PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between King Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shinya Ichiharo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yang
vs
Ichiharo

185 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, King Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Ichiharo!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ichiharo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Ichiharo tries to get set, Yang tries to push him back and clinch up but Ichiharo manages to avoid the attempt.
Yang fails to land the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ichiharo.
Ichiharo scores with a sloppy right hand. Yang should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang slaps away a takedown attempt from Ichiharo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
King Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Ichiharo.
Yang dives in for a single leg takedown but Ichiharo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A head kick from Ichiharo lands but Yang takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichiharo misses with the combination.
Yang tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ichiharo defends well and Yang ends up having to push Ichiharo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ichiharo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ichiharo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yang keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Yang won't allow Ichiharo to pass to mount.
Yang gets full guard.
Ichiharo wants to control from the top but Yang keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yang striking off his back but it's not causing Ichiharo any problems.
Ichiharo looking to pass the guard.

Yang looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ichiharo wants to control from the top but Yang keeps moving.
Yang striking off his back but it's not causing Ichiharo any problems.

Ichiharo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yang has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ichiharo has managed to get both his arms back between Yang's legs - danger averted.
Yang pulls Ichiharo in close to his closed guard and prevents Ichiharo from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichiharo trying to control the position from guard on top but Yang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ichiharo postures up in Yang's guard and throws a big left but Yang blocks it.
Yang keeping moving, preventing Ichiharo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ichiharo moves into the clinch.

Yang manages to break the clinch.
Ichiharo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Yang counters by moving into the clinch.

Yang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang dodges the punch combination from Ichiharo.
Ichiharo shoots in for a takedown but Yang shows good takedown defense.
Ichiharo looks winded!

Yang changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ichiharo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Yang taking a breather here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shinya Ichiharo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yang closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ichiharo did well to prevent Yang getting side control.

Ichiharo has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Yang is on him like a limpet, forcing Ichiharo back against the cage.

Yang jumps into guard, dragging Ichiharo to the mat.
Ichiharo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yang seems keen to control Ichiharo's posture.
Ichiharo trying to control but Yang is working from the bottom.
Yang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ichiharo wants to stand but Yang is controlling his posture from full guard.
Yang wants to get back to his feet but Ichiharo passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ichiharo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yang has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yang avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ichiharo.
Ichiharo wants to take a breather but Yang is having none of it.
Yang keeping hold of Ichiharo's head, controlling as best he can.
Ichiharo wants to stand up but Yang has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ichiharo trying to control from half guard but Yang is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yang is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ichiharo fails with the takedown
and Yang counters with a left and a right that stings Ichiharo.
Ichiharo is breathing heavily.
Ichiharo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ichiharo shoots in for a takedown but Yang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yang shoots in for a takedown but Ichiharo shows good takedown defense.
Ichiharo wants to counter with a clinch but Yang pushes him away.
Ichiharo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yang manages to avoid it.
As Ichiharo tries to get set, Yang tries to push him back and clinch up but Ichiharo manages to avoid the attempt.
Ichiharo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shinya Ichiharo seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ichiharo.
Ichiharo shoots in looking for a takedown. Yang tries to sprawl out of it but Ichiharo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yang quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
King Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Ichiharo.

Ichiharo drives through and clinches with Yang against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Yang.
Yang leaning against his opponent.
Yang pushes off an throws an elbow but Ichiharo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yang controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ichiharo dives in for a single leg takedown but Yang sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
King Yang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ichiharo misses with a takedown

and Yang counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Yang sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shinya Ichiharo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yang drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ichiharo pushes Yang off and gets back to his feet.
Shinya Ichiharo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ichiharo throws out a loose jab but Yang uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ichiharo shoots for a takedown but Yang saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ichiharo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang throws a head kick but Ichiharo moves out of range.
Ichiharo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ichiharo.
Yang throws a big counter combination but Ichiharo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Yang looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Yang's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ichiharo trying to control the position.

Yang stands up from Ichiharo's guard - Yang perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yang stuffs the takedown attempt from Ichiharo. Ichiharo gets slowly back to his feet.
King Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shinya Ichiharo.
Yang goes for a double leg but Ichiharo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ichiharo continues to drive forward.
Ichiharo tries for a takedown but Yang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Yang as Ichiharo shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yang shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yang showed some decent athleticism there.
Ichiharo is looking to get back to is feet but Yang passes into side control.
Yang controls the position.
Ichiharo struggling a bit here.
Yang controlling from side mount.
Yang in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang taking a breather here.
Ichiharo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yang has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Yang looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yang is staying tight to Ichiharo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
King Yang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinya Ichiharo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ichiharo tries to bench press Yang off him but Yang keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
King Yang showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ichiharo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Shinya Ichiharo!