PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamabotcho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Lucas (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!

Yamabotcho
vs
Lucas

168 cm
25
164 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

188 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Unique Wear and Custom Design
BeastMode

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 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Norifumi Yamabotcho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamabotcho closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lucas did well to prevent Yamabotcho getting side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Yamabotcho drops an elbow to the side of Lucas's head.

Lucas looking for submissions off his back.
Lucas works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yamabotcho wants to control from the top but Lucas keeps moving.
Yamabotcho sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yamabotcho with a nice head shot there.
Yamabotcho trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
Lucas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yamabotcho.
Lucas wants to stand but Yamabotcho is controlling the position.
Yamabotcho wants to control from the top but Lucas keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamabotcho works over Lucas with some ground and pound from guard.
Yamabotcho trying to control the position from guard on top but Lucas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lucas wants to sweep but no luck.
Yamabotcho postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yamabotcho slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Yamabotcho stands and steps away. Lucas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Lucas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Yamabotcho backs up against the cage.
Lucas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yamabotcho stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lucas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yamabotcho counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lucas shoots in but Yamabotcho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yamabotcho at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yamabotcho avoids it really well and circles away.
Lucas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yamabotcho.
Lucas fails to land with a series of punches.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Norifumi Yamabotcho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Lucas.
Lucas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yamabotcho counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sloppy strikes from Yamabotcho. Those never looked like landing.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt

and Yamabotcho counters with a takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lucas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lucas on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Yamabotcho grinds an elbow into Lucas's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lucas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yamabotcho wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamabotcho is looking to take a break and control but Lucas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamabotcho cracks Lucas with a big elbow.
Lucas wants to control but Yamabotcho postures up.
Lucas tries to improve position but can't.
Lucas is not content to let Yamabotcho control the position.
Yamabotcho landing strikes.
Yamabotcho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lucas can't do much from the bottom here.
Yamabotcho works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is looking for a sweep.
Yamabotcho in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Yamabotcho looks up at the clock and then as Lucas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Yamabotcho smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamabotcho lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lucas down.
Lucas is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Yamabotcho thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lucas is looking for a sweep. Yamabotcho is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yamabotcho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lucas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamabotcho is trying to control. Lucas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Yamabotcho slips a nice elbow through Lucas's hands, connecting with Lucas's forehead.
Lucas is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norifumi Yamabotcho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lucas misses with a few strikes there.
Yamabotcho scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Yamabotcho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yamabotcho misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Yamabotcho.
Norifumi Yamabotcho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamabotcho scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Lucas shoots in and bounces Yamabotcho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yamabotcho wants to sweep but no luck.
Lucas trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamabotcho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas looking to pass the guard.
Lucas trying to control but Yamabotcho is working from the bottom.
Lucas stops Yamabotcho from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Lucas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Yamabotcho throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lucas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yamabotcho sprawls well. Yamabotcho wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lucas gets slowly back to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Yamabotcho.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho shoots for a double leg takedown but Lucas sprawls well. He's pushed Yamabotcho's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yamabotcho misses with a double jab
and Lucas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from Yamabotcho does no damage.
Lucas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yamabotcho counters with a three punch combo that has Lucas backing up. Lucas nods at Yamabotcho to acknowledge the strikes.
A big left from Lucas misses.
Lucas tries for a takedown but Yamabotcho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Norifumi Yamabotcho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Lucas.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yamabotcho.
Lucas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Yamabotcho.
Lucas tries for a takedown but Yamabotcho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lucas.
Yamabotcho misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lucas fails with a takedown attempt.
Lucas just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from Yamabotcho does no damage.
Lucas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamabotcho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lucas somewhat.

Lucas looking to score a takedown here. Yamabotcho is defending well but Lucas drives through and ends up in Yamabotcho's guard.
Lucas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas stopping the sweep attempt from Yamabotcho.
Yamabotcho wants to stand up but Lucas is controlling him.
Norifumi Yamabotcho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lucas landing some decent shots from guard.
Lucas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lucas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lucas stands up over Yamabotcho, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamabotcho looking for a sweep. Not yet Yamabotcho, not yet.
Yamabotcho is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Lucas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yamabotcho slips under a jab.
Lucas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamabotcho.
Lucas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lucas loads up on a big right hand but Yamabotcho slips the punch.
Lucas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Yamabotcho counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lucas has hold of Yamabotcho's hands but Yamabotcho slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Yamabotcho is just content to waste time from the top position. Lucas takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Yamabotcho postures up in Lucas's guard and throws a big left but Lucas blocks it.
Lucas is controlling Yamabotcho's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamabotcho trying to control the position from guard on top but Lucas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamabotcho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas is trying to control the position but Yamabotcho postures up.
Yamabotcho won't allow Lucas to sweep him here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lucas trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Lucas was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Yamabotcho manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lucas on his heels. He'll look to pass Lucas's guard now, I'm sure.
Yamabotcho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamabotcho works over Lucas with some ground and pound from guard.
Lucas is striking off his back. Yamabotcho thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Lucas is looking to improve his position.
Yamabotcho working Lucas over with strikes.
Lucas is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lucas pushes Yamabotcho off looking to stand but Yamabotcho dives back in and keeps control.
Lucas wants to improve his position but Yamabotcho is controlling well.
Yamabotcho trying to control from half guard but Lucas is working away.
Yamabotcho slips a nice elbow through Lucas's hands, connecting with Lucas's forehead.
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!
Yamabotcho is pressing down on Lucas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lucas is holding on for now.
Lucas trying to control here.
Lucas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yamabotcho wants to free his trapped foot but Lucas is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lucas is looking to escape.
Yamabotcho sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lucas defending well though.
Lucas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamabotcho.
Lucas trying to control but Yamabotcho postures up.

Yamabotcho decides to stand up.
Yamabotcho throws a series of strikes that have Lucas backpedaling.
Lucas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lucas shoots in and drives through. Yamabotcho sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Lucas with that takedown attempt.
Norifumi Yamabotcho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Lucas.
A left and a right from Yamabotcho both land. Nice combination.
Yamabotcho lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lucas backs up against the cage.
Lucas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamabotcho sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lucas somewhat.
Lucas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yamabotcho.

Yamabotcho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yamabotcho showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lucas wants to control but Yamabotcho is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norifumi Yamabotcho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yamabotcho 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norifumi Yamabotcho!