PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Go Kenta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alperen Yilmaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Go Kenta has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kenta
vs
Yilmaz

162 cm
23
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

199 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Go Kenta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alperen Yilmaz!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenta pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kenta darts in and clinches Yilmaz up against the cage.

Kenta pulls guard.
Kenta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yilmaz is pushing down on Kenta's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kenta is fighting to maintain full guard but Yilmaz has managed to sneak the leg through.
Yilmaz prevents Kenta from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kenta is defending against the submission attempts here by Yilmaz.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kenta is trying to stand up here but Yilmaz is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yilmaz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Yilmaz mounts Kenta! Really nice guard pass there!

Yilmaz stands up from mount. Strange move.
Yilmaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kenta drives through and clinches with Yilmaz against the cage.
Yilmaz is trying to pull guard but Kenta has him pressed against the cage.
Kenta looking to throw knees to the head but Yilmaz is blocking nicely.
Kenta with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kenta.

Kenta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kenta throws a head kick that misses
and Yilmaz counters with a series of strikes. Kenta will be more careful next time no doubt.

Yilmaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kenta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
I was talking to Kenta's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yilmaz can't get the takedown.
Yilmaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kenta after a bit of a struggle.
Go Kenta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alperen Yilmaz.

Kenta ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kenta no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kenta is breathing heavily.
Yilmaz slips nicely into half guard.
Kenta is in trouble now - Yilmaz has advanced to mount!

Yilmaz looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yilmaz is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Yilmaz rushes Kenta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yilmaz tries to pull guard but Kenta holds him up against the cage and eventually Yilmaz drops back down to his feet.

Kenta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Go Kenta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Yilmaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kenta just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yilmaz's brow.
Yilmaz can't break the clinch.
Kenta stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yilmaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Kenta pushes off an throws an elbow but Yilmaz leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yilmaz tries to pull guard but Kenta won't allow it.
Kenta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yilmaz's efforts to push away.
Yilmaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kenta after a bit of a struggle.

Kenta manages to break the clinch.

Kenta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kenta lands an elbow inside.
Kenta creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yilmaz fails to pull guard.
Kenta looking to throw knees to the head but Yilmaz is blocking nicely.
Yilmaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kenta avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
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 Go Kenta will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kenta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kenta moves into the clinch.
Kenta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yilmaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Kenta lands a knee to the body.
Kenta lands an elbow inside that Yilmaz shrugs off.
Kenta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kenta tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yilmaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kenta to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yilmaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Kenta creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kenta gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Kenta breaks the clinch.

Kenta moves into the clinch.
Kenta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yilmaz can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yilmaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kenta softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yilmaz can't get the takedown.
Go Kenta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alperen Yilmaz.

Kenta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kenta connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Go Kenta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kenta has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kenta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yilmaz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yilmaz has Kenta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kenta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kenta is stalling here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kenta lands a knee to the head.
Kenta tries to land a knee to the head but Yilmaz blocks with his arms.
Yilmaz is working for takedown but Kenta is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yilmaz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kenta tries a knee to the head but Yilmaz blocks it.

Kenta decides to pull guard.
Yilmaz trying to control but Kenta is working from the bottom.

Yilmaz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yilmaz passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenta is not content to let Yilmaz control the position.
Yilmaz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Yilmaz wants to control but Kenta is keeping him busy.

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.
Yilmaz has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Yilmaz is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kenta to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kenta shrugs it off.
Kenta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yilmaz on the ground.
Yilmaz wants to control the pace but Kenta is squirming around nicely.
Alperen Yilmaz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yilmaz working for a submission but Kenta is keeping him at bay.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yilmaz moves to back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Go Kenta dominated that second round.
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.

Kenta has closed the distance and engaged Yilmaz in a clinch.
Kenta taking a breather.
Kenta lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kenta looking to throw knees to the head but Yilmaz is blocking nicely.
Kenta comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kenta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yilmaz dodges an elbow strike from Kenta.
Yilmaz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kenta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Alperen Yilmaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenta clinches up with Yilmaz and pushes him back against the cage.
Kenta content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Yilmaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kenta lands a knee to the head.
Kenta throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yilmaz blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kenta has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yilmaz uses from the top position.
Yilmaz trying to control but Kenta is working from the bottom.
Yilmaz pushing down on Kenta's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Yilmaz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Yilmaz is trying to control. Kenta wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yilmaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yilmaz is looking to take a break and control but Kenta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yilmaz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kenta knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Yilmaz looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Go Kenta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yilmaz trying to control the action but Kenta is working from the bottom.
Kenta controlling the position for now.
Yilmaz trying to mount his opponent but Kenta defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kenta tries to kick Yilmaz off but Yilmaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Yilmaz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kenta sees it coming and defends easily.
Yilmaz wants to pass to mount but Kenta is defending the position.
Yilmaz is keen to just control but Kenta is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Yilmaz seems to be working for a kimura but Kenta defends the submission attempt.

Yilmaz is trying for a kimura here. Kenta looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Yilmaz wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alperen Yilmaz!