PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taka Yoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Yoshi
vs
Barker

190 cm
22
220 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taka Yoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bob Barker!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker moves out of range as Yoshi throws a body kick.
Yoshi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yoshi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yoshi.
Yoshi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yoshi throws a head kick but Barker moves out of range.
Barker checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Yoshi misses with a wild body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yoshi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshi lands a nice shot to the body.
Barker avoids the body shot from Yoshi.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Barker crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yoshi - the referee stops the clock and Barker gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yoshi. Barker manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yoshi throws a shot from downtown. Barker moves away and avoids it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yoshi.
A head kick misses from Yoshi.
Yoshi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yoshi takes a swing at Barker's ribcage but misses.
Barker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yoshi swivels and escapes.
Yoshi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yoshi stuffs the takedown.
Taka Yoshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi throws a head kick but Barker moves out of range.
Yoshi misses with a wild body shot.
Barker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yoshi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barker's knee momentarily.
Taka Yoshi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Barker.
Barker avoids the body shot from Yoshi.
Yoshi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barker's calf.
Barker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yoshi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yoshi looks to score with a jab to the body but Barker is just out of range.
Yoshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Barker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yoshi swivels and escapes.
Barker takes a kick to the side of the head.
No luck for Yoshi with that takedown attempt.
Barker thows a leg kick but Yoshi checks it
and Yoshi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barker is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Yoshi lands a right hook to the body.

Yoshi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barker's guard.
Barker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yoshi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshi wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.
Yoshi is breathing heavily.
Barker thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Yoshi controls from within his opponent's guard.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yoshi wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barker controls Yoshi momentarily but Yoshi frees himself.
Barker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yoshi's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Yoshi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yoshi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Horrible takedown by Barker or perhaps it was just good defense by Yoshi which made him look bad.
Barker blocks a head kick by Yoshi.
Barker throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Yoshi counters by moving into the clinch.
Barker throws an elbow but it misses.
Barker has Yoshi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yoshi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Yoshi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Barker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yoshi is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barker landing some decent shots from guard.
Barker wants to control from the top but Yoshi keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker thows a big elbow that misses.
Barker won't allow Yoshi to sweep him here.
Yoshi is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barker throws a sloppy head kick and Yoshi moves out of range easily.

Barker shoots in and bounces Yoshi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yoshi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yoshi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Barker has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Barker is desperately trying to improve his position but Yoshi has a good base and remains in mount.
Yoshi wants to control the pace but Barker is squirming around nicely.
Barker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker is in a horrible position here. Yoshi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Yoshi avoids the attempt from Barker to control.
Yoshi dominating with strikes here.
Yoshi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Barker working to try and regain half guard.
Barker tries to hold on but Yoshi pushes him away.
Yoshi landing strikes from the mount and Barker is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker tries to hold on but Yoshi pushes him away.
Yoshi wants to control the pace but Barker is squirming around nicely.
Yoshi with shots to the head and body - Barker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yoshi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Barker looks a forlorn figure.
Yoshi lands a nice shot to the head.
Barker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Barker wants to control but Yoshi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yoshi 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.
Yoshi won't allow Barker to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taka Yoshi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Yoshi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barker is out of range and Yoshi settles back down.
Yoshi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Barker checks the leg kick.
Yoshi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshi fakes the leg kick and cracks Barker in the body.
Yoshi misses with a takedown
and Barker counters with a left to the body.

Yoshi gets caught flat footed, as Barker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yoshi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barker, into his guard.
Barker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yoshi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barker is keeping the position for now.
Yoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Barker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yoshi trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.
Yoshi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barker is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Barker is looking for a triangle here but Yoshi uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Yoshi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yoshi throws an elbow but Barker slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker is trying to get back to half guard.

Yoshi swings around for an armbar but Barker sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Yoshi's guard.

Yoshi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barker passes into half guard.
Taka Yoshi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barker is looking to take a break and control but Yoshi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Barker is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Barker wants to free his trapped foot but Yoshi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yoshi wants to improve his position but Barker is controlling well.
Bob Barker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Barker throws a strike but Yoshi avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yoshi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taka Yoshi.
Well Yoshi 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

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