PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Katsuya Yasumi (ranked 1759 p4p, 181 weight class) and Marcus Dantes (ranked 2164 p4p, 220 weight class). Yasumi comes to the cage accompanied by Lunchmoney Lewis-Real Thing. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yasumi
vs
Dantes

188 cm
33
250 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

200 cm
39
250 lbs
38 - 20 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter
IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsuya Yasumi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marcus Dantes!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dantes clinches with his opponent.
Yasumi blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Yasumi manages to break the clinch.
Dantes wants to clinch up but Yasumi keeps it at a distance.
Yasumi is looking to counter with head kicks.
Dantes wants to clinch up but Yasumi keeps it at a distance.
Dantes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yasumi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dantes to score with a decent uppercut.
Dantes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yasumi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yasumi looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Dantes clinches up against the cage.
Yasumi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dantes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dantes darts in and clinches Yasumi up against the cage.

Dantes manages to break the clinch.
Dantes cracks Yasumi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Yasumi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dantes.
Yasumi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dantes rushes Yasumi and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Dantes.
Dantes is trying to maintain a safe position but Yasumi gets an underhook and turns Dantes into the cage.
Dantes can't find room to land a body shot as Yasumi controls the action.
Yasumi wants a takedown but no success here.
Yasumi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Yasumi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dantes is defending well.

Dantes breaks from the clinch.

Dantes moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Yasumi gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dantes regains guard.
Yasumi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dantes wants to get back to his feet but Yasumi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Yasumi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yasumi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dantes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Yasumi dives into side control.
Dantes prevents Yasumi from improving position.
Yasumi staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasumi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dantes keeps working.
Dantes is pushing Yasumi's head away, looking to escape. Yasumi manages to hold on to the position though.
Yasumi looks up at the clock and then as Dantes takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Yasumi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dantes is trying to buck Yasumi off.
A lull in the action here.
Yasumi trying to control the action but Dantes is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Yasumi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Dantes!
Dantes wants to control but Yasumi is having none of it.
Dantes's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dantes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yasumi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yasumi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Dantes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Yasumi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dantes throws a body shot but no joy.
Dantes wants to clinch.
Yasumi is looking to counter punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dantes misses with a lunging right hand

and Yasumi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yasumi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yasumi trying to control but Dantes is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yasumi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Dantes for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yasumi tries to free his leg and advance position but Dantes is retaining full guard.
Yasumi pushes down on Dantes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Yasumi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yasumi is looking to advance position but Dantes won't allow it.
Yasumi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dantes is trying to stand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Dantes has Yasumi up against the cage in a clinch.
Yasumi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dantes after a bit of a struggle.
Dantes lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yasumi backwards.
Yasumi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yasumi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yasumi looking for a takedown.
Dantes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yasumi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dantes pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuya Yasumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dantes moves into range and clinches up with Yasumi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dantes manages to break the clinch.
Dantes is looking to clinch.
Dantes is looking to clinch.

Dantes forces Yasumi back against the cage and clinches.
Dantes stalling in the clinch but Yasumi improves position.
Dantes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yasumi's elbow.

Yasumi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A lazy body kick from Dantes

and Yasumi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dantes won't be happy with that.

Dantes sneaks out the side door and pushes Yasumi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dantes wants to clinch

and Yasumi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yasumi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yasumi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Yasumi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dantes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yasumi won't allow Dantes to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yasumi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Yasumi pushing down on Dantes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marcus Dantes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dantes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yasumi throws a quick counter kick to the body but Dantes avoids it.
Dantes tries to close the distance and clinch but Yasumi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yasumi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Dantes is looking to clinch.
Yasumi tries to counter with a takedown but Dantes is quick to defend against it.

Dantes clinches up against the cage.
Yasumi looking for a takedown.
Yasumi wants a takedown.
Yasumi tries to score a body lock takedown but Dantes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuya Yasumi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dantes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Marcus Dantes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dantes stops a takedown attempt from Yasumi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Dantes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Yasumi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dantes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dantes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yasumis head.
A shot in the inside from Dantes.
Yasumi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dantes is defending well.

Dantes jumps guard and drags Yasumi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dantes wants to stand up but Yasumi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yasumi controlling from the top position.
Yasumi lands a couple of digs.
Yasumi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yasumi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yasumi wants to control from the top but Dantes keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dantes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dantes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yasumi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dantes tries to close the distance and clinch but Yasumi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Dantes drives through and clinches with Yasumi against the cage.

Dantes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dantes moves into the clinch.
Marcus Dantes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yasumi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Dantes after a bit of a struggle.
Still in the clinch, Dantes scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasumi throws an elbow that misses.
Yasumi is trying to force a seperation but Dantes has the dominant position.
Yasumi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dantes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yasumi wants a takedown.
Yasumi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dantes is defending well.

Yasumi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dantes is looking to clinch but Yasumi is avoiding it.
Yasumi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dantes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yasumi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Dantes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yasumi looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Dantes throws a series of punches but Yasumi avoids them all with ease.
Yasumi attempts a counter takedown but Dantes avoids it well and moves away.
Crunch! Dantes slams his shin into Yasumi's torso.

Dantes has closed the distance and engaged Yasumi in a clinch.
Katsuya Yasumi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dantes.

Dantes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yasumi swats away the attempt to clinch by Dantes.
Dantes fails to land with a series of punches.
Dantes connects with a body shot.
Dantes is looking to clinch but Yasumi is avoiding it.
Yasumi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dantes sprawls and moves away.
Dantes paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Dantes throws a head kick that misses.
Yasumi tries to counter with a takedown but Dantes is quick to defend against it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dantes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dantes, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Dantes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dantes 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Dantes!
Marcus Dantes took some time post fight to say the following; 'Fuck off.'.
The defeated Katsuya Yasumi had this to say: 'Tokidoki anata ga ochiru'.