PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rajala
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
23
195 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
190 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tomi Rajala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto fails to land the takedown.
Yamamoto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rajala's waist but Rajala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yamamoto off to one side.
Rajala gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a nice leg kick.

Rajala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Yamamoto looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Yamamoto tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Yamamoto is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yamamoto tries to improve position but can't.
Yamamoto regains half guard.
Yamamoto is trying to stand back up but Rajala is controlling him
Rajala looks to land a strike but Yamamoto avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rajala throwing strikes from guard but Yamamoto blocks nicely.
Rajala throwing strikes from guard but Yamamoto blocks nicely.
Rajala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto 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.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Rajala is proving a slippery customer.
Rajala postures up and lands a big shot to Yamamoto's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rajala won't allow Yamamoto to sweep him here.
Yamamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rajala shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rajala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Yamamoto looks gassed!
Yamamoto tries to reverse the position but Rajala maintains control.
A nice elbow there by Rajala.
Yamamoto is in a horrible position here. Rajala smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rajala has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yamamoto's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala lands a heavy elbow.
Rajala working Yamamoto over with strikes here.
Rajala with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto tries to hold on but Rajala pushes him away.
Rajala landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rajala raining down shots from the mount!
Rajala looking to finish Yamamoto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yamamoto!
Yamamoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rajala lands a nice shot to the head.
Rajala controlling the pace for now.
Rajala punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rajala.
Rajala working Yamamoto over with strikes here.
Rajala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rajala lands a big shot there that rocks Yamamoto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rajala landing punches.
Rajala lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Yamamoto hang on?
Rajala looking to finish Yamamoto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yamamoto!
Rajala lands a big elbow.
Rajala with a couple of short strikes.
Rajala controlling the position easily from mount.
Rajala working Yamamoto over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajala lands a heavy elbow.
Rajala postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yamamoto looks a forlorn figure.
Rajala breaks from Yamamoto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rajala working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rajala trying to control but Yamamoto is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rajala looking to finish Yamamoto with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yamamoto!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Rajala dominated that round.
That's time! Rajala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rajala misses with a takedown attempt

and Yamamoto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rajala gets full guard.
Rajala lands some strikes from the bottom.
Rajala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rajala tries to get out of the position.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Rajala won't let him.
Rajala 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.
Rajala lands a decent shot there.
Rajala is looking to sweep but instead, Yamamoto has passed into half guard.
Yamamoto prevents Rajala from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rajala regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala has Yamamoto pulled in close to control his posture.
Rajala throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rajala throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rajala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yamamoto is looking to work some ground and pound but Rajala has wrist control.

Rajala working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Yamamoto has passed into half guard!
Rajala trying to control from the bottom.
Rajala is looking for a sweep. Yamamoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rajala misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Yamamoto shoots in and bounces Rajala off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

Rajala 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.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Rajala is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rajala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rajala is working hard here to advance position.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Rajala keeps moving.
Rajala lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to reverse the position but Rajala maintains control.
Rajala fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Yamamoto tries to buck Rajala off but he can't manage it.
Rajala controlling the pace for now.
Rajala landing strikes from the mount.
Rajala with shots to the head and body - Yamamoto looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rajala lands with some strikes.
Rajala lands a big elbow.

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.
Rajala dominating with strikes here.
Yamamoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Yamamoto is trying to escape the mount.
Rajala is landing with some decent strikes but Yamamoto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rajala landing shots from mount.
Yamamoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rajala breaks from Yamamoto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rajala avoids the attempt from Yamamoto to control.
Rajala is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rajala with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenshiro Yamamoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rajala misses with a takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Rajala drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yamamoto controlling the position.
Yamamoto controls Rajala momentarily but Rajala frees himself.

Yamamoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rajala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rajala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Rajala from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto can't keep his opponent in guard - Rajala advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rajala lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala trying to control from half guard but Yamamoto is working away.
Rajala is controlling the pace.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rajala connects with a nice short shot to Yamamoto's temple.
Rajala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yamamoto pushes Rajala off looking to stand but Rajala dives back in and keeps control.
Rajala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rajala scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yamamoto tries to get to full guard but Rajala has control of the leg.
Tomi Rajala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rajala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rajala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rajala is thwarting Yamamoto's attempts to control the position.
Rajala landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rajala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rajala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rajala working the head and body with strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rajala in particular looking to stall.
Yamamoto wants to get back to full guard.

Yamamoto manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rajala misses with a takedown attempt

and Yamamoto counters with a single leg into guard. Rajala didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rajala controls Yamamoto momentarily but Yamamoto frees himself.
Rajala wants to sweep but no luck.
Rajala controlling the position.
Rajala wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Rajala is retaining full guard.
Rajala throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rajala walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yamamoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomi Rajala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajala fails with the takedown

and Yamamoto counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Rajala.
Rajala is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rajala looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenshiro Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yamamoto 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenshiro Yamamoto!