PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoshida Satoru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Satoru
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
20
189 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs
Supreme Supplements (Q146 Recovery $20)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshida Satoru!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Satoru.
Satoru is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Yamamoto will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Satoru wants to control for a moment but Yamamoto uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Satoru is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yamamoto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yamamoto's back!
Yamamoto breaks Satoru's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Yamamoto's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Yamamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto wants to get up but he can't break Satoru's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Satoru keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Satoru bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yamamoto's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Satoru won't allow Yamamoto to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Satoru trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto controls Satoru momentarily but Satoru frees himself.

Yamamoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Satoru can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Satoru trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Satoru wants to control from the top but Yamamoto keeps moving.
Satoru postures up.
Satoru controlling from the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Yamamoto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Yamamoto looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Satoru's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yamamoto wants to control but Satoru is keeping him busy.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Satoru is trying to improve his position.
Satoru gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Satoru avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Satoru controlling the position for now.

Satoru looking for submissions off his back.
Satoru is refusing to be controlled, as Yamamoto sits in half guard.
Satoru manages to get to full guard.

Satoru working for a triangle but Yamamoto defends it easily.
Satoru lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Satoru goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yamamoto is on top in guard.

Satoru has his foot on Yamamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yamamoto works his way back into a safe position though.

Satoru looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Satoru keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Satoru counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Satoru darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Satoru sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Satoru is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yamamoto is just riding it out for now. Satoru eventually gives up the hold.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Satoru trying to control from half guard but Yamamoto is working away.
Satoru passes the guard and advances to mount!
Satoru tries to control but Yamamoto wriggling away.

Satoru working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Satoru goes for an armbar but Yamamoto turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Yamamoto.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Satoru is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yamamoto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Satoru swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Satoru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Satoru is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Yamamoto frees his head nicely. Oh but Satoru has switched to an armbar! Yamamoto is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Yoshida Satoru!
Yoshida Satoru retains his middleweight title!