PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Mendoza (ranked 25485 p4p, 0 weight class) and Satoshi Yamashita (ranked 3807 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Mendoza
vs
Yamashita

166 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Salvatore Mendoza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Satoshi Yamashita !
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendoza shoots for a takedown but Yamashita saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yamashita shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendoza defends it nicely.
Mendoza is looking for a counter combo.
No luck for Yamashita with that takedown attempt.
Yamashita throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Mendoza.

It looks like Salvatore Mendoza has been cut.
Yamashita scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yamashita decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendoza tries to get to full guard but Yamashita has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yamashita connects with a nice short shot to Mendoza's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamashita sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Yamashita wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendoza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Yamashita is working for a kimura but Mendoza is defending it quite comfortably.
Mendoza is looking to improve his position.
Mendoza could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Well, if Yamashita is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Yamashita wants to control but Mendoza is keeping him busy.
Yamashita seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Yamashita shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza is trying to get back to full guard.
Mendoza is staying active underneath Yamashita , who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yamashita wants to pass to mount but Mendoza is defending the position.

Yamashita is looking for a kimura but Mendoza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yamashita to get the leverage.

That's four 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.
Mendoza is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mendoza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yamashita wants to pass the guard but Mendoza is defending well.
Yamashita looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamashita looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mendoza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Satoshi Yamashita dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Mendoza's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mendoza keeps the fight on the outside.

Yamashita darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yamashita has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mendoza tries to roll over but Yamashita keeps him under control.

Yamashita is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Yamashita is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendoza is looking for a sweep. Yamashita is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamashita seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Yamashita is stalling here. Mendoza is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Yamashita seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Mendoza has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Yamashita can't do much from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamashita is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to control but Yamashita is keeping him busy.

Mendoza tries for a kimura but Yamashita is defending well.
Yamashita tries to control but Mendoza manages to take his back.

Mendoza is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Yamashita staying busy and making it hard for Mendoza to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza has the hooks in. Yamashita is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Yamashita defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mendoza's arms.
Yamashita is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Mendoza has got his arm under Yamashita 's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Yamashita has spun round into Mendoza's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Mendoza is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mendoza might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamashita throws a big elbow that misses.
Yamashita wants to control from the top but Mendoza keeps moving.
Mendoza is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mendoza keeping moving, preventing Yamashita from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mendoza is pulling down on Yamashita 's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Mendoza dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Salvatore Mendoza's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yamashita connects with a body shot.

Mendoza gets caught napping as Yamashita dives in and scores a takedown. Mendoza manages to retain guard.
Yamashita is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yamashita pushes down on Mendoza's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Yamashita throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yamashita is trying to control. Mendoza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamashita wants to stand but Mendoza has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Yamashita drops an elbow to the side of Mendoza's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamashita .
Yamashita thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yamashita is keen to just control but Mendoza is a slippery customer.
Yamashita not doing much here.
Mendoza trying to control here.
Mendoza is looking for a sweep. Yamashita is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Satoshi Yamashita has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Mendoza is staying active underneath Yamashita , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Mendoza gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Mendoza is working an open guard so Yamashita takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Yamashita is pawing at Mendoza, trying to feel the distance before throwing out a cross that crashes into Mendoza's nose. Mendoza is badly hurt! Yamashita pounces, throwing wild strikes as both fighters end up on the ground! Mendoza tries desperately to hold on but Yamashita is relentless in his assault! As Mendoza receives an ever increasing number of unanswered strikes the referee pulls Yamashita away and this one is in the books!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Satoshi Yamashita !