PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kian Mcvay (ranked 7757 p4p, 553 weight class) and Matsui Yamamoto (ranked 7088 p4p, 539 weight class). Mcvay comes to the cage accompanied by The xx -intro . The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Mcvay
vs
Yamamoto

150 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Pit Bull Development

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kian Mcvay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matsui Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto misses with the combination.
Yamamoto leaves Mcvay with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mcvay tries for a takedown but Yamamoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mcvay rushes Yamamoto and presses him up against the cage.
Yamamoto lands a left hand.

Mcvay breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Mcvay moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamamoto tests Mcvay's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mcvay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yamamoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Mcvay avoids it well.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Mcvay feinted with a counter takedown.
Mcvay shoots for a takedown but Yamamoto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kian Mcvay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mcvay counters by moving into the clinch.
Mcvay is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to break free.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamamoto tries to circle away but Mcvay has him pinned against the cage.
Mcvay blocks a body shot from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.

Mcvay closes the distance and clinches.
Mcvay tries to pull guard but Yamamoto holds him up against the cage and eventually Mcvay drops back down to his feet.
Yamamoto is trying to force a seperation but Mcvay has the dominant position.
Yamamoto working hard to break the clinch.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mcvay gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Mcvay controlling the action here.

Mcvay seems to be working for a kimura but Yamamoto defends the submission attempt.
Yamamoto told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcvay is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcvay is looking to advance position but Yamamoto won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcvay is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yamamoto is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Yamamoto pushes Mcvay off looking to stand but Mcvay dives back in and keeps control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mcvay stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Yamamoto misses the shot to the body.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Mcvay. Mcvay gets slowly back to his feet.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mcvay shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense.
Yamamoto slaps away a takedown attempt from Mcvay, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Mcvay closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcvay wants a takedown but no success here.
Yamamoto misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamamoto wants to get back to striking at distance but Mcvay won't allow it.
Yamamoto wants to break the clinch but can't.

Mcvay tightens his grip and picks Yamamoto up, before dumping him to the ground. Yamamoto manages to land in guard.
Mcvay is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Mcvay is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mcvay prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matsui Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yamamoto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Mcvay moves into range and clinches up with Yamamoto.

Mcvay manages to break the clinch.

Yamamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yamamoto stalling in the clinch but Mcvay improves position.
Yamamoto content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mcvay is stalling here.
Mcvay wants a takedown.

Mcvay manages to break the clinch.

Yamamoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto wants to break free but Mcvay has control.
Yamamoto is stalling here.
Yamamoto wants to break the clinch but can't.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto forces Mcvay back against the cage and clinches.

Mcvay breaks the clinch.
Mcvay throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mcvay slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yamamoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mcvay rushes Yamamoto and presses him up against the cage.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamamoto looking to throw knees to the head but Mcvay is blocking nicely.
Matsui Yamamoto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Mcvay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kian Mcvay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yamamoto enables Mcvay to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yamamoto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Yamamoto controls Mcvay momentarily but Mcvay frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Mcvay haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mcvay not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mcvay working some strikes from top position.
Mcvay being controlled here momentarily.
Mcvay not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yamamoto controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kian Mcvay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcvay stays in close to Yamamoto's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown.
Mcvay wants to clinch.
Yamamoto is looking to land body kicks.

Yamamoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yamamoto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mcvay changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yamamoto fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kian Mcvay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto slaps away a takedown attempt from Mcvay, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mcvay shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well. He's pushed Mcvay's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mcvay shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Yamamoto moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mcvay has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mcvay rushes Yamamoto and presses him up against the cage.
Yamamoto wants to get back to striking at distance but Mcvay won't allow it.
Mcvay goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yamamoto prevents it.
Mcvay has Yamamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mcvay swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mcvay decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mcvay performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matsui Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcvay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamamoto is fending him off so far but Mcvay persists. Nope, Yamamoto circles away and we're back to standing.
Mcvay fails with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto wants to land a leg kick but Mcvay is out of range.

Mcvay fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yamamoto, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mcvay closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yamamoto to the mat! Yamamoto manages to get full guard.
Mcvay sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yamamoto pushes Mcvay off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Yamamoto. Those never looked like landing.
Mcvay appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Yamamoto looks to throw the jab but Mcvay is out of range.
Mcvay is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Mcvay gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcvay takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Mcvay escapes and gets back to his feet.
Yamamoto throws a nice looking combination but Mcvay bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yamamoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Mcvay with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kian Mcvay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mcvay takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in but Mcvay avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mcvay tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamamoto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mcvay gets a double leg takedown into Yamamoto's guard.
Mcvay with a nice head shot there.
Mcvay won't allow Yamamoto to get back to his feet.
Mcvay content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Mcvay is controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamamoto can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mcvay sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch but Mcvay is avoiding it.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up but Mcvay circles away and keeps his distance.
Yamamoto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mcvay pinned against the cage. Mcvay gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four 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.
Mcvay doesn't manage to clinch there - Yamamoto circles away.
Mcvay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamamoto is fending him off so far but Mcvay persists. Nope, Yamamoto circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
Mcvay shoots in and drives through. Yamamoto sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mcvay is defended easily by Yamamoto.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamamoto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yamamoto feints a jab promting Mcvay to slip. Yamamoto then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Mcvay slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Matsui Yamamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mcvay shoots and misses
and Yamamoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kian Mcvay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mcvay moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matsui Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yamamoto winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sano scores the fight for Matsui Yamamoto!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Matsui Yamamoto!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Matsui Yamamoto!

Matsui Yamamoto wins by unanimous decision!
In defeat, Kian Mcvay stepped up to the mic, saying 'Train harder and I'll be back '.