PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zari Yasuda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Farha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yasuda's entrance music is An Honor : To Fight the HOFer. A fine choice. Farha has chosen Ari Gold - Let's Hug It Out, BITCH as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yasuda
vs
Farha

182 cm
31
145 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

178 cm
26
167 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation
[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zari Yasuda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Sammy Farha!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farha tries a head kick but it misses.
Farha swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Farha bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yasuda's head backwards.
Farha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yasuda feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Farha's calf.
Farha takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Farha scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Farha shoots in for a takedown but Yasuda shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Farha.
Yasuda slips under a jab.
Yasuda staying out of range there.
Yasuda scores with a jab.

Farha has Yasuda up against the cage in a clinch.
Farha tries to pull guard but Yasuda won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yasuda smiles and moves away.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Farha.
Farha ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yasuda moves away.
Yasuda lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Farha thows a body shot but no joy.
Farha changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the body from Yasuda misses

and Farha counters by clinching up.
Yasuda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yasuda misses with a punch to the body.
Yasuda really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Farha lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Farha.
Yasuda tries to work over Farha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yasuda misses with a body punch.
Yasuda tries to throw a body punch but Farha avoids it by throwing Yasuda back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Farha creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Farha drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda looking to pass the guard.

Farha is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yasuda tries to free his leg and advance position but Farha is retaining full guard.
Farha keeping moving, preventing Yasuda from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Farha wants to stand but Yasuda is controlling the position.

Farha is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yasuda is aware though and is defending well.
Yasuda is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yasuda preventing the sweep.
Yasuda's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Zari Yasuda just wasn't active enough.
Yasuda swings for the body but Farha moves out of range.

Farha closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Yasuda's guard.
Yasuda has his hands on Farha's head, controlling the position.
Yasuda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yasuda controlling the position.
Farha wants to pass the guard but Yasuda is keeping the position.

Zari Yasuda has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Yasuda walks into a left hand.
Farha keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Yasuda avoids the head kick by Farha.
Yasuda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Farha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Farha manages to avoid it.
Yasuda throws a right hand that misses

and Farha counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Farha works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yasuda utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Farha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yasuda controls Farha momentarily but Farha frees himself.
Farha trying to control the position from guard on top but Yasuda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Farha is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yasuda controlling the position.
Yasuda's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Zari Yasuda has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A punch combination from Yasuda misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Farha dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Yasuda.
Yasuda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Farha misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yasuda.
Yasuda circles away from the clinch attempt.
Farha jabs Yasuda right on the nose. Yasuda blinks but takes it well.
Yasuda takes a swing at Farha's ribcage but misses.
Yasuda fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Farha checks it well.
Farha staying out of range there.
Yasuda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yasuda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Farha.
Farha fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yasuda avoids it really well and circles away.
Farha moves out of range as Yasuda strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farha moves away from the strike by Yasuda.
Farha misses with a straight left.
Farha misses the jab.
Yasuda throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Yasuda falls off balance throwing a combination

and Farha counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Farha is working for a submission of some sort.
Yasuda is pressing down on Farha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda controlling Farha's posture.
Farha wants to control from the top but Yasuda keeps moving.
Farha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yasuda has his hands on Farha's head, controlling the position.
Farha controlling from the top position.
Farha trying to control the position from guard on top but Yasuda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sammy Farha hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Yasuda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farha fails with a takedown attempt.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Farha.
Yasuda goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Farha drives through and clinches with Yasuda against the cage.

Farha breaks from the clinch.
Yasuda fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Farha manages to avoid it.
Farha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yasuda.
Farha throws a leg kick but Yasuda moved away.
Farha avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Farha takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farha avoids the body shot from Yasuda.
Farha walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yasuda checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yasuda feints and then cracks Farha's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Farha down.
Yasuda throws a nice outside leg kick.
Farha throws a body punch but Yasuda moves out of range.
Zari Yasuda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Farha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yasuda pinned against the cage. Yasuda gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Farha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zari Yasuda is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Farha misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Good standup being displayed there by Farha as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sammy Farha will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Farha moves out of range as Yasuda throws a body kick.
Farha misses with a double jab
and Farha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Farha throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yasuda looks for the body kick but Farha saw that one coming.

Farha moves into the clinch.
Farha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yasuda fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Farha misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yasuda scores with a shot to the body.
Yasuda uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Farha, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasuda throws a lazy right hand but Farha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Farha wants to clinch up but Yasuda keeps it at a distance.
Yasuda misses the shot to the body.
Farha shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yasuda makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Yasuda lands a slapping body shot.
Yasuda scores with a nice right hand.
Farha connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Farha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yasuda is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Farha.
Yasuda stuffs the takedown.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Farha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farha takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yasuda. Farha does a little dance to reset his feet.
Farha fails with a takedown attempt.
Farha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yasuda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Farha's sensitive parts.
Yasuda swats away the attempt to clinch by Farha.

Yasuda has Farha up against the cage in a clinch.
Yasuda misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yasuda swings wildly with an uppercut but Farha uses good head movement to avoid it.

Farha successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda trying to stand up but can't free himself from Farha's guard.
Yasuda tries to free his leg and advance position but Farha is retaining full guard.
Yasuda trying to control but Farha is working from the bottom.

Farha has his foot on Yasuda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yasuda works his way back into a safe position though.
Sammy Farha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Farha looking to control.

Farha looking for subs off his back but Yasuda has passed one foot through into half guard.
Farha tries to get to full guard but Yasuda has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Yasuda uses his free foot to push down on Farha's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Farha.
Farha is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Farha is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yasuda wants to control but instead Farha manages to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, if Yasuda 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yasuda checks a leg kick.
Farha throws a head kick that misses.
Farha takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Yasuda takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Yasuda showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Farha.
Yasuda lands a jab to the head.
Farha misses with a hook.
An inside leg kick lands from Yasuda.
A solid leg kick lands there for Farha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farha misses with a looping right.
Farha jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Farha tries to close the distance and clinch but Yasuda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yasuda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Farha moves forwards but Yasuda connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yasuda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Farha throws out a loose jab but Yasuda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yasuda lands a nice hook to Farha's body. Farha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yasuda swings widly with a right hand
and Farha counters with a straight right hand.
Yasuda lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farha fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yasuda blocks a jab.
Yasuda finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yasuda is looking to slow Farha down with leg kicks.
Farha throws a predictable looking body shot
and Farha takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Farha doesn't manage to clinch there - Yasuda circles away.
Yasuda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Farha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Farha is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Yasuda is looking to slow Farha down with leg kicks.
Farha works Yasuda's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farha uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yasuda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farha slips under a jab.
Yasuda scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Farha connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Farha pushes Yasuda up against the cage in a clinch.
Yasuda tries to throw a body punch but Farha avoids it by throwing Yasuda back against the cage.
Farha's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yasuda misses with a body punch.
Yasuda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Farha lands with a short shot to the head.
Yasuda has Farha pressed against the cage, preventing Farha from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Farha is trying to pull guard but Yasuda turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Farha is trying to push Yasuda away but Yasuda has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yasuda scores with a shoulder strike.
Farha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yasuda smiles and moves away.
Farha shoots for a takedown but Yasuda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zari Yasuda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Farha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Farha's head backwards.
A clash of legs there as Yasuda blocks the low kick.
Yasuda will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Yasuda bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yasuda lands a jab to Farha's midsection.
Nice uppercut there from Yasuda.
Yasuda moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Farha throws a front kick aimed at Yasuda's knee but Yasuda avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That kick from Yasuda tenderised Farha's leg. Farha is trying to keep his angry face on.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Yasuda.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zari Yasuda had his way with Sammy Farha in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yasuda shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Yasuda throws a nice inside leg kick.
Farha thuds his right hand into Yasuda's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Yasuda scores with a decent looking hook.
Farha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yasuda takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yasuda dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Farha. That did some damage!
Farha takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Farha uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yasuda.
Yasuda misses the shot to the body.
Yasuda misses with the body kick
and Farha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farha tries to clinch up.
Farha throws a head kick but Yasuda moves out of range.
Farha stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yasuda.
Yasuda misses with a kick to the body.
Farha on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Yasuda throws a leg kick but Farha moved away.
Yasuda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Farha.
Farha misses the jab.
Farha tries to land a front kick but Yasuda steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yasuda scores with a nice head shot.
Yasuda scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Farha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yasuda circles away quickly and effectively.
Yasuda throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Farha waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yasuda.
Yasuda connects with a solid leg kick.
Farha tries to clinch up but Yasuda circles away and keeps his distance.
Farha dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yasuda connects with a looping right hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yasuda, right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yasuda.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Farha fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yasuda manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yasuda takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Farha tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Farha is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Yasuda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Farha has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Yasuda.
Yasuda attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yasuda scores with a jab.
Farha chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yasuda can pounce on him.
Farha has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Yasuda.
Farha throws a lazy uppercut
and Yasuda counters with a stiff right hand.
Farha misses with a body shot.
Farha throws a solid leg kick but Yasuda takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Farha.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasuda avoids a kick to the body.
Yasuda takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Yasuda avoids the head kick by Farha.
Farha on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yasuda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Yasuda as he connects with a hook.
Yasuda connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yasuda will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yasuda with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A slow jab from Yasuda misses its intended target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zari Yasuda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yasuda has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 48:47
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 48:47
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zari Yasuda!
Zari Yasuda very nearly forgot to thank [CBK] The Smashwear Corporation amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.