PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jake Giannacopulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toshiro Yasakuta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Giannacopulos
vs
Yasakuta

175 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake Giannacopulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Toshiro Yasakuta!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yasakuta shoots in for a takedown but Giannacopulos shows good takedown defense.
Yasakuta fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yasakuta shoots in looking for a takedown but Giannacopulos manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yasakuta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jake Giannacopulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshiro Yasakuta.

Giannacopulos darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Giannacopulos is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It looks like Giannacopulos is going to stand back up.

Giannacopulos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yasakuta sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannacopulos controlling the action here.
Giannacopulos'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.
Giannacopulos tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Yasakuta.
Yasakuta trying to control but Giannacopulos postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jake Giannacopulos just wasn't active enough.

Giannacopulos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Giannacopulos wants to stand but Yasakuta has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giannacopulos trying to control the pace.
Giannacopulos is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Giannacopulos is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Giannacopulos stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Yasakuta to get to his feet.

Giannacopulos decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yasakuta throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Giannacopulos controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giannacopulos has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jake Giannacopulos just wasn't active enough.
Yasakuta shoots in for a double leg but Giannacopulos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Giannacopulos stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Giannacopulos wants it to stay on the feet.

Giannacopulos gets a takedown into half guard.
Giannacopulos wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Yasakuta uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giannacopulos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Giannacopulos seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yasakuta for as long as he can get away with.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jake Giannacopulos.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Giannacopulos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Giannacopulos takes a little break here. Yasakuta wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yasakuta fails to land the takedown.
Yasakuta shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Giannacopulos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yasakuta's guard.
Giannacopulos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Giannacopulos gets to his feet - Yasakuta follows without any prompting.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Giannacopulos lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Yasakuta has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Yasakuta and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Giannacopulos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yasakuta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Giannacopulos somewhat.

Giannacopulos shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yasakuta being controlled here, momentarily.
Giannacopulos knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yasakuta on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannacopulos wanted to stand there but Yasakuta had control of the position.
Giannacopulos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake Giannacopulos wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Giannacopulos is looking to score with low kicks.
Giannacopulos attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Yasakuta shoots in for a takedown but Giannacopulos shows good takedown defense.
Jake Giannacopulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshiro Yasakuta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giannacopulos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yasakuta swivels and escapes.
Yasakuta gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Giannacopulos counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yasakuta is breathing heavily.
Giannacopulos frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Giannacopulos is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Yasakuta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Giannacopulos as he avoids it easily.

Giannacopulos gets the takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Yasakuta struggling a bit here.

Giannacopulos stands up and beckons Yasakuta to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Giannacopulos looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Yasakuta!

Giannacopulos is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Yasakuta checks a leg kick.

Yasakuta gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Giannacopulos decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Yasakuta, up you get!
Giannacopulos misses with a leg 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!
Yasakuta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Giannacopulos.
Giannacopulos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yasakuta.

Giannacopulos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Giannacopulos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giannacopulos controls from within his opponent's guard.

Giannacopulos gets to his feet. Yasakuta looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Giannacopulos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Yasakuta on his heels. He'll look to pass Yasakuta's guard now, I'm sure.
Giannacopulos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yasakuta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Giannacopulos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Giannacopulos dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Giannacopulos shoots in and bounces Yasakuta off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yasakuta doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Jake Giannacopulos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yasakuta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giannacopulos sitting in guard here, content to control.

Yasakuta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Giannacopulos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Giannacopulos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yasakuta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Giannacopulos stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giannacopulos displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yasakuta.

Giannacopulos drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Giannacopulos stands up.

Giannacopulos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Giannacopulos lands in his opponent's guard.

Giannacopulos stands up from Yasakuta's guard - Giannacopulos perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yasakuta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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

Yasakuta tries to sprawl but Giannacopulos drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Giannacopulos controlling the pace.

Giannacopulos decides to stand up.

Giannacopulos shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Giannacopulos was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Giannacopulos stands up from mount. Strange move.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Giannacopulos.

Giannacopulos decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasakuta fails to land the takedown.
Jake Giannacopulos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toshiro Yasakuta.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Giannacopulos.

Giannacopulos stands up.
Giannacopulos shoots in looking for a takedown but Yasakuta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Giannacopulos's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yasakuta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Giannacopulos but Giannacopulos pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Giannacopulos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Yasakuta is trying to defend but Giannacopulos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yasakuta is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Giannacopulos pulls his head out easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Giannacopulos not doing much here.

Giannacopulos stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Giannacopulos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Giannacopulos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Giannacopulos 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Jake Giannacopulos!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Jake Giannacopulos!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Jake Giannacopulos!

Jake Giannacopulos wins by unanimous decision!