PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazunori Honda (ranked 2250 p4p, 114 weight class) and Leonardo Yoshi (ranked 2657 p4p, 128 weight class). Leonardo Yoshi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Honda
vs
Yoshi

170 cm
26
130 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
26
139 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Bee Krazy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazunori Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonardo Yoshi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yoshi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Yoshi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Honda manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yoshi has Honda in his guard.

Honda won't allow Yoshi to sweep him here.

Yoshi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Honda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Honda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honda wants to control from the top but Yoshi keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Honda postures up.
Honda content to stall in guard here.

Honda drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yoshi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yoshi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yoshi!

Yoshi is trying to get an arm triangle but Honda is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yoshi tries for a kimura but Honda is defending well.
Honda manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yoshi's best efforts.

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

Yoshi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Honda doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yoshi.
Yoshi is thwarting Honda's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Honda doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yoshi.

Yoshi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Yoshi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Honda defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yoshi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Honda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Honda is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at JAG Battle Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Yoshi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yoshi working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Honda's thigh. Honda counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yoshi is fighting to break Honda's control of his arms but Honda is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Yoshi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yoshi shoots in for a double leg but Honda sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yoshi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Honda avoids it really well and circles away.
Yoshi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Honda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kazunori Honda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Yoshi.
Honda defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yoshi.
Yoshi fails with the takedown

and Honda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshi is trying to get back to full guard.

Honda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yoshi is just riding it out for now. Honda eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Honda is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yoshi defends it well.
Honda trying to control the action but Yoshi is working from the bottom.

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.
Honda prevents Yoshi from improving his position.
Yoshi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Honda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yoshi wants to control but Honda passes into side.
Honda wants to control for a moment but Yoshi uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshi is looking for a sweep. Honda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yoshi trying to control but Honda postures up.
Honda is trying to control. Yoshi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Yoshi is defending against the submission attempts here by Honda.
Yoshi wants to sweep but Honda has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yoshi tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Honda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Honda swings around for an armbar but Yoshi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Honda's guard.
Yoshi trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honda pulls Yoshi in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazunori Honda dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Yoshi.
Honda tries to counter with a takedown but Yoshi is quick to defend against it.
Yoshi dives in for a single leg takedown but Honda sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Honda changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Yoshi rushes Honda and presses him up against the cage.
Yoshi wants to take the fight to the mat but Honda manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kazunori Honda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonardo Yoshi.
Honda prevents a body shot from Yoshi.

Yoshi has hold of one of Honda's legs. Honda is fighting the takedown attempt but Yoshi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yoshi wants to control from the top but Honda keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yoshi controlling from the top position.
Yoshi trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshi is fighting to break Honda's control of his arms but Honda is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Leonardo Yoshi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yoshi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Honda seems keen to control Yoshi's posture.
Yoshi trying to control but Honda is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yoshi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Honda sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yoshi tries to clinch but Honda moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yoshi tries for a takedown but Honda circles away easily

and Honda counters with a shoot takedown. Yoshi fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Honda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Honda trying to control but Yoshi is working from the bottom.
Yoshi working a defensive guard here.

Honda drops back looking for a leg! Yoshi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yoshi manages to kick Honda off! Honda jumps back into Yoshi's guard.
Yoshi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yoshi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Honda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yoshi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Honda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Honda controlling Yoshi's posture.
Yoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Honda keeping full guard, as Yoshi tries to pass.
Honda has control of Yoshi's left arm, preventing Yoshi from doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yoshi trying to control the position from guard on top but Honda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Honda keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leonardo Yoshi.
I think Yoshi 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!