PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lowe (ranked 995 p4p, 115 weight class) and Kotetsu Yamamoto (ranked 1119 p4p, 127 weight class). Mike Lowe could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kotetsu Yamamoto's chin.

Lowe
vs
Yamamoto

172 cm
28
153 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

168 cm
31
149 lbs
23 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Lowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Kotetsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Lowe avoids it well.
Yamamoto takes a swing at Lowe's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Lowe. Those never looked like landing.
Lowe stuffs the takedown attempt from Yamamoto. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet.
Yamamoto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lowe.

Yamamoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lowe tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yamamoto is in Lowe's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Yamamoto throws a big right hand that misses.

Lowe looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.

Lowe has his foot on Yamamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yamamoto works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lowe working for submissions but it's allowed Yamamoto to get to half guard.
Yamamoto prevents Lowe from improving his position.
Lowe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yamamoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Lowe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto forces his way into half guard.
Lowe is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yamamoto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Yamamoto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lowe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lowe wants to get back to full guard.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura but Lowe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yamamoto to get the leverage.
Lowe is trying to get back to full guard.

Lowe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowe tries to roll over but Yamamoto keeps him under control.
Yamamoto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lowe keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Yamamoto working the head and body with strikes.
Yamamoto lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Yamamoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lowe tries to roll over but Yamamoto keeps him under control.
Yamamoto landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lowe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Lowe has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Yamamoto is on him like a limpet, forcing Lowe back against the cage.
Yamamoto jumps guard but Lowe stands there with Yamamoto around his waist. Yamamoto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yamamoto blocks an uppercut.
Yamamoto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short left from Lowe.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lowe is looking to clinch but Yamamoto is avoiding it.
Lowe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lowe throws a head kick but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Lowe misses with a looping right.
Lowe jabs Yamamoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lowe tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Yamamoto connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lowe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Yamamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lowe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamamoto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lowe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lowe lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lowe is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Lowe circles away and we're back to standing.
Mike Lowe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kotetsu Yamamoto.
Lowe scores with a jab to the head.
Lowe misses with a looping left.
A combination from Lowe does no damage.
Yamamoto is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Lowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yamamoto with the counter takedown but Lowe avoids it easily.
Yamamoto lands a really nice looking cross but Lowe seems unphased.
Yamamoto slips under a jab.
Yamamoto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lowe avoids it really well and circles away.
Lowe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lowe throws a right hand that misses

and Yamamoto counters with a single leg into guard. Lowe didn't expect that.
Lowe keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto works over Lowe with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kotetsu Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lowe scores with a push kick.
Lowe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mike Lowe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamamoto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lowe connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamamoto scrambles back to his feet.
Yamamoto moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamamoto with the counter takedown but Lowe avoids it easily.
Lowe lands a nice looking body shot.
A lazy left from Yamamoto finds it's target.
Lowe throws a sloppy head kick
and Yamamoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamamoto throws a hook but Lowe avoids it easily.
Yamamoto defending well as Lowe loads up on a big left hand.
Yamamoto now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Yamamoto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lowe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lowe explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lowe enables Yamamoto to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lowe manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lowe has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Yamamoto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamamoto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lowe needs to keep his hands up - Yamamoto had a free shot at his head there.
Lowe throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Lowe.
Lowe lands a high kick!
Lowe misses with a wild body shot.
Lowe misses with an uppercut. Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Lowe lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice cross by Lowe.
Yamamoto just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamamoto throws a big shot that misses.
Yamamoto throws a hook but Lowe avoids it easily.
Yamamoto gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yamamoto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Yamamoto checks a leg kick.
Yamamoto misses with a straight right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamamoto takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses with a looping left.
Some wild striking there from Lowe.
A slow jab from Yamamoto misses its intended target.
Mike Lowe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lowe lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A shot to the body from Lowe misses
and Yamamoto counters with a stiff right hand.
Yamamoto has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
A swing and a miss from Yamamoto.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamamoto. Lowe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lowe throws a push kick but Yamamoto slaps the foot to one side.
Sloppy strikes from Lowe. Those never looked like landing.
Yamamoto throws out a counter right but Lowe avoids it with no problem.
Lowe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamamoto swinging wildly here.
Lowe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yamamoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lowe.
Lowe looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamamoto is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Lowe slips under a jab from Yamamoto.
Lowe throws a jab when Yamamoto was well out of range.
Yamamoto misses with a combination
and Lowe counters with a left and a right that stings Yamamoto.
Yamamoto takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lowe misses with a body kick.
Yamamoto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Lowe forces Yamamoto back against the cage and clinches.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown. No joy.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Lowe.
Yamamoto paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lowe misses with a kick to the body.
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Lowe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some bone on bone action there as Yamamoto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mike Lowe is winning the standup battle so far.
Lowe throws an overhand right that lands on Yamamoto's shoulder, as Yamamoto tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamamoto is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Yamamoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lowe moves away.
Yamamoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Lowe.
Lowe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Yamamoto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto looks to land a right hand but Lowe moved out of range.
Lowe throws a big shot that misses.
A shot to the body from Lowe misses
enabling Yamamoto to counter with a crisp jab.
Lowe gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Yamamoto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lowe quickly recovers to half guard.

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

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lowe throws the left hand but Yamamoto avoids the punch easily.
Yamamoto throws a hook but Lowe blocks it.
Lowe misses with a hook to the body
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Lowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Lowe dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lowe misses with an uppercut. Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Yamamoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lowe is looking for a counter combo.
Lowe ducks under a wild hook from Yamamoto.
Lowe misses the jab.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Lowe avoids it well.
Lowe scores with a head kick. Yamamoto tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Yamamoto throws a body shot but no joy.
Lowe tests Yamamoto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Lowe lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Lowe throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yamamoto looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yamamoto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lowe was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamamoto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lowe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamamoto.
Lowe scores with a leg kick.
Lowe chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yamamoto works Lowe's body with a nice hook.
Yamamoto stuns Lowe with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowe throws a body punch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Yamamoto scores with a jab. Lowe acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Yamamoto misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamamoto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lowe moves out of range as Yamamoto strikes.
Yamamoto missing with a left hand there. Lowe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamamoto throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lowe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A punch combination from Yamamoto misses.
Lowe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yamamoto dodges the punch combination from Lowe.
Yamamoto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lowe finds it's way round the side to connect with Yamamoto's head.
Yamamoto slips under a jab from Lowe.
Yamamoto feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lowes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto misses the body punch
and Lowe counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Yamamoto is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lowe cracks Yamamoto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lowe throws a lazy head kick
and Lowe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lowe misses with a straight right.
Yamamoto feints the counter takedown.
Yamamoto blocks a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lowe, as that shot connected.
Lowe misses with a low kick.
Lowe looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Lowe dips to his left and cracks Yamamoto with an uppercut!
Yamamoto looks to land a combination but Lowe avoids it well.
Lowe lands a jab to Yamamoto's midsection.
Yamamoto takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lowe throws a head kick but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Yamamoto misses the body punch
and Lowe counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lowe ducks under a wild hook from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto stuns Lowe with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Yamamoto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lowe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lowe sneaks out the side door and pushes Yamamoto away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Yamamoto throws a lazy right hand but Lowe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Lowe wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Lowe fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yamamoto, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamamoto tries to score a body lock takedown but Lowe shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lowe is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lowe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.

Lowe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice defenses there by Yamamoto.
Lowe looks for the body kick but Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Lowe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamamoto manages to avoid it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Lowe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lowe looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Lowe misses with a body kick.
Yamamoto throws a right hand that Lowe ducks under and follows up with a left that Lowe also avoids with ease.
Lowe scores with a push kick.
Lowe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lowe scores with a body shot.
Yamamoto dips to his left and cracks Lowe with an uppercut!
Yamamoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Lowe clinches.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lowe lands the left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lowe throws a body shot but no joy.
Lowe looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Yamamoto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Lowe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Lowe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lowe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Lowe!
Mike Lowe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.