PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scott Keene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotetsu Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Keene
vs
Yamamoto

180 cm
33
158 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

168 cm
25
149 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Arcticus University: London
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Keene!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kotetsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keene swings for the body but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Keene throws a body punch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Keene throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Keene connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Yamamoto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Keene manages to avoid it.
It looked like Keene wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Keene loads up on a big right hand but Yamamoto slips the punch.
Yamamoto is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Keene with a body shot.
Keene has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rusterman's in the buildup to the fight.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Keene avoids nicely.
Yamamoto lands a body shot.
Keene scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yamamoto in his tracks.
Yamamoto darts in looking for a takedown but Keene gets double underhooks and turns Yamamoto into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keene throws a hook to the side of Yamamoto's head but Yamamoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Keene swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yamamoto.
Keene is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Keene circles away and keeps his distance.
Keene throwing a counter right hand but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
Yamamoto moves away from the strike by Keene.

Yamamoto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Keene knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamamoto on the ground.
Yamamoto tries to pass to full mount but Keene defends it.
Yamamoto trying to control from half guard but Keene is working away.
Keene is looking to improve his position.
Keene keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yamamoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keene is trying to stand up here but Yamamoto is controlling him well.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Keene has hold of Yamamoto's hands but Yamamoto slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Yamamoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Keene avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Keene is trying to stand up here but Yamamoto is controlling him well.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yamamoto drops an elbow to the side of Keene's head.
Yamamoto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Yamamoto drops an elbow to the side of Keene's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keene defending well though.
Yamamoto thows a huge punch but Keene dodges it nicely.
Keene avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto thows a huge punch but Keene dodges it nicely.

Keene makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Scott Keene is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Yamamoto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Keene connects with a looping right hand.
Yamamoto throws out a loose jab but Keene uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keene swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Yamamoto takes the fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keene misses with some punches.
Yamamoto controlling the action here for a moment.

Yamamoto turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamamoto working the ground and pound.

Keene sneaks out the side door and pushes Yamamoto away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Yamamoto throws a looping overhand right but Keene ducks down to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Keene misses its target.
Keene is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamamoto.
Jab from Keene.
Keene keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Keene misses with a hook to the body
and Yamamoto counters with a straight right hand.
Jab by Yamamoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kotetsu Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Keene throws a big shot that misses.
Keene misses with a straight right.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yamamoto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Yamamoto throws an overhand right that lands on Keene's shoulder, as Keene tries to avoid the shot.
Keene takes one to the side of the head.

Keene is rocked!
Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Keene.
Yamamoto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Oh Keene is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
Keene seems to have got his legs back now.
Yamamoto scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Keene doesn't seem bothered though.
Yamamoto throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Keene slips a straight right by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Keene slips under a jab from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Keene.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Keene misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws out a loose jab but Keene uses good head movement to avoid it.
Keene uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yamamoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Keene lands with an overhand left.
Keene lands a jab.
Yamamoto missing with a left hand there. Keene was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Keene swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Yamamoto misses with a body punch
letting Keene counter with a right hand.

Yamamoto is rocked!

Yamamoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yamamoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Keene finish him?
Keene misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamamoto seems to have recovered his senses.
Yamamoto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Keene pulls his leg out and moves away.
Keene ducks under a wild hook from Yamamoto.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yamamoto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yamamoto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Keene's guard.

Keene scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Keene takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice cross by Keene.
Keene looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamamoto is just out of range.
Yamamoto connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Keene's hands.
Keene connects with a crisp jab.
Yamamoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Keene was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamamoto.
Keene takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Keene ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamamoto misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Keene tries to sprawl but Yamamoto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yamamoto trying to pass the guard but Keene defending well.
Yamamoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamamoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kotetsu Yamamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Keene wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping busy.
Yamamoto drops an elbow to the side of Keene's head.
Yamamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Keene keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamamoto thows a huge punch but Keene dodges it nicely.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yamamoto lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Yamamoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamamoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Keene does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Keene avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotetsu Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yamamoto jabs Keene to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Keene swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yamamoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yamamoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Keene on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice uppercut there from Yamamoto.
Keene throws a hook but Yamamoto avoids it easily.
Yamamoto tests Keene's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yamamoto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Keene throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yamamoto gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamamoto.
Keene misses with a body punch.
Yamamoto misses with a punch to the body.
Yamamoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keene blocks an uppercut.
Yamamoto has Keene pressed against the cage, preventing Keene from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Keene lands with a right to the head.
Yamamoto has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Keene seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Yamamoto can turn it around.
Yamamoto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is struggling to control the position.
Yamamoto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Keene pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yamamoto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Keene after a bit of a struggle.
Yamamoto scores with a shoulder strike.
Yamamoto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Yamamoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Scott Keene has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kotetsu Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is looking to take this one to the mat.

Keene breaks the clinch.
Scott Keene has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keene throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Keene throwing a counter right hand but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Keene as he connects with a hook.
Yamamoto tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Keene defends well and Yamamoto ends up having to push Keene into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Yamamoto gets a clinch.
Keene gets underhooks to prevent Yamamoto's takedown attempt.
Keene throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto misses with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Keene blocking some punches.
Yamamoto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamamoto can't get the takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yamamoto is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yamamoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yamamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keene has a couple of punches blocked by Yamamoto.
Keene throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Still in the clinch, Yamamoto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kotetsu Yamamoto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Keene gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yamamoto.
Keene misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Keene lands a body shot.
Yamamoto can't find room to land a body shot as Keene controls the action.
Keene has had enough of the clinch but Yamamoto keeps him there for the moment.
Kotetsu Yamamoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keene misses with a punch on the inside.
Keene misses with the head strike.
Keene has a couple of punches blocked by Yamamoto.
A nice right hand lands inside from Keene.
Keene is trying to force a seperation but Yamamoto has the dominant position.
Keene misses with the head strike.
Yamamoto keeps control of Keene as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yamamoto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamamoto scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kotetsu Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamamoto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kotetsu Yamamoto!
Kotetsu Yamamoto took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'We are NJPW!!!'.