PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zackary Schultz (ranked 24779 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kojito Yamate (ranked 25445 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kojito Yamate was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Schultz
vs
Yamate

158 cm
19
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

176 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zackary Schultz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kojito Yamate!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schultz checks a leg kick nicely.
Yamate throws a jab but it's blocked by Schultz.
Yamate throws a head kick but Schultz moves out of range.
Schultz tries to land a leg kick but Yamate saw it coming and moves away.
Schultz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yamate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yamate pivots, looking for a leg kick but Schultz is out of range and Yamate settles back down.
Schultz seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Schultz throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamate throws a one two combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamate throws a low kick but it's checked well by Schultz.
Yamate throws a sloppy head kick and Schultz moves out of range easily.
Schultz shoots in for a takedown but Yamate shows good takedown defense.
Yamate with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamate fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Yamate throws a body kick that misses.
Schultz moves away from the strike by Yamate.
Schultz avoids the head kick by Yamate.
Yamate looks winded!
Yamate lets loose with a powerful body kick. Schultz will feel that in the morning.
Yamate misses with a low kick.
As Yamate tries to get set, Schultz tries to push him back and clinch up but Yamate manages to avoid the attempt.
Yamate steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Schultz.
Yamate tries a head kick but it misses.
Schultz tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Yamate manages to circle out of the way.
A slapping body kick lands there for Yamate.

Schultz looking to score a takedown here. Yamate is defending well but Schultz drives through and ends up in Yamate's guard.
Yamate wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Schultz manages to pass to side control.

Schultz is taking a breather. Yamate 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schultz escapes and gets back to his feet.
Schultz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yamate unleashes a big counter combination but Schultz bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Schultz has closed the distance and engaged Yamate in a clinch.

Schultz gets control of Yamate's arms and successfully pulls guard. Schultz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Schultz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yamate manages to get himself to full guard.

Schultz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Schultz stands up from Yamate's guard - Schultz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yamate throws an overhand right that lands on Schultz's shoulder, as Schultz tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamate uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Schultz.
Yamate attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Schultz avoids the head kick by Yamate.
Yamate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Schultz tries to clinch there but Yamate circles away.
Yamate tries to work over Schultz's front leg with a kick but Schultz checks it.

Schultz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yamate napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Schultz decides to stand back up. Schultz steps back and let's Yamate get back to his feet.
Kojito Yamate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schultz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamate keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zackary Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schultz misses with a straight left.
Schultz fails to land the takedown.
Yamate thinks about the counter body kick.
Schultz is looking to clinch.
Yamate misses with a body kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Schultz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Yamate tries a head kick but it misses.
Schultz tries to clinch but Yamate moves out of range.
Yamate steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Schultz shoots in and drives through. Yamate sprawls well.
Schultz tries to clinch but Yamate moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamate misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yamate throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Schultz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yamate throws a leg kick but Schultz sees it coming and moves out of range.
Schultz is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Schultz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yamate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Schultz avoids a kick to the body.
Yamate misses with a straight left.
Schultz feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schultz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Schultz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yamate paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've been informed that Yamate has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Yamate is breathing heavily.
Schultz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Schultz misses with a body kick.
Yamate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schultz looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamate is just out of range.
Yamate tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamate fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Schultz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Schultz misses with an uppercut. Yamate saw that one coming.
Schultz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Schultz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamate.
Schultz wants to clinch.
Kojito Yamate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Schultz looking to score a takedown here. Yamate is defending well but Schultz drives through and ends up in Yamate's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Schultz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Yamate, up you get!
Schultz is looking to clinch.
Yamate looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
A jab from Schultz does it's job there.
Schultz connects with a body shot that sends Yamate's belly button to the back.
Schultz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yamate does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Schultz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamate.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some wild striking there from Yamate.
Schultz feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamate thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yamate throws a leg kick

and Schultz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Schultz gets to his feet - Yamate follows without any prompting.
Schultz dives in and grabs Yamate's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamate pushes down on Schultz's head and hops out.
Schultz shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamate sprawls well. He's pushed Schultz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yamate is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zackary Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamate throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Schultz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yamate uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Schultz.
Schultz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yamate avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schultz is looking to land body kicks.
Kojito Yamate seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body kick from Yamate.
Schultz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamate's waist but Yamate gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Schultz off to one side.
Yamate listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Schultz takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Schultz is looking to land body kicks.
That kick from Yamate tenderised Schultz's leg. Schultz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Schultz fails with an attempt to clinch.

Yamate gets caught napping as Schultz dives in and scores a takedown. Yamate manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kojito Yamate 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! And we move into the final round!

Yamate thows a leg kick but Schultz checks it

and Schultz moves into the clinch.
Yamate tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Schultz is trying to pull guard but Yamate has him pressed against the cage.
Yamate lands an elbow that stopped Schultz in his tracks for a moment.
Schultz is looking to control Yamate's arms but Yamate gets an underhook and turns him. Now Schultz has his back to the cage.
Schultz taking a breather.

Yamate's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schultz ducks under a wild hook from Yamate.
Kojito Yamate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamate takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Schultz drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yamate is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Schultz gets to his feet. Yamate looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamate swats away the attempt to clinch by Schultz.
Schultz moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromYamate.
Yamate slaps away a takedown attempt from Schultz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yamate lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Schultz scores with a takedown into Yamate's guard.

Schultz stands up and waves to Yamate to follow him.
Yamate feints and then cracks Schultz's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Schultz down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schultz has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zackary Schultz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamate swinging wildly here.
Schultz takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Schultz forces Yamate back against the cage and clinches.

Schultz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Schultz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Schultz is on top in guard.

Schultz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Schultz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Schultz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Schultz stands up and waves to Yamate to follow him.
Schultz misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Schultz.
Schultz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yamate sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamate throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Schultz.

Schultz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Schultz prevents Yamate from standing back up.
Schultz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kojito Yamate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Schultz'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.
Zackary Schultz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schultz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zackary Schultz.
I think Yamate 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kojito Yamate!