PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bart Maniac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Norifumi Yamamoto enters the cage!

Maniac
vs
Yamamoto

195 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

160 cm
24
134 lbs
9 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bart Maniac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Norifumi Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maniac tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamamoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maniac throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamamoto's waist but Yamamoto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maniac off to one side.
Nice jab there from Maniac.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maniac shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yamamoto as he jumps to the side.
Maniac digs a good hook to Yamamoto's body.
Yamamoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maniac manages to avoid it.
Yamamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maniac gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Maniac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Maniac ducks under and follows up with a left that Maniac also avoids with ease.
Maniac really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Maniac shoots in but no luck this time.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yamamoto throws a lazy right hand but Maniac sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yamamoto swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a low kick but Maniac moves out of range easily.
Maniac scores with a jab. Yamamoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
No luck for Maniac with that takedown attempt.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yamamoto tries a low kick but Maniac avoids it.
Maniac looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.

Yamamoto gets tackled into the cage by Maniac. Maniac maintains the clinch.
Maniac connects with a knee to the head.
Maniac throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice left hand lands by Maniac.
A right hand to the body from Maniac.

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

Maniac has closed the distance and engaged Yamamoto in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Maniac scores with a nice short uppercut.
Yamamoto missing with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Maniac.
Maniac working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maniac lands with a light punch inside.
Yamamoto blocks the elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maniac displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yamamoto up against the cage.
Yamamoto has had enough of the clinch but Maniac keeps him there for the moment.
Maniac lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Maniac tries to land a knee to the head but Yamamoto blocks with his arms.
Maniac's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Yamamoto misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maniac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maniac shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well. He's pushed Maniac's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yamamoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maniac uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamamoto.
Maniac ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maniac tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Maniac tries for a takedown but Yamamoto circles away easily
and Yamamoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yamamoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Some wild striking there from Yamamoto.
Maniac throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yamamoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Yamamoto tries to keep at a distance but Maniac has taken the fight into the clinch.

Maniac pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maniac shoots in and gets a takedown into Yamamoto's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maniac won't allow Yamamoto to get back to his feet.
Maniac chips away with some ground and pound.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Maniac is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maniac passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamamoto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maniac holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yamamoto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maniac unloads a knee to the mid-section. Yamamoto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Yamamoto is looking to break free of the clinch but Maniac has double underhooks.
Maniac gets through Yamamoto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Maniac - that landed with a thud.
Maniac presses Yamamoto against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Yamamoto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maniac backwards.
A hook to the body from Maniac.
Maniac is struggling to control the position.

Maniac's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Maniac shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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!
Yamamoto is trying to stand back up but Maniac is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maniac not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamamoto punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maniac looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Maniac wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maniac's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maniac's back!
Yamamoto punishes Maniac with strikes from the back mount.
Maniac trying to control the hands but Yamamoto won't let him.
Yamamoto misses with a punch to the head.
Maniac manages to reverse the position and now he's in Yamamoto's guard. Nice work there by Maniac.
Maniac will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Maniac trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maniac content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Maniac dives into side control.
Yamamoto managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Maniac.

Maniac thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Maniac controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maniac is looking to take a break and control but Yamamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maniac tries to advance to mount but can't.
Yamamoto tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Maniac dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Maniac blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Maniac throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maniac shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maniac with a poor takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Maniac backing up. Maniac nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto throws a series of punches but Maniac avoids them all with ease.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Maniac.
Yamamoto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maniac moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Maniac moves out of range of the body kick.

Maniac closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yamamoto to the mat! Yamamoto manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maniac stands up and waves to Yamamoto to follow him.
Maniac thows a body shot but no joy.
Maniac misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Maniac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maniac tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.
Maniac misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maniac misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maniac.
A head kick misses from Maniac.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maniac tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
Maniac avoids the head kick by Yamamoto.
Bart Maniac seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maniac moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Yamamoto.
Maniac will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Maniac dives in and scores a takedown into Yamamoto's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Maniac from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to stand up but Maniac is controlling him.
Maniac trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Yamamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maniac is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bart Maniac just wasn't active enough.
Yamamoto misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maniac scores with a jab to the jaw.

Maniac has Yamamoto up against the cage in a clinch.
Maniac is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bart Maniac is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yamamoto is looking to break free of the clinch but Maniac has double underhooks.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick
and Maniac connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamamoto throws a combination that misses
letting Maniac counter with a right hand.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maniac fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yamamoto to the ground. Maniac is now in Yamamoto's guard.

Yamamoto wriggles free and stands up.
Norifumi Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses

and Maniac holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bart Maniac showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maniac 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bart Maniac!