PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenjiro Yoshinobi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taka Osatoko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshinobi comes to the cage accompanied by Light It Up. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yoshinobi
vs
Osatoko

178 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenjiro Yoshinobi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taka Osatoko!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Osatoko fails with the takedown.
Yoshinobi slips a jab from Osatoko.

Osatoko gets the takedown into side control.
Yoshinobi is looking for a sweep.
Osatoko is putting a hurting on Yoshinobi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Yoshinobi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Osatoko on the ground.
Osatoko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Osatoko tries to score with some ground and pound. Yoshinobi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Osatoko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yoshinobi is looking for a sweep.
Osatoko trying to control the position but Yoshinobi is working away.
You can see the frustration on Yoshinobi's face as Osatoko controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Osatoko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yoshinobi is looking for a sweep.
Yoshinobi is trying to control Osatoko's posture but Osatoko avoids it.
Yoshinobi is looking for a sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yoshinobi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Osatoko paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Osatoko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Yoshinobi is staying active underneath Osatoko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Osatoko tries to pass to full mount but Yoshinobi defends it.
Osatoko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Yoshinobi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Osatoko controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshinobi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Osatoko looks gassed!
Osatoko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yoshinobi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yoshinobi trying to keep a closed guard but Osatoko is proving a slippery customer.
Osatoko controlling from the top position.
Osatoko wants to pass the guard but Yoshinobi is keeping the position.
Osatoko throwing strikes from guard but Yoshinobi blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko trying to control but Yoshinobi is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch but Osatoko is having none of it.
Osatoko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Yoshinobi counters with a single leg into guard. Osatoko didn't expect that.
Yoshinobi postures up.
Yoshinobi trying to control but Osatoko is working from the bottom.
Yoshinobi is really struggling to control Osatoko but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshinobi 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko seems keen to control Yoshinobi's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Osatoko is on top in guard.
Osatoko tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshinobi is retaining full guard.
Yoshinobi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Osatoko.
Osatoko is stalling in the full guard.
Osatoko working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Osatoko scores with a takedown into Yoshinobi's guard.
Osatoko scoring with some ground and pound.
Osatoko passes Yoshinobi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Osatoko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yoshinobi is trying to maintain the position but Osatoko is very close to passing his half guard.
Osatoko lands strikes from half guard.
Yoshinobi is not content to let Osatoko control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Still in half guard, Osatoko seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshinobi wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Yoshinobi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Osatoko counters with a takedown into side control.

Osatoko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Osatoko tries to score with some ground and pound. Yoshinobi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yoshinobi regains half guard.
Yoshinobi is trying to control but can't.

Yoshinobi has one foot on Osatoko's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Yoshinobi darts in trying to clinch

and Osatoko counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshinobi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Yoshinobi misses with a punch on the inside.
Yoshinobi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yoshinobi misses with a knee to the head.
Yoshinobi with a knee to the head.
Osatoko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yoshinobi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yoshinobi fails to pull guard.
Yoshinobi tries for a takedown but Osatoko manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenjiro Yoshinobi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshinobi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yoshinobi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Osatoko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yoshinobi crunches a lovely knee into Osatoko's ribcage.

Yoshinobi decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko wants to pass the guard but Yoshinobi is keeping the position.
Yoshinobi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Osatoko is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Osatoko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yoshinobi wants to stand but Osatoko is controlling the position.
Yoshinobi has momentary wrist control but Osatoko slips an elbow through the middle.
Osatoko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yoshinobi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yoshinobi, right into the meat.

That's four 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.
Yoshinobi fails with the takedown.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch up.

Yoshinobi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Yoshinobi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch but Osatoko is having none of it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Yoshinobi.
Yoshinobi tries to clinch
and Osatoko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yoshinobi with a poor takedown

and Osatoko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yoshinobi won't be happy with that.
Taka Osatoko has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshinobi trying to control but Osatoko flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Yoshinobi trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Yoshinobi defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Osatoko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Osatoko stuffs the takedown.
Yoshinobi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Osatoko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Osatoko landing some decent shots from guard.
Osatoko chips away with some ground and pound.
Osatoko wants to control from the top but Yoshinobi keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yoshinobi looking to control.
Osatoko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Osatoko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osatoko trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshinobi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Osatoko stands and throws Yoshinobi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Osatoko in side control lands a decent elbow.
Osatoko taking a breather here.
Osatoko tries to move into full mount but can't pass Yoshinobi's legs.
Osatoko scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yoshinobi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Osatoko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yoshinobi keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Yoshinobi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Osatoko is chipping away with strikes.
Osatoko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Yoshinobi tries to bench press Osatoko off him but Osatoko keeps the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Osatoko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kenjiro Yoshinobi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osatoko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Osatoko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Osatoko.
Yoshinobi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Yoshinobi keeping full guard, as Osatoko tries to pass.
Yoshinobi trying to keep a closed guard but Osatoko is proving a slippery customer.
Yoshinobi 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.
Osatoko throwing strikes but missing.
Yoshinobi has control of Osatoko's left arm, preventing Osatoko from doing any damage.
Osatoko trying to control but Yoshinobi is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshinobi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Osatoko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yoshinobi.
Osatoko throws an overhand right that lands on Yoshinobi's shoulder, as Yoshinobi tries to avoid the shot.
Osatoko keeps the fight on the outside.
Osatoko avoids the head kick by Yoshinobi.
Osatoko throws a leg kick that is checked

and Yoshinobi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yoshinobi wants to stand up but Osatoko has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Osatoko is staying active underneath Yoshinobi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kenjiro Yoshinobi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshinobi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taka Osatoko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Osatoko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taka Osatoko!