PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sven Kristian Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jojiro Yamanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nielsen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Wardruna - Fehu. This should be fireworks!

Kristian Nielsen
vs
Yamanaka

191 cm
24
275 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

205 cm
25
275 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sven Kristian Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jojiro Yamanaka!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamanaka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Yamanaka fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nielsen to the ground. Yamanaka is now in Nielsen's guard.

Nielsen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nielsen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yamanaka has passed into side control.
Nielsen is looking to regain half guard here but Yamanaka keeps moving and retains side control.
Yamanaka tries to stand but Nielsen is controlling his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nielsen is letting Yamanaka control him for a moment.
Nielsen prevents Yamanaka from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yamanaka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nielsen is trying to control Yamanaka's posture but Yamanaka avoids it.
Nielsen is not content to let Yamanaka control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nielsen gets back to half guard.
Yamanaka controlling the action here.
Nielsen tries to get to full guard but Yamanaka has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yamanaka controlling the action here.
We've been hearing good reports from Nielsen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nielsen is looking to improve his position.
Yamanaka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yamanaka stalling.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nielsen tries to roll over but Yamanaka keeps him under control.
Nielsen moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nielsen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yamanaka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Nielsen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Yamanaka is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nielsen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamanaka controlling the position.
Nielsen tries to bench press Yamanaka off him but Yamanaka keeps the position.

That's four 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.
Nielsen can't do much from the bottom here.
Nielsen tries to buck Yamanaka off but Yamanaka is having none of it.
Yamanaka trying to control the position but Nielsen is working away.
Nielsen is looking for a sweep.
Nielsen is letting Yamanaka control him for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nielsen tries to buck Yamanaka off but Yamanaka is having none of it.
Nielsen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nielsen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yamanaka is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jojiro Yamanaka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A big left from Nielsen misses.
Yamanaka is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nielsen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yamanaka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Sven Kristian Nielsen has been cut.
Yamanaka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Yamanaka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nielsen!
Yamanaka thuds a left hand into Nielsen's body.
Yamanaka dips to his left and cracks Nielsen with an uppercut!
Yamanaka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Yamanaka connects with a left and a right that sees a clearly hurt Nielsen covering up! Yamanaka comes in with a big uppercut and Nielsen goes doooown! He's slumped up against the cage, eyes staring blankly into space.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jojiro Yamanaka!
In his post fight interview, Jojiro Yamanaka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.