PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Richard McAuliffe (ranked 1227 p4p, 149 weight class) and Satoru Yoshioka (ranked 547 p4p, 69 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McAuliffe
vs
Yoshioka

174 cm
27
157 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

175 cm
27
155 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard McAuliffe!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Satoru Yoshioka!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshioka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McAuliffe avoids it really well and circles away.
McAuliffe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big left from McAuliffe misses.
Yoshioka misses with a body kick.
McAuliffe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

McAuliffe decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Yoshioka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McAuliffe wants to pass the guard but Yoshioka is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yoshioka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McAuliffe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshioka lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McAuliffe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yoshioka tries to free his leg and advance position but McAuliffe is retaining full guard.
Yoshioka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Yoshioka has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yoshioka stopping the sweep attempt from McAuliffe.
Yoshioka tries to free his leg and advance position but McAuliffe is retaining full guard.
Yoshioka seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Yoshioka.
Yoshioka passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshioka is thwarting McAuliffe's attempts to control the position.
Yoshioka sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yoshioka throws a leg kick but McAuliffe sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yoshioka tries to clinch there but McAuliffe circles away.
McAuliffe misses with a double jab

and Yoshioka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yoshioka misses with a shot to the kidneys.

McAuliffe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yoshioka has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Yoshioka throws a low kick but McAuliffe moves out of range easily.
A swing and a miss from McAuliffe.

McAuliffe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yoshioka prevents McAuliffe from breaking the clinch.
Yoshioka goes for a takedown attempt but McAuliffe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

McAuliffe has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Satoru Yoshioka will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yoshioka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Yoshioka misses with a kick to the body.
Yoshioka throws a right and a left that McAuliffe avoids nicely.
McAuliffe went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A head kick misses from Yoshioka.

McAuliffe closes the distance and clinches.

McAuliffe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. McAuliffe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yoshioka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yoshioka postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McAuliffe wants to get back to his feet but Yoshioka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McAuliffe is controlling Yoshioka's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McAuliffe is keeping the position for now.
McAuliffe trying to control the position.
McAuliffe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yoshioka's guard.

Yoshioka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
McAuliffe forces his way into half guard.
McAuliffe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshioka is looking to improve his position.
Well, if McAuliffe is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McAuliffe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McAuliffe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McAuliffe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yoshioka's head.
Yoshioka is refusing to be controlled, as McAuliffe sits in half guard.
McAuliffe stalling away here and it's allowed Yoshioka to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
McAuliffe trying to control but Yoshioka is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yoshioka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McAuliffe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McAuliffe postures up in Yoshioka's guard and throws a big left but Yoshioka blocks it.

McAuliffe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yoshioka has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McAuliffe has managed to get both his arms back between Yoshioka's legs - danger averted.
Yoshioka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McAuliffe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yoshioka on the ground.
Yoshioka slows the pace down in half guard.
McAuliffe wants to control but Yoshioka is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe is looking to improve his position.
Yoshioka trying to control the pace.
McAuliffe on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McAuliffe tries to get out of the position.
McAuliffe trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yoshioka controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Satoru Yoshioka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Yoshioka ducks under a wild hook from McAuliffe.

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

Yoshioka is looking for a triangle but McAuliffe pushes his legs off easily.
McAuliffe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Yoshioka has control of McAuliffe's left arm, preventing McAuliffe from doing any damage.
McAuliffe postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoshioka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Yoshioka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McAuliffe is looking to pass into half guard but Yoshioka pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Yoshioka is in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuliffe being controlled here, momentarily.
Satoru Yoshioka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yoshioka looking to sit in guard and control but McAuliffe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yoshioka lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yoshioka looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McAuliffe wants to stand but Yoshioka is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshioka is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McAuliffe is looking to stand up but Yoshioka isn't so interested in that idea.
Yoshioka is pushing down on McAuliffe's leg trying to pass to half guard. McAuliffe is fighting to maintain full guard but Yoshioka has managed to sneak the leg through.
McAuliffe regains full guard. Nicely done.
McAuliffe wants to stand up but Yoshioka is controlling him.
McAuliffe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McAuliffe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McAuliffe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yoshioka gets full guard.
McAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshioka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McAuliffe tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshioka is retaining full guard.
Yoshioka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yoshioka pulls McAuliffe in close to prevent any damage.

Yoshioka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshioka passes into half guard.
Richard McAuliffe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshioka controlling the pace.

Yoshioka seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. McAuliffe is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Satoru Yoshioka!
Satoru Yoshioka is the new lightweight champion!
After the fight, Satoru Yoshioka was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Richard McAuliffe spoke after the fight, saying 'WTF!!'.