PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 53 p4p, 9 weight class) and Francis Fitzpatrick (ranked 104 p4p, 12 weight class). Yamaguchi comes to the cage accompanied by Yama Yama. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yamaguchi
vs
Fitzpatrick

176 cm
31
160 lbs
25 - 7 - 1

180 cm
27
165 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kai Yamaguchi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francis Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi scores with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yamaguchi.
Good standup being displayed there by Yamaguchi as he connects with a hook.
Fitzpatrick throws a series of punches but Yamaguchi avoids them all with ease.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Fitzpatrick counters with a nice uppercut.
Fitzpatrick avoids a kick to the body.
Fitzpatrick looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fitzpatrick rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamaguchi with a hook.
Fitzpatrick uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yamaguchi has time to react.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi thows a leg kick but Fitzpatrick checks it
and Fitzpatrick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yamaguchi defending well as Fitzpatrick loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzpatrick is just out of range.
A nice side step and Fitzpatrick releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Fitzpatrick misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaguchi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yamaguchi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yamaguchi lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick clinches up against the cage.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamaguchi tries to throw a body punch but Fitzpatrick avoids it by throwing Yamaguchi back against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Fitzpatrick.
Still in the clinch, Yamaguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Yamaguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Yamaguchi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Fitzpatrick lands with a right to the head.
Yamaguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
Fitzpatrick misses with a body punch.
A short right from Fitzpatrick on the inside.
Fitzpatrick scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yamaguchi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fitzpatrick scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yamaguchi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Fitzpatrick is working Yamaguchi over against the cage.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamaguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Fitzpatrick controls the action.
Fitzpatrick tries a body shot but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Yamaguchi digs a right hand into Fitzpatrick's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fitzpatrick's gas tank.
Fitzpatrick pushes off an throws an elbow but Yamaguchi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick has Yamaguchi pushed against the cage.
Yamaguchi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Yamaguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Fitzpatrick takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fitzpatrick misses with a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fitzpatrick.
A left hand lands to the body for Yamaguchi.
A right handed body shot lands from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fitzpatrick can't find room to land a body shot as Yamaguchi controls the action.

Yamaguchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitzpatrick rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fitzpatrick wants to clinch.
Yamaguchi tried to counter with a leg kick but Fitzpatrick avoided it.
Nice jab there from Yamaguchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fitzpatrick checks a leg kick.
Yamaguchi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fitzpatrick misses with a looping right.
Yamaguchi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Fitzpatrick strikes.
Yamaguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick wants to counter with a clinch but Yamaguchi pushes him away.
Fitzpatrick works Yamaguchi's body with a nice hook.
Fitzpatrick swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fitzpatrick manages to avoid it.
Fitzpatrick throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Fitzpatrick darts in and clinches Yamaguchi up against the cage.
Fitzpatrick can't find room to land a body shot as Yamaguchi controls the action.
Fitzpatrick blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Fitzpatrick on the inside.
Fitzpatrick blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzpatrick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yamaguchi working aggressively here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzpatrick goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fitzpatrick makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fitzpatrick lands a right hand.
Fitzpatrick gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Fitzpatrick gets through Yamaguchi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi blocks a body shot from Fitzpatrick.
A nice left hand lands by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fitzpatrick throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi blocks the elbow strike.
Fitzpatrick trying to stall but Yamaguchi improves his position.
Yamaguchi prevents a body shot from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Fitzpatrick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Fitzpatrick dominated that round.
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.

A big right from Fitzpatrick misses.
Yamaguchi looks to land a right hand but Fitzpatrick moved out of range.
Yamaguchi throws the left hand but Fitzpatrick avoids the punch easily.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Fitzpatrick.
Kai Yamaguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Fitzpatrick scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yamaguchi doesn't seem bothered though.
Yamaguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fitzpatrick fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamaguchi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fitzpatrick steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Yamaguchi throws an off balance right hand
and Fitzpatrick counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fitzpatrick misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fitzpatrick checks a leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick which misses Fitzpatrick's front leg but catches the back leg as Fitzpatrick tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Fitzpatrick throws a nice looking combination but Yamaguchi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yamaguchi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yamaguchi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Fitzpatrick moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Nice defenses there by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A swing and a miss from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi drops his hands momentarily and Fitzpatrick takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Yamaguchi misses with an uppercut.
Fitzpatrick blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick stalks Yamaguchi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Yamaguchi's face. Yamaguchi staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzpatrick throws a hook to the side of Yamaguchi's head but Yamaguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamaguchi throwing a counter right hand but Fitzpatrick manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Fitzpatrick's front leg with a kick but Fitzpatrick checks it.
Yamaguchi lands with a nice body punch.
Yamaguchi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Fitzpatrick rushes Yamaguchi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fitzpatrick tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fitzpatrick blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fitzpatrick misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamaguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Fitzpatrick misses with the head strike.
Fitzpatrick throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Fitzpatrick fails to land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fitzpatrick as Yamaguchi tries to tie him up.
Fitzpatrick throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fitzpatrick effectively controlling the action here.
Fitzpatrick blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamaguchi blocks the elbow strike.
A nice left hand lands by Fitzpatrick.
With the fighters up against the cage, Fitzpatrick throws an elbow but misses.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fitzpatrick misses with a body punch.
Yamaguchi tries a body shot but Fitzpatrick blocks it.
Yamaguchi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Francis Fitzpatrick seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fitzpatrick creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzpatrick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yamaguchi lands a shot to the body.
Fitzpatrick lands an elbow that stopped Yamaguchi in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Kai Yamaguchi has been cut.
Fitzpatrick lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Fitzpatrick controls his hands.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Fitzpatrick's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fitzpatrick blocks an uppercut.
Fitzpatrick misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fitzpatrick lands an elbow inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitzpatrick lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
Good body shot from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yamaguchi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yamaguchi blocking some punches.
Yamaguchi blocks the elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right from Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Fitzpatrick has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Yamaguchi seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Fitzpatrick can turn it around.
Fitzpatrick throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
A short right from Yamaguchi on the inside.
Fitzpatrick's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yamaguchi lands an uppercut.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fitzpatrick misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Fitzpatrick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kai Yamaguchi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yamaguchi throws a leg kick that misses.
Yamaguchi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fitzpatrick throws out the jab.
Yamaguchi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi misses with a body kick.
Yamaguchi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick ducks under a wild hook from Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fitzpatrick misses with a body shot.
Yamaguchi is looking to counter with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Fitzpatrick misses its intended target.
Fitzpatrick misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzpatrick moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fitzpatrick! But no joy.
Nice jab there from Yamaguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Fitzpatrick to score with a decent uppercut.
Fitzpatrick swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi tries to land a front kick but Fitzpatrick steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fitzpatrick slips a straight right by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitzpatrick misses with a double jab.
Yamaguchi moves away from the strike by Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Fitzpatrick throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Fitzpatrick just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Fitzpatrick strikes.
Yamaguchi is looking to land body kicks.
Yamaguchi jabs Fitzpatrick to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yamaguchi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fitzpatrick on the side of the head.
Yamaguchi scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzpatrick throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Fitzpatrick moved out of range nicely.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzpatrick lands a glancing blow to the side of Yamaguchi's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzpatrick throws a lazy uppercut
and Yamaguchi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fitzpatrick takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yamaguchi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzpatrick misses with a double jab
and Yamaguchi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Fitzpatrick's knee momentarily.
Fitzpatrick gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fitzpatrick moves to clinch but Yamaguchi breaks away
and Yamaguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Fitzpatrick on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Fitzpatrick looks to land a left hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yamaguchi misses with a head kick.
Nice uppercut there from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Fitzpatrick's ribcage but misses.
Fitzpatrick uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yamaguchi is looking to score with low kicks.
Yamaguchi stuns Fitzpatrick with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fitzpatrick throws a hook but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Fitzpatrick swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Fitzpatrick stuns Yamaguchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzpatrick moves away.
Fitzpatrick jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yamaguchi throws a counter high kick but Fitzpatrick was just alert enough to avoid it.
Fitzpatrick tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzpatrick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick misses with a straight left.
Yamaguchi throws a quick counter kick to the body but Fitzpatrick avoids it.
Yamaguchi connects with a body shot that sends Fitzpatrick's belly button to the back.
Fitzpatrick misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamaguchi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Yamaguchi scores with a shot to the body.
Fitzpatrick misses with a straight right.
Yamaguchi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fitzpatrick walks into a jab.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice right hand.
Fitzpatrick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamaguchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fitzpatrick dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Kai Yamaguchi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yamaguchi misses with a hook

and Fitzpatrick counters by moving into the clinch.
Yamaguchi lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fitzpatrick holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch to the body.
A right hand to the body from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi tries a body shot but Fitzpatrick blocks it.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Yamaguchi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fitzpatrick tries to throw a body punch but Yamaguchi avoids it by throwing Fitzpatrick back against the cage.
Fitzpatrick lands with a left to the head.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fitzpatrick blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries to work over Yamaguchi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fitzpatrick slowing the pace effectively.
Yamaguchi avoids a wild elbow strike from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi dodges an elbow strike from Fitzpatrick.

Yamaguchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fitzpatrick walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fitzpatrick just misses with a punch to the body.
Fitzpatrick chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yamaguchi can pounce on him.
Yamaguchi tests Fitzpatrick's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fitzpatrick pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Fitzpatrick throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi is looking to counter with a body kick.
Yamaguchi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fitzpatrick checks the leg kick.
Fitzpatrick gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Yamaguchi with a jab.
Fitzpatrick misses with a wild combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamaguchi connects with a leg kick. Fitzpatrick looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nice straight punches there by Fitzpatrick. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitzpatrick throws a counter combo.
A clash of legs there as Fitzpatrick blocks the low kick.
Fitzpatrick takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Fitzpatrick throws a hook but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Yamaguchi throws out a loose jab but Fitzpatrick uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi. Fitzpatrick does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook.
Donk. Yamaguchi catches Fitzpatrick right on the button with a cross.
Fitzpatrick has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Fitzpatrick moves out of range.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Fitzpatrick misses with a hook
and Yamaguchi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yamaguchi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzpatrick. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Yamaguchi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi tests Fitzpatrick's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yamaguchi jabs Fitzpatrick right on the nose. Fitzpatrick blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick slips a jab from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi thuds his right hand into Fitzpatrick's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzpatrick throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yamaguchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Yamaguchi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fitzpatrick misses with a straight left.
Yamaguchi scoring well with a low kick there.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Fitzpatrick has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yamaguchi is leaning against Fitzpatrick and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yamaguchi lands a hook that snaps the head of Fitzpatrick backwards.
Yamaguchi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi had his way with Francis Fitzpatrick in that round.
The cut man is working on Kai Yamaguchi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fitzpatrick takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fitzpatrick looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Fitzpatrick avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Fitzpatrick misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzpatrick checks a leg kick.
Fitzpatrick takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yamaguchi feints and then cracks Fitzpatrick's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fitzpatrick down.
Fitzpatrick throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Fitzpatrick's ribcage but misses.
Fitzpatrick looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
It appears Yamaguchi was looking to counter with a kick there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick keeps the fight on the outside.
Fitzpatrick lands an overhand right.
Fitzpatrick throws an overhand right that lands on Yamaguchi's shoulder, as Yamaguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Yamaguchi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Fitzpatrick loads up on a big right hand but Yamaguchi slips the punch.
Yamaguchi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi lands a leg kick that knocks Fitzpatrick off balance momentarily.
Yamaguchi throws a big shot that misses.
Fitzpatrick moves in looking to clinch but Yamaguchi pushes him off.
Fitzpatrick swings widly with a right hand
and Yamaguchi counters with a thumping low kick.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi misses with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick misses with a looping right.
Yamaguchi moves in looking to clinch but Fitzpatrick pushes him off.
Fitzpatrick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yamaguchi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Fitzpatrick is out of range.
Fitzpatrick dodges the punch combination from Yamaguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick throws a jab when Yamaguchi was well out of range.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzpatrick moves away.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Fitzpatrick moves out of range of the strikes.
Fitzpatrick darts in trying to clinch
and Yamaguchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi connects with a solid leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fitzpatrick! But no joy.
Yamaguchi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yamaguchi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Fitzpatrick throws out a counter right but Yamaguchi avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick misses with a body shot.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Fitzpatrick.
It looked like Yamaguchi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yamaguchi lands a head shot.
Fitzpatrick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fitzpatrick just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick tries to counter by closing the distance.
Fitzpatrick checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice straight punches there by Fitzpatrick. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Fitzpatrick.
Yamaguchi loads up on a big right hand but Fitzpatrick slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fitzpatrick! But no joy.
Yamaguchi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Yamaguchi misses the target.
Yamaguchi lands with a right hand.
Nice body kick from Yamaguchi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamaguchi defending well as Fitzpatrick loads up on a big left hand.
Fitzpatrick has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fitzpatrick there as he acknowledges the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzpatrick lands with a nice body punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick thows a left - swing and a miss!
Yamaguchi lands a jab to the nose.
Fitzpatrick's jab looks to have found its range, popping Yamaguchi under the eye.
Fitzpatrick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamaguchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamaguchi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yamaguchi.
Fitzpatrick swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a right hand to the body.
Fitzpatrick throws a lazy uppercut
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Yamaguchi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yamaguchi 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 48:47
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 48:47
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
Kai Yamaguchi retains his lightweight title!
A very excited looking Kai Yamaguchi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.