PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekko Wannanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamaguchi comes to the cage accompanied by Yama Yama. On his way into the cage it seems that Kai Yamaguchi has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Kai Yamaguchi seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Yamaguchi
vs
Wannanen

176 cm
24
167 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

172 cm
25
161 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Urban Fighter
Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kai Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pekko Wannanen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi misses with a kick to the body.
Wannanen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wannanen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yamaguchi.
Wannanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi scores with a decent looking hook.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab.

Wannanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wannanen misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yamaguchi.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Yamaguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yamaguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi takes an elbow to the forehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaguchi tries to throw a body punch but Wannanen avoids it by throwing Yamaguchi back against the cage.
Yamaguchi works on Wannanen's body with a couple of short punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamaguchi.
A head punch on the inside from Wannanen fails to land.
Wannanen lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannanen throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi pushes Wannanen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Wannanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wannanen throws a head punch that misses.
Yamaguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wannanen lands a left hand.

Wannanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wannanen checks a leg kick.
Yamaguchi is looking to slow Wannanen down with leg kicks.
Wannanen tries to clinch there but Yamaguchi circles away.
Wannanen throws a leg kick that misses.
Wannanen blocks a low kick nicely.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Wannanen throws a body kick.
Wannanen misses the jab.
Wannanen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wannanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight right.
Yamaguchi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wannanen throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Yamaguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wannanen is looking to clinch but Yamaguchi is avoiding it.
Yamaguchi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Yamaguchi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Wannanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Wannanen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yamaguchi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Wannanen throws a head kick but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Wannanen moves out of range as Yamaguchi throws a body kick.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Wannanen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Yamaguchi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wannanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Wannanen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Yamaguchi motions for Wannanen to come forward. Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yamaguchi catches Wannanen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Yamaguchi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yamaguchi misses with a leg kick.
Wannanen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Yamaguchi. That one must have hurt.
It looks like Yamaguchi has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Wannanen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yamaguchi. That did some damage!
Wannanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yamaguchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Wannanen moved out of range nicely.
Wannanen cracks Yamaguchi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A low kick from Yamaguchi misses
and Wannanen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yamaguchi's knee momentarily.
Wannanen has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Yamaguchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamaguchi lands a nice looking body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yamaguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wannanen throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.

Wannanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yamaguchi, pushing him back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Wannanen.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wannanen throws an elbow but misses.
Wannanen blocking some punches.
Yamaguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wannanen throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamaguchi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Wannanen backwards.
Wannanen lands a damaging elbow.
Yamaguchi blocks the elbow strike.
Yamaguchi takes an elbow to the temple.
Wannanen throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wannanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wannanen.
Yamaguchi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yamaguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Wannanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamaguchi digs a good body shot into Wannanen's ribs.
Yamaguchi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wannanen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Wannanen fakes the leg kick and cracks Yamaguchi in the body.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wannanen manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Wannanen on the side of the head.
Wannanen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wannanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
Wannanen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but Wannanen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wannanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab to the body
and Wannanen counters with a straight right hand.
Wannanen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wannanen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wannanen loads up on a big right hand but Yamaguchi slips the punch.

Yamaguchi has closed the distance and engaged Wannanen in a clinch.
Pekko Wannanen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannanen tries to work over Yamaguchi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wannanen can't find room to land a body shot as Yamaguchi controls the action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yamaguchi.
A right handed body shot lands from Wannanen.
Yamaguchi avoids a wild elbow strike from Wannanen.
A head punch on the inside from Wannanen fails to land.
Wannanen digs a right hand into Yamaguchi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamaguchi's gas tank.
Good body shot from Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yamaguchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamaguchi dips to his left and cracks Wannanen with an uppercut!
Wannanen blocks a head kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a wild body kick that Wannanen sees coming a mile off.
Yamaguchi throws a sloppy body shot
letting Wannanen counter with a right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Wannanen. That's going to slow Yamaguchi down.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wannanen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that misses.
Yamaguchi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Wannanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wannanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi. Wannanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wannanen can do to turn this around?
Yamaguchi connects with a single shot there.

Wannanen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wannanen misses with the head strike.
Yamaguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wannanen misses with an elbow strike.
Wannanen tries to throw a body punch but Yamaguchi avoids it by throwing Wannanen back against the cage.
Wannanen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wannanen lands an elbow inside.
Yamaguchi blocks an elbow strike from Wannanen.
Yamaguchi misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wannanen blocking some punches.
Wannanen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Wannanen pushes Yamaguchi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wannanen's elbow.
A short left from Wannanen.
Yamaguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Wannanen backwards.
Yamaguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Wannanen controls his hands.
Wannanen digs a right hand underneath Yamaguchi's ribcage. Yamaguchi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Yamaguchi working aggressively here.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wannanen's elbow.
Wannanen gets through Yamaguchi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wannanen misses with a body punch.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand.
Wannanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Wannanen's elbow.
Wannanen throws a head punch that misses.

Yamaguchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wannanen lands a leg kick that knocks Yamaguchi off balance momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wannanen.

Wannanen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yamaguchi'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.
Wannanen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Wannanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wannanen working aggressively here.
Yamaguchi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wannanen tries a body shot but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Yamaguchi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Yamaguchi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Wannanens head.
Wannanen pushes off an throws an elbow but Yamaguchi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wannanen throws an elbow but misses.
Wannanen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pekko Wannanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamaguchi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wannanen throws an overhand right that lands on Yamaguchi's shoulder, as Yamaguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Yamaguchi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Yamaguchi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Yamaguchi tries to land a front kick but Wannanen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wannanen looks to land a right hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range.
Wannanen throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Wannanen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wannanen misses with a head kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi defending well as Wannanen loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that misses.
Yamaguchi misses with an uppercut.
Wannanen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yamaguchi throws a lazy right hand but Wannanen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Yamaguchi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wannanen fails in his attempt to clinch.

Wannanen moves into range and clinches up with Yamaguchi.
Wannanen throws an elbow that misses.
Yamaguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wannanen misses with an elbow strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Yamaguchi.
Wannanen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wannanen lands with a left to the head.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wannanen blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wannanen presses Yamaguchi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wannanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wannanen misses with an elbow strike.
Wannanen lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Wannanen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi pushes Wannanen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamaguchi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yamaguchi prevents a body shot from Wannanen.
Wannanen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wannanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Wannanen takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wannanen throws an elbow but misses.
Yamaguchi lands an uppercut.
Yamaguchi works on Wannanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Yamaguchi is leaning against Wannanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Wannanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yamaguchi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Wannanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Wannanen misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wannanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wannanen tries to stall but Yamaguchi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yamaguchi cracks Wannanen with a nice body shot.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Wannanen is pushing Yamaguchi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yamaguchi avoids a wild elbow strike from Wannanen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Wannanen.
Wannanen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yamaguchi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wannanen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Yamaguchi avoids the elbow strike from Wannanen, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Yamaguchi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamaguchi.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Wannanen manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Wannanen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaguchi scrambles back to his feet.
Yamaguchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wannanen needs to keep his hands up - Yamaguchi had a free shot at his head there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Wannanen takes a step back to recover.
Wannanen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wannanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamaguchi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wannanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Wannanen moves out of range.
Wannanen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Some bone on bone action there as Wannanen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Wannanen moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Yamaguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yamaguchi 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
Kai Yamaguchi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Pekko Wannanen had this to say: 'That motherfucker got lucky man! I will crush him in a rematch!!'.