko Wakari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wakari advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wakari is trying to control the action in half guard but Busch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Wakari is working for a submission of some sort.
Wakari prevents Busch from standing back up.
Wakari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Wakari is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Busch punching from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Wakari wants to control but Busch is keeping him busy.
Wakari wants to free his trapped foot but Busch is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Wakari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Busch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Busch tries to bench press Wakari off him but Wakari keeps the position.

Busch bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Wakari misses with a hook. Busch ducked under it nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wakari.

Wakari closes the distance and clinches.
Wakari tries to pull guard but Busch holds him up against the cage and eventually Wakari drops back down to his feet.
Wakari is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Busch throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wakari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Busch throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wakari blocks it with crossed arms.
Wakari tries for a takedown but Busch manages to get underhooks.
Wakari trying to stall but Busch improves his position.
Busch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wakari misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Busch breaks from the clinch.
Busch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wakari counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Wakari decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Busch advances to half guard.

Busch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wakari defends it well.
Busch is looking to take a break and control but Wakari is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Busch with the ground and pound but Wakari uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Busch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Busch trying to control the position from guard on top but Wakari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoko Wakari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wakari 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoko Wakari!