PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenshin Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Clark's choice of entrance music: Rent a Wreck. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Yamamoto
vs
Clark

169 cm
35
147 lbs
22 - 5 - 1

168 cm
36
148 lbs
34 - 23 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenshin Yamamoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 23 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jack Clark!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto dives in and grabs Clark's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clark pushes down on Yamamoto's head and hops out.
Clark pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamamoto wants to clinch up but Clark keeps it at a distance.
Yamamoto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Clark uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto lands a jab to Clark's midsection.
Clark bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Yamamoto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamamoto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Clark misses with a body shot.
Yamamoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yamamoto throws the left hand but Clark avoids the punch easily.
Yamamoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Clark is just out of range.
Clark misses with an uppercut.
Clark throws a hook but Yamamoto blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yamamoto to score with a decent uppercut.
Clark throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamamoto walks into a jab.
Jack Clark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Clark.
Clark takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Yamamoto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Clark counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clark misses with a few strikes there.
Yamamoto attempts a counter takedown but Clark avoids it well and moves away.
Yamamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.

Yamamoto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Clark gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark keeping control of the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yamamoto seems to be working for a kimura but Clark defends the submission attempt.
Clark felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Yamamoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Clark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clark avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto trying to pass the guard but Clark defending well.
Yamamoto is trying to control the action in half guard but Clark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clark wants to get back to full guard.
Yamamoto working the head and body with strikes.
Yamamoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Clark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Clark wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Yamamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clark is looking to improve his position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Yamamoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Clark napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Yamamoto works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Yamamoto throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Clark works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Clark trying to control from the bottom.
Yamamoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Clark is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
Clark wants to improve his position but Yamamoto is controlling well.
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 Kenshin Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Clark throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yamamoto attempts a counter takedown but Clark avoids it well and moves away.
Yamamoto lands a jab to Clark's midsection.
Yamamoto lands with a nice combination. Clark backs away looking to recover.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clark. Yamamoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamamoto feinted with a counter takedown.
Clark takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Clark gets caught flat footed, as Yamamoto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clark is on top in guard.
Yamamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
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.
Clark must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Clark is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clark defends well.
Yamamoto 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.
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.
Clark wants to improve his position but Yamamoto is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Clark trying to hold on to Yamamoto's head to control him but Yamamoto postures up.
Clark wants to get back to his feet.

Yamamoto is trying to work for a kimura but Clark is defending well.
Yamamoto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Clark's head.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Jack Clark seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
Yamamoto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Clark.
Clark throws a big shot that misses.
Clark blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Clark misses with an uppercut. Yamamoto saw that one coming.

Yamamoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Clark tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yamamoto is in Clark's guard.

Clark has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Yamamoto has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Clark can't find room to land a body shot as Yamamoto controls the action.
Clark stalling in the clinch.
Yamamoto tries a body shot but Clark blocks it.
Yamamoto is working for takedown but Clark is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yamamoto is working for takedown but Clark is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yamamoto tries to throw a body punch but Clark avoids it by throwing Yamamoto back against the cage.

Clark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Clark thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yamamoto half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Yamamoto cracks Clark with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clark lands with a nice combination. Yamamoto backs away looking to recover.
Clark lands with a nice body punch.
A jab from Clark does it's job there.
Yamamoto slips a jab from Clark.
Clark loads up on a big right hand but Yamamoto slips the punch.
Yamamoto tries to counter with a takedown but Clark is quick to defend against it.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Clark sprawls well. Clark wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clark ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circling - Clark throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jack Clark will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamamoto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Yamamoto takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Clark might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Yamamoto feints and as Clark raises his hands in defense, Yamamoto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Clark manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Yamamoto is working for takedown but Clark is calmly controlling the position for now.
Clark throws a head punch that misses.

Yamamoto gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yamamoto throwing shots but Clark is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clark is trying to maintain the position but Yamamoto is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is looking to advance position but Clark won't allow it.
Yamamoto prevents Clark from improving his position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Clark slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yamamoto has a takedown stuffed.
Yamamoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A big left from Clark misses.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Clark, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Clark against the cage but Clark circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Clark smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Clark ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamamoto moves away.
Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Clark.
Yamamoto cracks Clark with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Clark throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A combination from Clark does no damage.
Yamamoto tries to move into range but Clark moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Clark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamamoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Clark.
Clark with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark slips under a jab.
Clark takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Yamamoto lands with a straight right. Clark didn't see that one coming.
Yamamoto throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clark lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Clark throws a series of punches but Yamamoto avoids them all with ease.
Yamamoto half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Yamamoto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Yamamoto clinches up against the cage.
Yamamoto letting Clark take a breather here.
Clark is pressed up against the cage. Yamamoto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Clark down to the mat. Clark avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jack Clark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Clark circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark slips under a jab.
It seemed like Clark was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Clark lands with a right hand.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Clark circles away and keeps his distance.
A big right from Clark misses.
Yamamoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Clark swivels and escapes.
Despite the aggression on Clark's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Clark.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clark wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yamamoto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Clark defends well and Yamamoto ends up having to push Clark into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Clark dips to his left and cracks Yamamoto with an uppercut!

Yamamoto instigates a clinch.
Clark looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Clark tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Clark lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamamoto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yamamoto misses the shot to the body.
Clark swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yamamoto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Clark scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Clark lands with a cross.
Clark connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Clark gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Clark circles away.
Clark takes a jab right on the kisser.
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
A jab from Clark misses.
Yamamoto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clark throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Clark catches Yamamoto right on the button with a cross.
Clark displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yamamoto throws out the jab.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Clark is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Clark circles away and we're back to standing.
Clark swinging wildly here.
Yamamoto scores with a nice strike.
A looping hook to the body misses from Clark. Yamamoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Clark misses.
Clark takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Clark throws a right hand that Yamamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Yamamoto also avoids with ease.
Yamamoto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Clark finds it's way round the side to connect with Yamamoto's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark looks to land a right hand but Yamamoto moved out of range.
Clark lands an overhand right.
Yamamoto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yamamoto there as he acknowledges the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamamoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Clark moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Yamamoto 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Yamamoto gets a takedown into half guard.
Clark wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Yamamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Clark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is looking to advance position but Clark won't allow it.
Kenshin Yamamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Clark trying to hold on to Yamamoto's head to control him but Yamamoto postures up.
Clark is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Yamamoto seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Clark moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Clark throws a hook to the side of Yamamoto's head but Yamamoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamamoto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Yamamoto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clark throws a shot to the body.
Clark thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yamamoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clark.
Clark will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Clark misses with a left hand

so Yamamoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamamoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Clark dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Yamamoto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Clark cracks Yamamoto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt
and Clark counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Clark ducks under a wild hook from Yamamoto.
Clark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamamoto ducks under a wild hook from Clark.
Yamamoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Yamamoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Clark.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It seemed like Clark was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Clark paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice cross by Yamamoto.
A lazy left from Yamamoto finds it's target.
Clark misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Yamamoto.
Clark misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamamoto looks to score with a jab to the body but Clark is just out of range.
Clark swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yamamoto tries to move into range but Clark moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Clark connects with a crisp jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Clark.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yamamoto.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenshin Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clark moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Clark fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamamoto changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto has closed the distance and engaged Clark in a clinch.
Yamamoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Clark prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamamoto is looking for a takedown.
Clark blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamamoto blocking some punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clark lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Clark is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Yamamoto is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Clark is defending well.
Yamamoto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamamoto is leaning against Clark and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Clark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto rushes Clark and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Clark breaks from the clinch.
Jack Clark is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yamamoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Clark moves away.
Yamamoto moves away from the strike by Clark.
Yamamoto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yamamoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clark.
Clark clobbers Yamamoto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Clark fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
Clark displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yamamoto.
Clark scores with the left hand. Yamamoto knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Clark moves out of range.
Clark is looking for the big counter here.
Clark scores with a jab. Yamamoto acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Yamamoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamamoto throwing shots but Clark is blocking nicely.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Clark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Clark 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 46:49
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Clark!
Jack Clark is the new bantamweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Jack Clark thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.