PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Garland Deleon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jo Yabuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Deleon
vs
Yabuki

213 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Garland Deleon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jo Yabuki!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yabuki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Deleon.

Yabuki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Deleon did well to prevent Yabuki getting side control.
Yabuki tries to pass to full mount but Deleon defends it.
Deleon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Deleon is staying active underneath Yabuki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Deleon misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yabuki thows a huge punch but Deleon dodges it nicely.
Yabuki wants to stand but Deleon has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Deleon kicks Yabuki off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Deleon gets the takedown into side control.
Deleon throws an elbow but Yabuki slips to the side and avoids it well.
Deleon prevents Yabuki from escaping the position.
A control attempt from Yabuki but he's now mounted!
Yabuki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yabuki wants to control but Deleon is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yabuki is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Deleon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Deleon's back!
Yabuki throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Yabuki is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Deleon has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Yabuki.
Deleon trying to control the position but Yabuki manages to sink in the hooks.
Yabuki throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Yabuki looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabuki biding his time, looking for the opening.

Yabuki has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Deleon has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I really don't envy Deleon right now.

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.

Deleon manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Deleon tries for a takedown but Yabuki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Yabuki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Deleon's half guard.

Deleon kicks off Yabuki and gets to his feet.
Deleon shoots in for a takedown but Yabuki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yabuki throws a series of punches but Deleon moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Deleon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jo Yabuki dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Deleon shoots for a double leg takedown but Yabuki sprawls well. He's pushed Deleon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Deleon shoots for a takedown but Yabuki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Yabuki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Deleon pushes Yabuki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Yabuki is looking to clinch but Deleon is avoiding it.
Deleon fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garland Deleon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yabuki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yabuki swinging wildly here.
As Yabuki looks to move away, Deleon throws a big counter combo bu Yabuki just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabuki throws a sloppy head kick
and Deleon counters with a left and a right that stings Yabuki.
Yabuki misses with a kick to the body.

Yabuki shoots in and gets a takedown into Deleon's guard.
Yabuki is breathing heavily.
Yabuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Deleon is keeping the position for now.
Deleon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yabuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Deleon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yabuki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Deleon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yabuki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Deleon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yabuki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yabuki postures up in Deleon's guard and throws a big left but Deleon blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Deleon tries to keep at a distance but Yabuki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Deleon tries a body shot but Yabuki blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deleon is trying to maintain a safe position but Yabuki gets an underhook and turns Deleon into the cage.
Yabuki tries to land a knee to the head but Deleon blocks with his arms.
Deleon is trying to pull guard but Yabuki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Deleon gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Yabuki regains guard.

Yabuki looking for a guillotine here but Deleon defends easily.
Deleon throws a big right hand that misses.
Deleon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Deleon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yabuki wants to stand and escape but Deleon is having none of it.
Deleon looking to pass the guard.
Deleon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yabuki is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yabuki throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jo Yabuki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Yabuki manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Deleon on his heels. He'll look to pass Deleon's guard now, I'm sure.

Deleon wriggles free and stands up.
Deleon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yabuki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Deleon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Yabuki closes the distance and clinches.
Deleon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yabuki.

Yabuki drags the fight down to the ground.
Deleon trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yabuki pulls Deleon in close to his closed guard and prevents Deleon from doing any damage or advancing position.
Deleon with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yabuki holds on and takes a little breather.
Jo Yabuki has got the better of the ground game so far.

Deleon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yabuki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Deleon has managed to get both his arms back between Yabuki's legs - danger averted.
Deleon won't allow Yabuki to sweep him here.
Yabuki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Deleon cracks Yabuki with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yabuki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Deleon is controlling him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Yabuki looking for a sweep. Not yet Yabuki, not yet.

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

Yabuki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Deleon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yabuki avoids it.
Yabuki missing with knees to the body.
Yabuki blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Yabuki ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Yabuki no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yabuki working a defensive guard here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Deleon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Deleon is looking to work some ground and pound but Yabuki has wrist control.
Yabuki trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Deleon looking to pass the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Deleon is looking to work some ground and pound but Yabuki has wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Yabuki shoots in and bounces Deleon off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Deleon has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yabuki is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yabuki is fighting off a takedown attempt but Deleon is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Yabuki to the mat. Yabuki regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Deleon trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yabuki throws his legs up looking for a submission but Deleon uses it to pass to side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yabuki is trying to work for a sweep but Deleon has mounted him!
Garland Deleon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jo Yabuki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yabuki tries to hold on but Deleon postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garland Deleon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yabuki 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jo Yabuki!