PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakanawa Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto has chosen Awesome God - R-swift as his entrance music. Hakanawa Yamamoto will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Atkins
vs
Yamamoto

225 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

SHINTO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahmad Atkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hakanawa Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamamoto tries to keep at a distance but Atkins has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Atkins has him pressed against the cage.
Yamamoto tries to break the clinch but Atkins is controlling the position.

Atkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yamamoto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Atkins counters with a takedown into side control.
Yamamoto is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Atkins is controlling him well.
Atkins lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Atkins works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Atkins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Atkins lands a nice forearm strike.
Atkins working the head and body with strikes.

Atkins has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Atkins avoids the head kick by Yamamoto.
Atkins lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamamoto misses with a shot to the body

and Atkins moves into the clinch.

Atkins manages to break the clinch.
Atkins avoids the head kick by Yamamoto.
Atkins is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses the shot to the body.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yamamoto tries to bum rush Atkins with a series of wild strikes but Atkins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
It looked like Atkins was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Atkins scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Atkins drops an elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Atkins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Atkins drops an elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Atkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Atkins scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Atkins in particular looking to stall.
Atkins drops an elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Atkins is taking a breather. Yamamoto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Atkins drops an elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Atkins controlling the action here.
Atkins winds up and cracks Yamamoto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Atkins 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.
Yamamoto pushes Atkins off looking to stand but Atkins dives back in and keeps control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Atkins decides to stand and escape the position.

Atkins gets a clinch.

Atkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamamoto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Yamamoto

and Atkins counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yamamoto won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atkins cracks Yamamoto with a big elbow.
Atkins lands an elbow.

Atkins has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Yamamoto is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Atkins yanks on the arm and Yamamoto is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Atkins.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ahmad Atkins!
Hakanawa Yamamoto spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll grow from this, and come back better next time.'.