PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Van Winkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jin Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jin Yamato enters the cage!

Van Winkle
vs
Yamato

174 cm
26
162 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

182 cm
21
169 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Van Winkle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jin Yamato!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Winkle loads up on a big right hand but Yamato slips the punch.
Van Winkle missing with a left hand there. Yamato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Winkle misses with a straight left.
A combination from Van Winkle does no damage.
Yamato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Winkle throws out a loose jab but Yamato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Winkle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Winkle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamato.
Van Winkle throws a hook but Yamato blocks it.
Yamato thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yamato tries to bum rush Van Winkle with a series of wild strikes but Van Winkle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Winkle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamato.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yamato is defended easily by Van Winkle.
Van Winkle throws a right hand that misses
and Yamato counters with a three punch combo that has Van Winkle backing up. Van Winkle nods at Yamato to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamato ducks under a wild hook from Van Winkle.
A punch combination from Van Winkle misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato digs a good hook to Van Winkle's body.
Van Winkle connects with a nice looking jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yamato darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Van Winkle misses the jab.
Van Winkle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamato with a hook.
Yamato connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Winkle misses with an uppercut
and Yamato counters with a left to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Winkle throws a poor cross that misses
and Yamato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yamato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Van Winkle misses with an uppercut.
Yamato closes the distance and clinches up with Van Winkle, looking for a takedown. Yamato pushes Van Winkle against the cage but Van Winkle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yamato.
Van Winkle tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yamato shoots in for a takedown but Van Winkle shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamato ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yamato fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yamato tries to clinch but Van Winkle is having none of it.
Van Winkle fails to land with a series of punches.
Van Winkle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamato.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Van Winkle circles away.
Van Winkle takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yamato connects with a jab.
Yamato scoring well with a low kick there.
Jin Yamato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Winkle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Winkle misses the target.
Yamato throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Van Winkle's waist but Van Winkle gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yamato off to one side.
Van Winkle misses with a looping left.
Yamato throws a nice looking combination but Van Winkle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle slips a jab from Yamato.
Van Winkle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yamato throws out the jab.
A combination from Yamato does no damage.
Yamato fails with a takedown attempt.
Van Winkle with a nice cross.
Van Winkle is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Yamato's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Van Winkle throws a body punch but Yamato moves out of range.
Yamato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yamato bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Winkle misses the target.
Yamato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamato missing with a left hand there. Van Winkle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamato moves out of range as Van Winkle strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamato scores with a hook.
Yamato tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Winkle swivels and escapes.
Yamato misses with a wild body shot.
Yamato scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamato drops his hands momentarily and Van Winkle takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rich Van Winkle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by Yamato. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Yamato.
Yamato shoots in looking for a takedown but Van Winkle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yamato's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yamato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yamato missing with a left hand there. Van Winkle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Winkle misses the jab.
Yamato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Van Winkle misses the target.
Yamato lands a jab to the nose.
A big right from Van Winkle misses.
Van Winkle gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Yamato dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamato throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yamato lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Van Winkle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamato.
Van Winkle misses with an uppercut.
Yamato fails to land the takedown.
Yamato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've been informed that Yamato has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Van Winkle throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Winkle throws out the jab.
Jin Yamato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Winkle cracks Yamato with an open hand slap.
Yamato wants to clinch.
Yamato looks to clinch
and Yamato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamato fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yamato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Winkle thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamato.
Van Winkle takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Winkle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Yamato does it's job there.
Van Winkle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
Yamato is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van Winkle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yamato.
Van Winkle works Yamato's body with a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Winkle misses the target.
A cross from Van Winkle lands.
Van Winkle misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamato uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Winkle.
Yamato will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Yamato darts in and clinches Van Winkle up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamato tries for a takedown. No joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Winkle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Winkle is trying to break free.
Yamato tries to score a body lock takedown but Van Winkle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Van Winkle has Yamato pressed against the cage.

Yamato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Winkle missing with a left hand there. Yamato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamato tries to bum rush Van Winkle with a series of wild strikes but Van Winkle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Yamato looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamato controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle is looking to improve his position.
Yamato stalling.

Jin Yamato has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Van Winkle misses with a few strikes there.
Van Winkle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yamato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Van Winkle avoids it really well and circles away.
Van Winkle moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle throws out a loose jab but Yamato uses good head movement to avoid it.

Yamato shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Van Winkle napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Yamato tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Yamato content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Van Winkle wants to get back to his feet but Yamato drags him back down.
Yamato controlling the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Yamato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Yamato misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Yamato.
Yamato misses with a few strikes there.
Van Winkle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Winkle misses the target.
A big left from Yamato misses.
Van Winkle is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Yamato misses with a wild combination.
Yamato dips to his left and cracks Van Winkle with an uppercut!
Yamato walks into a jab.
Van Winkle misses with a looping left.
Yamato scores with a hook to the body. Van Winkle takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Yamato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Winkle is fending him off so far but Yamato persists. Nope, Van Winkle circles away and we're back to standing.
Yamato misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato shoots in but Van Winkle avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yamato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Winkle throws an overhand right that lands on Yamato's shoulder, as Yamato tries to avoid the shot.
Yamato defending well as Van Winkle loads up on a big left hand.
Van Winkle scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yamato in his tracks.
Van Winkle swings widly with a right hand
and Yamato counters with a left and a right that stings Van Winkle.
Yamato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamato takes one on the button.
Van Winkle misses with a straight right.
Yamato has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Yamato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Winkle.
Yamato tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Van Winkle defends well and Yamato ends up having to push Van Winkle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rich Van Winkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jin Yamato.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Van Winkle as Yamato tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle can't break the clinch.
Yamato landing knees to the head.
Yamato is trying to break the clinch but Van Winkle is controlling him.
Van Winkle stalling in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Winkle is looking to break free of the clinch but Yamato has double underhooks.

Yamato manages to break the clinch.
Van Winkle misses with a looping left.
Van Winkle misses with an uppercut.
Van Winkle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamato.
Van Winkle displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yamato.
Rich Van Winkle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Winkle leaves Yamato with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Winkle throws out a loose jab but Yamato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Winkle takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Yamato slips a jab and a cross from Van Winkle.
Van Winkle misses with a straight right.
Yamato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Winkle misses with a straight left.
Yamato uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Winkle.
Good exchange - Yamato coming out on top.
Van Winkle misses with a looping left.
Van Winkle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
Yamato lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Van Winkle scores with a decent looking hook.
Yamato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Yamato misses.
Yamato misses the jab.
Van Winkle misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yamato is looking to clinch.
Van Winkle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Winkle blocks a jab.
Van Winkle throws a lazy right hand but Yamato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yamato tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Van Winkle counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Winkle misses with a straight right.
Van Winkle misses with a straight left.
Jin Yamato is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jin Yamato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Winkle throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamato.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jin Yamato.
I've got Yamato winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jin Yamato!
Jin Yamato thanked the fans post fight for their support.