PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 693 p4p, 82 weight class) and Juan Luna (ranked 1063 p4p, 132 weight class). Luna has chosen Noypi by Bamboo as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yamamoto
vs
Luna

168 cm
26
161 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

171 cm
26
162 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

BEAST

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Juan Luna!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luna stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luna wants it to stay on the feet.
Yamamoto misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Luna counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamamoto has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Luna keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Luna has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Yamamoto is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Luna throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamamoto takes one to the side of the head.
Luna misses with an uppercut.

Luna moves into the clinch.
Luna prevents Yamamoto from breaking the clinch.
A body shot lands from Luna.
Luna gets through Yamamoto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Luna scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luna lunges at Yamamoto with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yamamoto's hand.
Juan Luna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Luna catches Yamamoto right on the button with a cross.

Yamamoto is rocked!

Luna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Luna.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Luna.
Yamamoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamamoto displaying some good clinch control by pressing Luna up against the cage.
Yamamoto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Luna smiles and moves away.

Luna moves into the clinch.
Luna throws a head punch that misses.
Yamamoto is trying to maintain a safe position but Luna gets an underhook and turns Yamamoto into the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto tries a body shot but Luna blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luna lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamamoto or not.
Luna lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Luna lands an uppercut.
A short right from Luna on the inside.
Yamamoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Luna walks away with a smile on his face. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luna throws a jab when Yamamoto was well out of range.
Luna ducks under a wild hook from Yamamoto.

Luna takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamamoto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Yamamoto throws a punch but it's blocked by Luna.
Luna misses with the head strike.
Luna lands with a short shot to the head.
Yamamoto tries to pull guard but Luna forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yamamoto fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luna lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Luna lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Luna lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.

Yamamoto decides to pull guard.
Yamamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Luna controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Luna must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yamamoto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luna gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Yamamoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Luna is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Luna doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Luna manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Luna controls from within his opponent's guard.

Luna got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yamamoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Luna has managed to get both his arms back between Yamamoto's legs - danger averted.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yamamoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Luna stays in close to Yamamoto's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Luna dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Luna throws a body punch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Luna looks to throw the jab but Yamamoto is out of range.
Yamamoto tries to counter with a takedown but Luna is quick to defend against it.
Yamamoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luna moves away.

Luna gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Luna lands a nice uppercut.
Luna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Yamamoto successfully pulls guard.

Yamamoto has his foot on Luna's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Luna works his way back into a safe position though.
Luna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Yamamoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luna sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamamoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Yamamoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Luna defends well.

Luna avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Luna is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yamamoto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Luna throws a body shot but no joy.
Luna lands a jab.
Yamamoto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luna throws a hook but Yamamoto blocks it.
Yamamoto tries to counter with a takedown but Luna is quick to defend against it.
Yamamoto avoids the body shot from Luna.
Yamamoto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Luna bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luna misses with a body shot.
Yamamoto attempts a counter takedown but Luna avoids it well and moves away.
Yamamoto throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luna counters with a nice body shot.
Luna cracks a nice hook into Yamamoto's ribs.
Yamamoto lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamamoto misses with a wild body shot.
Luna throws a jab when Yamamoto was well out of range.

Luna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yamamoto throws a punch but it's blocked by Luna.
A short uppercut from Luna.
Nice body punch from Luna - that landed with a thud.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short left from Luna.

Yamamoto pulls Luna into guard.
Luna advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Luna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamamoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Luna to score with a decent uppercut.
Yamamoto misses with a left hand
and Luna makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Luna swings for the body but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Luna jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yamamoto dives in for a single leg takedown but Luna sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Luna throws a looping overhand right but Yamamoto ducks down to avoid it.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Luna is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Luna circles away and we're back to standing.
Luna throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Yamamoto on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Luna has Yamamoto up against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Luna.
Luna lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Luna working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luna lands a body shot in the clinch.
Luna scores with a shoulder strike.
Luna lands a nice shot to the body.
Luna working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Luna lands a body punch.
Luna makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Luna.
Luna gets through Yamamoto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Luna blocks an uppercut.
Luna lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Luna lands a body punch.
Luna softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Luna lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Oh Yamamoto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luna lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamamoto backwards.
Yamamoto seems to have got his legs back now.
Luna throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Luna is working Yamamoto over against the cage.
Yamamoto working hard to break the clinch.
Luna lands a left hand.
Yamamoto trying to stall but Luna improves his position.
Yamamoto fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luna is leaning against Yamamoto and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yamamoto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Luna.
Luna scores with a shot to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Luna working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Yamamoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Luna scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luna lands an uppercut.
Luna throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yamamotos head.
Yamamoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Luna walks away with a smile on his face. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Juan Luna is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Luna, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Luna against the cage but Luna circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Luna ducks down and throws a big overhand right - it lands flush on the jaw, knocking Yamamoto out cold! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Juan Luna!
Juan Luna is the new lightweight champion!
A very excited looking Juan Luna 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.