PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ichiro Suzuki (ranked 3297 p4p, 169 weight class) and Yamaoka Yukinobu (ranked 2648 p4p, 138 weight class). Yamaoka Yukinobu acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Suzuki
vs
Yukinobu

175 cm
29
145 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

170 cm
23
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ichiro Suzuki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yamaoka Yukinobu!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Yukinobu coming out on top.

Yukinobu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Suzuki napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Suzuki struggling a bit here.
Suzuki is looking to regain half guard here but Yukinobu keeps moving and retains side control.

Yukinobu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yukinobu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Yukinobu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Suzuki is looking to regain half guard here but Yukinobu keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suzuki is being controlled here.
Yukinobu has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yukinobu is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Suzuki to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Suzuki shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suzuki can't escape the position.

Yukinobu looking for a guillotine from mount but Suzuki is having none of it.

Yukinobu has control of Suzuki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Suzuki regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Yukinobu prevents Suzuki from getting the reversal.
Yukinobu looking to control and managing it successfully.
Suzuki regains half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Suzuki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Suzuki.
Suzuki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yukinobu is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu wants to control from the top but Suzuki keeps moving.
Yukinobu preventing the sweep.

Yukinobu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Suzuki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yukinobu, into his guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Suzuki drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yukinobu dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu trying to control the position from guard on top but Suzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Suzuki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yukinobu is aware though and is defending well.
Yukinobu trying to control the position from guard on top but Suzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suzuki 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.
Yukinobu works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Suzuki is defending against the submission attempts here by Yukinobu.

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

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.

Yukinobu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are battling for position here. Suzuki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yukinobu looking to pass the guard.
Yukinobu told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Suzuki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Suzuki keeping full guard, as Yukinobu tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yukinobu showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Suzuki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yukinobu manages to get himself to full guard.

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

Yamaoka Yukinobu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yukinobu scores with a shot to the body.
Yukinobu tests Suzuki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yukinobu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Suzuki at a distance.
Suzuki shoots in looking for a takedown. Yukinobu tries to sprawl out of it but Suzuki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yukinobu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yukinobu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yukinobu shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Suzuki is trying to defend but Yukinobu finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yukinobu wants to pass the guard but Suzuki is defending well.
Suzuki manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yukinobu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Suzuki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Yukinobu escapes and throws Suzuki's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Yukinobu tries for a kimura but Suzuki is defending well.

Yukinobu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Suzuki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Suzuki tries to buck Yukinobu off but Yukinobu is having none of it.
Suzuki is not content to let Yukinobu control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yukinobu is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Suzuki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Yukinobu is trying to get an arm triangle but Suzuki is defending well.

Yukinobu tries for a kimura but Suzuki is defending well.
Suzuki sneaks back into half guard.
Suzuki is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Suzuki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Suzuki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yukinobu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yukinobu wants to control from the top but Suzuki keeps moving.
Suzuki looking for a sweep. Not yet Suzuki, not yet.
Yukinobu trying to control the position from guard on top but Suzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suzuki has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yukinobu has passed into side control.

Yukinobu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Suzuki has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yukinobu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Suzuki is looking to regain half guard here but Yukinobu keeps moving and retains side control.
Suzuki is working hard here to advance position.
Yamaoka Yukinobu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yukinobu is looking to take a break and control but Suzuki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Suzuki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yukinobu's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yamaoka Yukinobu 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. This is the final round!

Suzuki tries to sprawl but Yukinobu drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Yukinobu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yukinobu wants to pass the guard but Suzuki is defending well.

Yukinobu seems to be looking for submissions.

Suzuki looking for submissions off his back.

Yukinobu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Suzuki defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suzuki gets full guard.
Yukinobu wants to control from the top but Suzuki keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yukinobu drops back looking for a leg! Suzuki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Suzuki manages to kick Yukinobu off! Yukinobu jumps back into Suzuki's guard.
Suzuki looking to control.
Yukinobu trying to control but Suzuki is working from the bottom.
Suzuki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yukinobu trying to control the position from guard on top but Suzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Suzuki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yukinobu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Suzuki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yamaoka Yukinobu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Suzuki looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Suzuki looking for a sweep. Not yet Suzuki, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jab, jab by Yukinobu - just one landing.
Yukinobu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yukinobu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yukinobu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Suzuki counters with a single leg into guard. Yukinobu didn't expect that.
Yukinobu wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Suzuki manages to pass to side control.

Suzuki wants to pass to mount but Yukinobu is defending the position.
Suzuki wants to control but Yukinobu is keeping him busy.
Yukinobu trying to hold on to Suzuki's head to control him but Suzuki postures up.
Yukinobu is refusing to be controlled, as Suzuki sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Suzuki's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Suzuki's back!

Yukinobu has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Yukinobu has got his arm under Suzuki's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Suzuki has spun round into Yukinobu's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Suzuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yukinobu is keeping the position for now.
Yukinobu looking to control.
Yukinobu wants to sweep here but Suzuki controlling him for the moment.

Yukinobu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yukinobu is trying to hold Suzuki in close to prevent damage but Suzuki has managed to pass into half guard.
Yukinobu is not content to let Suzuki control the position.

Yukinobu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ichiro Suzuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Yukinobu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yukinobu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Suzuki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yukinobu has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yamaoka Yukinobu.
Well Yukinobu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yamaoka Yukinobu!