PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Yamaguchi
vs
Lee

176 cm
22
178 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Bushido Clothing
MMA's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Lee!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lee shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yamaguchi's guard.
Yamaguchi wants to sweep here but Lee controlling him for the moment.
Lee really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yamaguchi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yamaguchi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lee postures up.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamaguchi controlling the position.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.

Yamaguchi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Yamaguchi kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lee must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lee being controlled here momentarily.
Lee wants to control from the top but Yamaguchi keeps moving.
Yamaguchi has Lee pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Yamaguchi has a closed guard, preventing Lee from standing up.
Yamaguchi pulls Lee in close to prevent any damage.
Yamaguchi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lee manages to get himself to full guard.
Yamaguchi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yoshi Yamaguchi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Yamaguchi shoots and misses

so Lee counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Yamaguchi is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Yamaguchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Lee wants to control from the top but Yamaguchi keeps moving.
Yamaguchi is pulling down on Lee's head. It's preventing any offense from Lee, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee wants to pass the guard but Yamaguchi is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee is fighting to break Yamaguchi's control of his arms but Yamaguchi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamaguchi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Yamaguchi is trying to keep Lee in close.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yoshi Yamaguchi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Lee bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Yamaguchi wants to control but Lee postures up.
Yamaguchi regains half guard there - taking advantage of Lee's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
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 Yoshi Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamaguchi fails with the takedown

and Lee counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yamaguchi!
Yamaguchi tries to hold on but Lee pushes him away.
Yamaguchi gets back to half guard.
Lee wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping him busy.
Lee is looking to stall here but Yamaguchi recovers full guard.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamaguchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lee stopping the sweep attempt from Yamaguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamaguchi has his foot on Lee's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lee works his way back into a safe position though.
Yamaguchi controlling Lee's posture.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamaguchi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee is looking to advance position but Yamaguchi has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lee is controlling an arm, preventing Yamaguchi from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi content just to control the position here.
Yamaguchi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Yamaguchi is trying to take his opponent's back.
Lee tries to lock up and control but Yamaguchi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yamaguchi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lee is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yamaguchi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yoshi Yamaguchi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Yamaguchi with a lazy takedown attempt

so Lee counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamaguchi is trying to keep Lee in close.
Yamaguchi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lee is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi controlling Lee's posture.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Yamaguchi has Lee pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Lee gets caught flat footed, as Yamaguchi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Lee looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lee looking to control.
Yamaguchi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Yamaguchi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lee swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yoshi Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
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.

Yamaguchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Lee counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lee.
Yamaguchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Yamaguchi has control of Lee's left arm, preventing Lee from doing any damage.
Lee stopping the sweep attempt from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee is fighting to break Yamaguchi's control of his arms but Yamaguchi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Lee wants to control from the top but Yamaguchi keeps moving.

Yamaguchi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yamaguchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lee's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee working a defensive guard here.
Yamaguchi looking to pass the guard.
Lee trying to control the position.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Yamaguchi from controlling successfully.
Lee is trying to keep Yamaguchi in close.

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

and Yamaguchi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee is trying to control the position but Yamaguchi postures up.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Yamaguchi from controlling successfully.
Lee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lee is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yamaguchi pushing down on Lee's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yamaguchi slows the pace down in half guard.
Yamaguchi uses his free foot to push down on Lee's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lee.
Lee wants to control but Yamaguchi is having none of it.
Yamaguchi looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yamaguchi controlling the position easily from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lee can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yoshi Yamaguchi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Yamaguchi misses with a takedown attempt

and Lee counters with a takedown into side control.
Lee trying to control the position but Yamaguchi is working away.
Yamaguchi is looking for a sweep.
Yamaguchi wants to control but Lee postures up.
Lee wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping him busy.
Lee wants to take a breather but Yamaguchi manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Lee.
Yamaguchi wants to sweep but no luck.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoshi Yamaguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yamaguchi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yoshi Yamaguchi!