PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Patricia Hendricks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yusuke Yachi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yusuke Yachi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hendricks
vs
Yachi

188 cm
21
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

165 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Patricia Hendricks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yusuke Yachi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yachi takes the fight into the clinch.

Yachi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Yachi wants to get back to his feet but Hendricks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hendricks scoring with some ground and pound.
Hendricks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hendricks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yachi is looking to sweep but instead, Hendricks has passed into half guard.
Hendricks is taking a breather. Yachi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yachi wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yachi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hendricks scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Hendricks stands up and beckons Yachi to join him on the feet.

Yachi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Hendricks kicks Yachi off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yachi wants to clinch up but Hendricks keeps it at a distance.
No luck for Hendricks with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hendricks fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yachi to the ground. Hendricks is now in Yachi's guard.
Yachi working a defensive guard but Hendricks passes into half guard.
Yachi is trying to stand back up but Hendricks is controlling him
Yachi wants to improve his position but Hendricks is controlling well.
Yachi is trying to maintain the position but Hendricks is very close to passing his half guard.
Nice strikes from Hendricks there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yachi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yachi tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Hendricks manages to move to mount!
Yachi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hendricks trying to strike off his back.
Hendricks throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yachi trying to control but Hendricks is working from the bottom.
Hendricks wants to stand but Yachi is controlling the position.
Yachi throwing strikes from guard but Hendricks blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yachi stopping the sweep attempt from Hendricks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Patricia Hendricks will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yachi fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hendricks clinches.
Hendricks jumps guard but Yachi stands there with Hendricks around his waist. Hendricks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Yachi has clasped his hands together around Hendricks's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Yachi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hendricks, who protects the arm well.
Yachi tries to advance to mount but Hendricks denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yachi wants to control but Hendricks is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks tries to bench press Yachi off him but Yachi keeps the position.
Hendricks tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Yachi looking for the choke but no joy.
Yachi has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Hendricks.

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.
Yachi struggling to keep hold of the position.
Hendricks tries to escape but Yachi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hendricks turns into Yachi and is now in his guard.
Yachi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Yachi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yachi looking for a sweep. Not yet Yachi, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks throwing strikes but missing.
Hendricks lands a couple of elbows.
Hendricks postures up in Yachi's guard and throws a big left but Yachi blocks it.
Hendricks prevents Yachi from getting back to his feet.

Hendricks stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hendricks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yachi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yachi throws a head kick but Hendricks moves out of range.
Hendricks goes for a double leg but Yachi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yachi continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patricia Hendricks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hendricks misses with a takedown attempt
and Yachi counters with a head kick. That will keep Hendricks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Yachi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hendricks wants to get back to his feet but Yachi is dominant here and he's now got Hendricks's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Will Yachi go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Yachi biding his time, controlling Hendricks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hendricks staying busy and making it hard for Yachi to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Yachi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yachi is looking to clinch.
Yachi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yachi wants it to stay on the feet.
Yachi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yachi wants to clinch up but Hendricks keeps it at a distance.
Yachi throws a head kick that misses.

Yachi gets a double leg takedown into Hendricks's guard.
Hendricks is looking to stand back up but Yachi counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Hendricks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hendricks is defending against the submission attempts here by Yachi.
Yachi trying to control from half guard but Hendricks is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendricks tries to roll over but Yachi keeps him under control.
Hendricks flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hendricks is not content to let Yachi control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yachi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hendricks is refusing to be controlled, as Yachi sits in half guard.
Hendricks tries to get to full guard but Yachi has control of the leg.
Yachi controlling the pace.

Hendricks has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Yachi escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Yachi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yachi decides to stand back up.
Yachi tries to clinch there but Hendricks circles away.
Yachi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hendricks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yachi avoids it really well and circles away.
Yachi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yachi keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yachi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Yachi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Yachi lands in his opponent's guard.
Hendricks keeping moving, preventing Yachi from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yachi pushes down on Hendricks's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Yachi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yachi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Yachi!