PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tank James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kev Yama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Yama

188 cm
21
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
29
175 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

5th Round Clothing

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tank James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kev Yama!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yama shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A slapping body kick lands there for James.
Yama fails in his attempt to clinch.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

James rushes Yama and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

James wants the takedown. Yama is fighting it off but James persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Yama's guard against the cage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Yama has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
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!

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yama gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James 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.

Yama is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yama drops back, looking for a kneebar! James looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. James looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from James!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yama is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
James fails to land a wild elbow strike.
James throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Yama works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
James is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control from Yama's half guard. Yama has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
James is in close to Yama's body, working some short punches and elbows.

James gets to his feet - Yama follows without any prompting.
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James scores with a jab. Yama acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yama.
Yama misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yama looks gassed!
James tries for a takedown but Yama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

James has closed the distance and engaged Yama in a clinch.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James pushes Yama up against the cage in a clinch.
Yama prevents a body shot from James.
Stalling in the clinch from James.
Yama jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Yama gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tank James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kev Yama.
Yama with a poor takedown

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James wanted to stand there but Yama had control of the position.
Yama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
James postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
James trying to control but Yama is working from the bottom.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
James postures up and lands a big shot to Yama's brow.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yama on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Yama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yama looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank James dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

James moves into the clinch.
Yama tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.

James drags the fight down to the ground.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.

Yama is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! James is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! James has escaped and now he's on top!

James gets to his feet - Yama follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yama did well to prevent James getting side control.
James throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
James throwing shots but Yama is blocking nicely.
James looks to land a strike but Yama avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Yama has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Yama won't allow James to sweep him here.

Yama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yama has James in his guard.
Yama is breathing heavily.
James wanted to stand there but Yama had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Yama has wrist control.
James looking to pass the guard.
Yama keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James tries to stand but Yama is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

James gets to his feet. Yama looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
James scores with a hook to the body. Yama takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

James gets a clinch.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James closes the distance and clinches.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Yama has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yama tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James is trying to push Yama away but Yama has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yama is trying to pull guard but James turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tank James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kev Yama.

James breaks the clinch.
Yama misses with a takedown attempt
and James makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

James gets a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Yama.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank James dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James clinches with his opponent.
Yama tries to pull guard but James won't allow it.
James has had enough of the clinch but Yama keeps him there for the moment.
James stops a takedown attempt from Yama.

James breaks the clinch.

James scores with a takedown into Yama's guard.
James postures up in Yama's guard and throws a big left but Yama blocks it.
James chips away with some ground and pound.
Yama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James advances position into side control!
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yama can do to turn this around?
Yama tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but James wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yama is not content to let James control the position.
James cracks Yama with an elbow. That is naaassty.
James gets to mount! Yama was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
James with shots to the head and body - Yama looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yama can't escape the position.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yama is looking to escape.
James working Yama over with strikes here.

Yama is rocked!
Tank James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Yama! James sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Yama and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tank James!
After winning the bout, Tank James thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.