PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dominic Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yato Yasamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whitney
vs
Yasamoto

193 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dominic Whitney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yato Yasamoto!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Whitney.
Yato Yasamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yasamoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Whitney tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yasamoto is in Whitney's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Whitney trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Whitney pushes Yasamoto off and gets back to his feet.
Yasamoto throws a head kick but Whitney moves out of range.
Whitney misses with a series of wild punches.

Yasamoto rushes Whitney and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yasamoto stalling in the clinch.

Yasamoto is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Whitney can't fight it off and eventually Yasamoto manages to take the fight to the floor. Whitney looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yasamoto won't allow Whitney to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasamoto pushing down on Whitney's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Whitney pushes Yasamoto off looking to stand but Yasamoto dives back in and keeps control.

Yasamoto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Whitney trying to hold on to Yasamoto's head to control him but Yasamoto postures up.
Whitney is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yasamoto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yasamoto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Whitney's head.
Yasamoto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Whitney's head.
Yasamoto stops Whitney from getting back to his feet.
Yasamoto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yasamoto prevents Whitney from standing back up.
Whitney flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Yasamoto is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yato Yasamoto was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Whitney lands a jab to Yasamoto's midsection.

Yasamoto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yasamoto showed some decent athleticism there.
Whitney is breathing heavily.
Yasamoto is trying to control. Whitney wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yasamoto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Yasamoto passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto looking to control but Whitney is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Yasamoto looking to control and managing it successfully.
Whitney squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yasamoto unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whitney forces Yasamoto back against the cage and clinches.
Yasamoto lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yasamoto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Whitney is looking for a takedown.
Whitney drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yasamoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

Yasamoto gets a clinch.
Whitney tries a knee to the head but Yasamoto blocks it.

Yasamoto pulls guard.
Whitney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitney won't allow Yasamoto to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yasamoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Whitney defends it easily.
Whitney slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Yasamoto.
Yasamoto flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Yasamoto controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Yasamoto looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto is trying to maintain the position but Whitney is very close to passing his half guard.

Yasamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Yasamoto is breathing heavily.
Yasamoto trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Whitney manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto tries to hold on but Whitney postures up.

Whitney looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Yasamoto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yasamoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Whitney scores with a couple of nice shots.
Yato Yasamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yasamoto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yasamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Yasamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitney.
Whitney being controlled here momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yasamoto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yasamoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whitney manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yato Yasamoto 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!

Whitney wants to clinch up but Yasamoto keeps it at a distance.
Whitney pulls out of a head kick attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Yasamoto drags the fight down to the ground.
Whitney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Yasamoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yasamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yasamoto has his foot on Whitney's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitney works his way back into a safe position though.
Yasamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yasamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Whitney preventing the sweep.
Yasamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yasamoto is adopting a defensive guard.
Yasamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto is looking to stand back up but Whitney counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Yasamoto.
Yasamoto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Whitney thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yasamoto's head.
Yasamoto wants to get back to full guard but Whitney has mounted him!
Yasamoto wants to control but Whitney is having none of it.

Whitney is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Yasamoto to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Yasamoto shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasamoto gets back to half guard.
Whitney prevents Yasamoto from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Whitney there.

Yasamoto makes his way to full guard, as Whitney worked for a kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yasamoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Yasamoto looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Whitney has picked Yasamoto up and slammed him! Yasamoto can't keep hold of the triangle and Whitney manages to pass to side control!
Dominic Whitney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yato Yasamoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Whitney landing strikes.

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 Dominic Whitney.
I think Yasamoto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yato Yasamoto!
Yato Yasamoto seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.