PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshiriro Itsuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yasuhiru Kanayama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Itsuma
vs
Kanayama

158 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
24
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshiriro Itsuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yasuhiru Kanayama!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Itsuma stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Itsuma wants it to stay on the feet.

Kanayama clinches up against the cage.

Itsuma gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kanayama regains guard.
Itsuma preventing the sweep.
Kanayama keeping moving, preventing Itsuma from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanayama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kanayama wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Itsuma looking to pass the guard.
Itsuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanayama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yoshiriro Itsuma wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kanayama throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Itsuma's waist but Itsuma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kanayama off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanayama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Itsuma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kanayama scores with a three punch combo!
Kanayama throws a head kick that misses

and Itsuma counters by clinching up.

Kanayama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kanayama.
Yoshiriro Itsuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasuhiru Kanayama.
Kanayama circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kanayama has closed the distance and engaged Itsuma in a clinch.
Kanayama working aggressively here.
Kanayama on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma tries a body shot but Kanayama blocks it.
Kanayama wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kanayama is trying to drag Itsuma to the mat but Itsuma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kanayama pulls Itsuma into guard.
Itsuma wants to control from the top but Kanayama keeps moving.
Kanayama looking to control.
Kanayama looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Itsuma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanayama swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kanayama is trying to control the position from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Yasuhiru Kanayama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Itsuma looks for a takedown but Kanayama sprawls well.
Itsuma throws a sloppy head kick and Kanayama moves out of range easily.
Itsuma is breathing heavily.
Kanayama tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Itsuma swivels and escapes.
Kanayama fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma fails to land with a series of punches.
Itsuma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kanayama.
Kanayama misses with a head kick.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kanayama enables Itsuma to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kanayama manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kanayama is trying to control the position but Itsuma postures up.
Kanayama looking to hit a scissor sweep but Itsuma is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Itsuma lands a couple of decent looking shots.
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 Yoshiriro Itsuma will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kanayama closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kanayama avoiding damage as Itsuma throws knees to the body.
Kanayama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Itsuma keeps control of Kanayama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Itsuma looking to stall.

Itsuma decides to pull guard.

Kanayama decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Itsuma, up you get!

Kanayama drives through with a takedown into guard.
Itsuma keeping full guard, as Kanayama tries to pass.
Kanayama trying to control the position from guard on top but Itsuma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itsuma looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Itsuma looking to control.
Kanayama postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Itsuma keeping moving, preventing Kanayama from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Yasuhiru Kanayama hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kanayama shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kanayama connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itsuma slaps away a takedown attempt from Kanayama, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yoshiriro Itsuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasuhiru Kanayama.

Itsuma scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Yoshiriro Itsuma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Itsuma working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Itsuma trying to control the position but Kanayama is working away.
Kanayama sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kanayama manages to get to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Itsuma stopping the sweep attempt from Kanayama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanayama wants to hit a switch here but Itsuma passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kanayama there!
Kanayama is trying to escape the mount.
Kanayama tries to control the position but Itsuma now has his back.
Itsuma just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
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.
Kanayama tries to break free.
Itsuma wants to control but Kanayama manages to buck him off and is now in Itsuma's guard! Nice work there by Kanayama!
Kanayama would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kanayama stands up over Itsuma, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kanayama wants to control from the top but Itsuma keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kanayama content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yasuhiru Kanayama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kanayama shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Itsuma sprawls well. Itsuma wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kanayama gets slowly back to his feet.
Kanayama throws a body punch but Itsuma moves out of range.
Itsuma tries a head kick but it misses.
Itsuma fails with a takedown attempt.
Itsuma looks to throw a body kick

and Kanayama counters by moving into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kanayama.

Kanayama jumps into guard, dragging Itsuma to the mat.
Kanayama keeping moving, preventing Itsuma from controlling successfully.
Kanayama has a closed guard, preventing Itsuma from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanayama trying to keep a closed guard but Itsuma is proving a slippery customer.
Itsuma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Itsuma is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Itsuma is fighting to break Kanayama's control of his arms but Kanayama is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Itsuma wants to control from the top but Kanayama keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Itsuma trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kanayama's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kanayama pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kanayama moves into the clinch.
Kanayama pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kanayama is leaning against Itsuma and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kanayama avoiding damage as Itsuma throws knees to the body.

Itsuma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kanayama moves into the clinch.
Kanayama is trying to force a seperation but Itsuma has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanayama gets through Itsuma's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Itsuma misses with a body punch.
Itsuma with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kanayama has Itsuma pressed against the cage.
A short left from Kanayama.
Itsuma is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kanayama tries to score a body lock takedown but Itsuma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kanayama's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Itsuma is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kanayama.
Yoshiriro Itsuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yasuhiru Kanayama.
Kanayama shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Itsuma but Itsuma pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanayama looks for a takedown but Itsuma sprawls well.
Itsuma misses with a wild combination.
Kanayama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Itsuma manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kanayama walks into a jab.

Kanayama rushes Itsuma and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Itsuma prevents Kanayama from breaking the clinch.
Kanayama is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yasuhiru Kanayama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kanayama 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yasuhiru Kanayama!