PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Royce Grade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Yakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakuza has chosen The Legend of Zelda, Overworld as his entrance music. Ichi Yakuza will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Grade
vs
Yakuza

179 cm
22
130 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
35
112 lbs
4 - 44 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Grade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 44 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ichi Yakuza!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakuza throws a head kick that misses.
Yakuza looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Yakuza blocks a head kick by Grade.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grade avoids the head kick by Yakuza.
Grade tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Yakuza.
Yakuza checks a leg kick.
Yakuza throws a counter combo.

Grade takes the fight into the clinch.
Yakuza tries to break free but Grade pushes him back against the cage.

Grade breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grade really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yakuza enables Grade to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yakuza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Grade content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Grade gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Yakuza throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Grade was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Grade changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Yakuza looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grade just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grade has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Yakuza tries to keep at a distance but Grade has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Grade keeps him there for the moment.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Grade has him pressed against the cage.

Yakuza escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yakuza tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grade closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Grade lands in his opponent's guard.
Grade's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Grade seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yakuza for as long as he can get away with.

Grade stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Grade bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Grade lands some shots froms side control.

Grade stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grade fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yakuza sprawls well initially but Grade persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Grade looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Well, if Grade is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Grade stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grade gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Grade breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grade throws a head kick that misses.
Yakuza swats away the attempt to clinch by Grade.

Yakuza gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Grade to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yakuza wants to stand up but Grade is controlling him.

Grade 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Grade dominated that round.
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.

Yakuza throws a sloppy head kick and Grade moves out of range easily.
Grade drops down looking for a counter takedown but Yakuza sprawls and moves away.
Grade throws a nice looking combination but Yakuza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yakuza plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Grade is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yakuza can do to turn this around?

Grade shoots in and gets a takedown into Yakuza's guard.
Yakuza being controlled here, momentarily.
Grade has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grade is pushing down on Yakuza's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yakuza is fighting to maintain full guard but Grade has managed to sneak the leg through.
Yakuza is breathing heavily.
Grade slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grade wants to free his trapped foot but Yakuza is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Yakuza is defending against the submission attempts here by Grade.
Grade lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Grade drops an elbow to the side of Yakuza's head.
Well, if Grade is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grade wants to free his trapped foot but Yakuza is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grade is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grade takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Grade working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Grade drops an elbow to the side of Yakuza's head.
Grade performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Grade takes the fight into the clinch.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Grade stalls.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Grade keeps him there for the moment.
Yakuza is looking to break free of the clinch but Grade has double underhooks.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Grade has him pressed against the cage.
Grade tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Grade is controlling him.

Grade breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Royce Grade is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Grade looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Grade scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Royce Grade dominated that second round.
That's time! Grade's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yakuza checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yakuza misses with a head kick.

Yakuza tries to keep at a distance but Grade has taken the fight into the clinch.
Grade has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Grade has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

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

Grade pushes Yakuza up against the cage in a clinch.

Grade has picked Yakuza up - he's going for a ride! Grade dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Yakuza pushes Grade off but Grade dives into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grade working the ground and pound.
Yakuza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grade content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grade working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Yakuza's face as Grade controls the position.

Grade looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Grade will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Grade in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Yakuza is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Royce Grade!
Ichi Yakuza was interviewed post fight and said 'This has not been honorable. Seppuku!'.