PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bradley Travis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Yakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakuza has chosen The Legend of Zelda, Overworld as his entrance music. Ichi Yakuza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Travis
vs
Yakuza

151 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
126 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bradley Travis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Yakuza!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Yakuza as he checks the leg kick.
Yakuza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Yakuza clinches.
Travis tries to break free but Yakuza pushes him back against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yakuza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yakuza working hard to break the clinch.
Yakuza working hard to break the clinch.
We've been informed that Yakuza has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Travis is controlling him.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakuza wants to break free but Travis has control.
Travis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yakuza or not.

Travis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Travis rushes Yakuza and presses him up against the cage.
Travis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yakuzas head.
Travis looking to throw knees to the head but Yakuza is blocking nicely.
Travis really is a fat lump.
Travis wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Travis can't break the clinch.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Travis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Travis throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Travis moves into the clinch.
Travis is trying to break free.
A short left from Travis.
Travis is trying to break the clinch but Yakuza has him pressed against the cage.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuza avoids the head kick by Travis.
Travis throws a nice looking combination but Yakuza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Travis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Travis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Travis is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Travis - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Yakuza breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yakuza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Travis effectively controlling the action here.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Travis has him pinned against the cage.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Travis won't allow it.
Yakuza tries to break free but Travis pushes him back against the cage.
Yakuza keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Travis's efforts to push away.
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!
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
Travis working hard to break the clinch.
Yakuza is looking to break free of the clinch but Travis has double underhooks.

Travis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Travis lands a nice looking kick to the body. Yakuza takes a step back to recover.

Yakuza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Travis, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Travis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Travis gets tackled into the cage by Yakuza. Yakuza maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Yakuza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Travis tries to circle away but Yakuza has him pinned against the cage.
Travis can't break the clinch.

Travis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Travis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Travis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Yakuza fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Travis, pushing him back against the cage.
Yakuza tries to break free but Travis pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Travis is controlling him.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Travis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yakuza's efforts to push away.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Travis has him pinned against the cage.
Travis tries to break free but Yakuza pushes him back against the cage.
Travis with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Travis prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Travis manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Travis lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Travis has Yakuza up against the cage in a clinch.
Travis working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bradley Travis will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Travis gets a clinch.
Travis keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yakuza can't break the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yakuza wants to break free but Travis has control.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Travis keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Travis can't break the clinch.

Travis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Travis misses with a low kick.

Yakuza has closed the distance and engaged Travis in a clinch.
Travis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yakuza is breathing heavily.
Yakuza working hard to break the clinch.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Travis breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yakuza gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Travis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza keeps control of Travis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Travis working hard to break the clinch.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Travis breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Travis.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Travis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Yakuza closes the distance and pushes Travis back into the cage.
Yakuza is looking to break free of the clinch but Travis has double underhooks.
Yakuza avoiding damage as Travis throws knees to the body.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Travis keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Travis won't allow it.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Travis is controlling the position.
Travis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yakuza has him pressed against the cage.
Travis has Yakuza pressed against the cage.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Travis won't allow it.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Travis keeps him there for the moment.

Travis breaks the clinch.
Travis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yakuza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Travis closes the distance and pushes Yakuza back into the cage.
Travis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yakuza blocks it with crossed arms.
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!
Travis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yakuza can't break the clinch.
Yakuza wants to break free but Travis has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Travis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Travis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yakuza, pushing him back against the cage.

Travis breaks the clinch.

Yakuza clinches.

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

Travis closes the distance and clinches.
Travis can't break the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Travis has him pressed against the cage.

Travis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Travis throws a head kick that Yakuza semi-blocks.

Travis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Travis wants to break free but Yakuza has control.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Travis is trying to force a seperation but Yakuza has the dominant position.
Travis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Travis has had enough of the clinch but Yakuza keeps him there for the moment.
Yakuza is trying to force a seperation but Travis has the dominant position.
Travis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Travis has him pressed against the cage.
Travis working hard to break the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bradley Travis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Travis tries to break free but Yakuza pushes him back against the cage.
Travis misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Travis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Travis wants to break free but Yakuza has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bradley Travis dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yakuza closes the distance and pushes Travis back into the cage.

Travis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yakuza closes the distance and clinches.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Travis won't allow it.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Travis is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Yakuza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Travis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza prevents Travis from breaking the clinch.
Travis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yakuza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Travis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A head punch on the inside from Travis fails to land.

Travis breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Travis chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yakuza blocks the body kick.

Yakuza tries to keep at a distance but Travis has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

Yakuza clinches with his opponent.

Travis breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Travis does no damage.

Yakuza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Travis working hard to break the clinch.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Travis won't allow it.
Travis is looking to break free of the clinch but Yakuza has double underhooks.

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

Yakuza closes the distance and pushes Travis back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Travis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Travis misses with a head kick.

Yakuza closes the distance and clinches.
Travis tries to circle away but Yakuza has him pinned against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to push Travis away but Travis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yakuza is trying to break free.
Travis lands a shoulder strike.
Yakuza has Travis pressed against the cage, preventing Travis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Travis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Travis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Travis throws a head kick but Yakuza moves out of range.

Yakuza has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Travis tries to break the clinch but Yakuza is controlling the position.
Nice body punch from Travis - that landed with a thud.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakuza is trying to break free.
Travis is trying to break free.
Travis lands a shoulder strike.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yakuza wants to break free but Travis has control.

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

Yakuza darts in and clinches Travis up against the cage.
Travis content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Travis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yakuza avoids it.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Travis manages to break the clinch.

Yakuza drives through and clinches with Travis against the cage.
Travis is trying to break free.
Travis prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Travis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza is trying to push Travis away but Travis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Travis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Travis misses with an elbow over the top.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Travis prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza takes a shot to the head.
A short right from Travis on the inside.
Ichi Yakuza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bradley Travis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yakuza swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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 Bradley Travis.
Well Travis 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bradley Travis!
Ichi Yakuza was interviewed post fight and said 'This has not been honorable. Seppuku!'.