PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 1315 p4p, 150 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 1183 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Norifumi Yamamoto has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Yamamoto
vs
Smith

168 cm
26
161 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

176 cm
27
164 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Yamamoto was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've been hearing good reports from Yamamoto's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith is still trying to improve position.

Yamamoto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Yamamoto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Smith has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Yamamoto but great work by Smith.
Yamamoto is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Yamamoto gets back to half guard.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto gets full guard.
Smith works over Yamamoto with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Yamamoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.

Yamamoto working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

Yamamoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Yamamoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smith defends it easily.

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.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Smith is in close to Yamamoto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
Smith distracts Yamamoto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Yamamoto's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Yamamoto 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.
Yamamoto is working hard here to advance position.
Smith with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yamamoto's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.

Yamamoto actively working from the bottom here.
Yamamoto is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yamamoto wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
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. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Yamamoto's temple.
Smith trying to control the action but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith working Yamamoto over with strikes.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ground and pound from Smith.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Smith is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
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!
Smith working over Yamamoto with some ground and pound. Yamamoto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Yamamoto looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith 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.

Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Yamamoto tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yamamoto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yamamoto defends well and Smith ends up having to push Yamamoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Smith drives through with a takedown into Yamamoto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

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

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yamamoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Yamamoto's legs - danger averted.
Yamamoto has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yamamoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Yamamoto is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Yamamoto has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Yamamoto is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Yamamoto is rocked!

Yamamoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Oh Yamamoto is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Yamamoto's brow.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Smith loads up on a big left hand. Yamamoto felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Smith looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Yamamoto can't hide his disappointment, as Smith celebrates the victory.

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