PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Philip Negan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keiichi Yamada (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!

Negan
vs
Yamada

175 cm
25
216 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

170 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Philip Negan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keiichi Yamada!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Negan just misses with a punch to the body.
Negan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Yamada checks it well.
Negan missing with a left hand there. Yamada was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Yamada looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamada trying to control but Negan is working from the bottom.
Yamada tries to free his leg and advance position but Negan is retaining full guard.
Yamada trying to move into half guard but instead Negan has managed to sweep!
Negan trying to control but Yamada is working from the bottom.
Yamada looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Negan tries to free his leg and advance position but Yamada is retaining full guard.
Negan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamada's head.
Negan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Negan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yamada has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Negan has managed to get both his arms back between Yamada's legs - danger averted.
Our spies down at at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform us that Yamada has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yamada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yamada trying to keep a closed guard but Negan is proving a slippery customer.
Yamada keeping moving, preventing Negan from controlling successfully.
Negan lands a couple of digs.

Yamada working for a triangle but Negan defends it easily.
Negan lands a couple of digs.
Negan landing some decent shots from guard.
Negan trying to control but Yamada is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Negan keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamada's head.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamada had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Negan defends it easily.

Yamada throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Negan is looking to work some ground and pound but Yamada has wrist control.
Negan works over Yamada with some ground and pound from guard.
Negan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Negan is working Yamada over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Yamada looking for subs off his back but Negan has passed one foot through into half guard.

Negan is looking for a kimura but Yamada is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Negan to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negan lands with a punch from half guard.
Negan wants to pass the guard but Yamada is defending well.
Negan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yamada keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Negan slips a nice elbow through Yamada's hands, connecting with Yamada's forehead.
Yamada blocking the ground and pound attempt from Negan.
Negan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Yamada looking for submissions off his back.
Negan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yamada on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is looking to improve his position.

Negan 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Negan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Negan lands a nice short elbow.
Negan is looking to advance position but Yamada won't allow it.
Yamada wants to improve his position but Negan is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamada has hold of Negan's hands but Negan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Negan lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Negan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yamada shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Negan pinned against the cage. Negan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Negan misses with a body kick.
Negan misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Negan. Yamada does a little dance to reset his feet.
Negan scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jab by Negan.
Negan throws a head kick that misses.
Negan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamada moves away.
Negan tried to score with a low kick but Yamada checks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamada checks a low kick from Negan.
Negan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Philip Negan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Negan throws a body punch but Yamada moves out of range.
Negan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Yamada blocks the low kick.
Yamada moves out of range of the body kick from Negan.
Negan lands a nice looking body shot.
Negan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Yamada takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Negan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamada.
Negan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Philip Negan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Negan throws a hook to the side of Yamada's head but Yamada sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Negan is looking to wear down Yamada with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yamada tries to move into range but Negan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Negan throws a low kick but Yamada moves out of range easily.
Negan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Negan misses with a hook. Yamada ducked under it nicely.
Negan misses with a low kick as Yamada jumps back.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Negan.
That kick from Negan tenderised Yamada's leg. Yamada is trying to keep his angry face on.
Yamada is breathing heavily.
Yamada dodges the punch combination from Negan.
Negan tries to clinch there but Yamada circles away.
Negan misses with a wild body shot.
Yamada checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yamada stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Negan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negan throws a front kick aimed at Yamada's knee but Yamada avoids it well.
Negan scores with a jab. Yamada acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Yamada throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Negan's waist but Negan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yamada off to one side.
Philip Negan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keiichi Yamada.
Negan throws a head kick that misses.
Negan motions for Yamada to come forward. Negan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Negan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamada was well out of range. Poor timing from Negan.
Philip Negan is winning the standup battle so far.
Yamada misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Negan misses with a head kick.
Negan tries to work over Yamada's front leg with a kick but Yamada checks it.
Negan misses with a straight right.
Negan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Negan just misses with a punch to the body.
Negan feints and then cracks Yamada's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yamada down.
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!
Negan throws a poor cross that misses

and Yamada counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yamada prevents Negan from improving his position.
Negan is pressing down on Yamada's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Negan wants to sweep but no luck.
Negan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamada is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Negan punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Negan dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamada shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Negan defends it nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Negan.
Negan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamada was well out of range. Poor timing from Negan.
Negan throws the left hand but Yamada avoids the punch easily.
Yamada is trying hard to land a takedown here. Negan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yamada shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Negan defends it nicely.
Philip Negan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keiichi Yamada.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Negan.
Yamada shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Negan counters with a single leg into guard. Yamada didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Negan throws a big elbow that misses.
Yamada looking for a sweep. Not yet Yamada, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Negan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yamada wants to sweep but no luck.
Negan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yamada working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Negan.

Yamada escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Negan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yamada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Negan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Negan connects with a couple of short punches.
Negan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yamada tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Negan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamada's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamada wants to sweep here but Negan controlling him for the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Yamada looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Negan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Negan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Negan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Negan is trying to control. Yamada wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Negan working Yamada over with strikes.
Yamada has hold of Negan's hands but Negan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Negan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Negan lands with a punch from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Negan connects with a nice short shot to Yamada's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Negan works his way into side control.
Negan working the ground and pound.
Negan scoring with punches from side control.
Yamada is looking to reverse the position.

Negan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yamada is looking to reverse the position.
Negan wants to control but Yamada is keeping him busy.
Negan is putting a hurting on Yamada here, landing some big shots from side control.
Negan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yamada can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Negan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Negan is chipping away with strikes.
Philip Negan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Negan controls the position.
Yamada is looking to regain half guard here but Negan keeps moving and retains side control.
Negan working the body and head with strikes.
Negan is looking to take a break and control but Yamada is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamada is trying to get back to half guard.
Negan working the body and head with strikes.
Yamada can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Negan lands some shots froms side control.
Keiichi Yamada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Negan advances nicely into full mount.
Negan is landing with some decent strikes but Yamada is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Negan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Negan 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philip Negan!
Philip Negan tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.