PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maki Pulu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsuya Yasumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pulu's entrance music is Alive. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Yasumi's choice of entrance music: Lunchmoney Lewis-Real Thing. Katsuya Yasumi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pulu
vs
Yasumi

182 cm
27
280 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

188 cm
27
250 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maki Pulu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsuya Yasumi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulu works the jab nicely.
Pulu lands a high kick!
Pulu misses with a left hand
and Yasumi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Maki Pulu has been cut.
Pulu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Pulu has Yasumi up against the cage in a clinch.
I was talking to Pulu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Pulu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yasumi blocks a body shot from Pulu.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pulu.
Pulu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yasumi tries for a takedown but Pulu manages to get underhooks.
Pulu misses with a punch on the inside.
Pulu throws a head punch that misses.
Pulu misses with a hook to the ribs.

Yasumi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Pulu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pulu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulu looks to throw the jab but Yasumi is out of range.
Yasumi blocks a jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Yasumi misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pulu.
Pulu stuns Yasumi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pulu tries to clinch but Yasumi moves out of range.
Pulu lands a head kick!

It looks like Katsuya Yasumi has been cut.
Yasumi slips a straight right by Pulu.
And Yasumi tries to counter it with a takedown but Pulu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Maki Pulu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pulu scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Pulu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yasumi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yasumi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yasumi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Pulu scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulu throws a poor cross that misses
and Yasumi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pulu fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yasumi is out of range.
Pulu scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pulu scoring well with a low kick there.
Pulu misses with a low kick.
Pulu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pulu misses with a hook
and Yasumi counters with a nice body kick.
Pulu misses with a wild combination.
Pulu misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulu throws a big shot that misses.
Pulu lands with a hook. Yasumi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pulu throws a big shot that misses.
Yasumi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Pulu misses with a body shot.
Pulu cracks Yasumi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Maki Pulu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pulu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pulu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pulu tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Yasumi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yasumi won't allow Pulu to sweep him here.
Yasumi trying to control but Pulu is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulu wants to sweep but no luck.

Pulu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yasumi trying to control but Pulu is working from the bottom.

Pulu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yasumi is aware though and is defending well.
Yasumi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yasumi must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pulu keeping moving, preventing Yasumi from controlling successfully.
Yasumi lands a couple of elbows.
Yasumi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Pulu dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A low kick from Pulu misses
and Yasumi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pulu misses with a wild body shot.
Yasumi with the counter takedown but Pulu avoids it easily.
Maki Pulu is winning the standup battle so far.
Pulu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pulu misses with a shot to the body

and Yasumi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pulu gets full guard.
Pulu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yasumi is one step ahead there.
Pulu is trying to keep Yasumi in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulu looking for a sweep. Not yet Pulu, not yet.
Yasumi trying to control but Pulu is working from the bottom.
Yasumi stopping the sweep attempt from Pulu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasumi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yasumi won't allow Pulu to sweep him here.

Pulu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pulu has his foot on Yasumi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yasumi works his way back into a safe position though.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Yasumi won't allow Pulu to sweep him here.
Katsuya Yasumi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pulu is looking for a triangle but Yasumi pushes his legs off easily.
Yasumi won't allow Pulu to sweep him here.
Yasumi stands and throws Pulu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pulu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Pulu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yasumi can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yasumi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pulu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yasumi is nestled in close to Pulu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pulu moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pulu wants to sweep here but Yasumi controlling him for the moment.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Yasumi postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yasumi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pulu keeping moving, preventing Yasumi from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Pulu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yasumi lands a couple of elbows.
Pulu trying to keep a closed guard but Yasumi is proving a slippery customer.

Pulu looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yasumi passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Still in half guard, Yasumi seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pulu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pulu can't keep his opponent in guard - Yasumi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Yasumi is trying to control the action in half guard but Pulu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pulu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pulu tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Yasumi has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yasumi looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuya Yasumi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pulu throws a right hand that misses

and Yasumi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pulu wants to sweep here but Yasumi controlling him for the moment.
Yasumi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pulu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yasumi's guard.

Pulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Yasumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pulu preventing the sweep.
Pulu tries to free his leg and advance position but Yasumi is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yasumi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pulu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pulu postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pulu wants to control from the top but Yasumi keeps moving.
Our spies down at at Tōshi inform us that Yasumi has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Yasumi seems keen to control Pulu's posture.
Yasumi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pulu trying to control the position from guard on top but Yasumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pulu just misses with a punch to the body.
Yasumi slips under a jab from Pulu.
Pulu lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yasumi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pulu throws a head kick but Yasumi moves out of range.
Yasumi appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Pulu thuds a left hand into Yasumi's body.
Pulu misses with a left hand
and Yasumi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pulu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yasumi throws a fast counter high kick but Pulu manages to duck under it in time.
Pulu throws an off balance right hand
and Yasumi counters with a left to the body.
Pulu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pulu misses with a head kick.
Yasumi moves out of range as Pulu strikes.
Yasumi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pulu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulu misses with an uppercut.
A big right from Pulu misses.
Pulu throws a right hand that misses

and Yasumi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pulu wants to improve his position but Yasumi is controlling well.

Yasumi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pulu sees it coming and defends easily.
Yasumi slips a nice elbow through Pulu's hands, connecting with Pulu's forehead.
Pulu works his way to full guard. Good work.

Pulu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Yasumi trying to control but Pulu is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pulu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pulu keeping moving, preventing Yasumi from controlling successfully.

Pulu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yasumi defends well.
Pulu keeping moving, preventing Yasumi from controlling successfully.
Pulu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pulu is working hard here to advance position.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maki Pulu.
I think Pulu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maki Pulu!
Maki Pulu thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Katsuya Yasumi stepped up to the mic, saying 'Tokiniwa jinsei wa suimasu'.