PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Samin Ax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yushin Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto has chosen Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg - On The Boulevard as his entrance music. Samin Ax has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ax
vs
Yamamoto

176 cm
31
140 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

162 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Samin Ax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yushin Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.

Yamamoto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ax quickly recovers to half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ax keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ax wants to improve his position but Yamamoto is controlling well.

Ax is defending against the submission attempts here by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Ax has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Yamamoto is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Ax to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Ax keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto works over Ax with some ground and pound from guard.
Ax keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Ax is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yamamoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ax's head.
Ax is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Canadian Top Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Yamamoto lands a couple of digs.
Ax avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Ax is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands a couple of digs.
Yamamoto slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ax not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamamoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ax trying to keep a closed guard but Yamamoto is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ax utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Yamamoto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ax is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ax has escaped and now he's on top!
Yamamoto is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ax has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Yamamoto pulls Ax in close to prevent any damage.
Yamamoto working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ax is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yamamoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Yamamoto dives in and scores a takedown into Ax's guard.
Yamamoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ax's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yamamoto throwing strikes but missing.
Yamamoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Ax is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto stands up over Ax, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ax keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Ax is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Yamamoto there.
Yamamoto prevents Ax from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto passes to full mount!
Yamamoto is looking to work his way around to Ax's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamamoto shoots in and gets a takedown into Ax's guard.
Yamamoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yamamoto slips nicely into half guard.
Ax slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yamamoto cracks Ax with a solid left hand.
Yamamoto stands up over Ax, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Yamamoto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ax manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yamamoto has Ax in his guard.
Ax cracks Yamamoto with a solid left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ax with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ax is refusing to be controlled, as Yamamoto sits in half guard.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura here.
Yamamoto passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ax!

Yamamoto is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Ax is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yushin Yamamoto!