PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ephram Urani (ranked 131 p4p, 220 weight class) and Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 17 p4p, 29 weight class). Yamaguchi has chosen Yama Yama as his entrance music. Kai Yamaguchi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Urani
vs
Yamaguchi

165 cm
34
158
28 - 16 - 1

176 cm
38
157
40 - 13 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
Urban Fighter

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 28 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ephram Urani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kai Yamaguchi!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Urani tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yamaguchi is able to avoid easily.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Urani misses with a body shot.
A jab from Urani misses.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani misses with a looping right.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Urani just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi drops his hands momentarily and Urani takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Urani throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
A slow jab from Urani misses its intended target.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yamaguchi blocks a jab.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
Urani misses with a hook. Yamaguchi ducked under it nicely.
Urani lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Urani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Yamaguchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Urani pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urani looks to land a left hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range nicely.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Urani looks to land a right hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range.
Urani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Urani takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Urani has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crassus in the buildup to the fight.
Urani throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Urani connects with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Urani.
Urani tries to land a front kick but Yamaguchi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi defending well as Urani loads up on a big left hand.
Urani scores with a body shot.
The crowd cheers as Urani lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yamaguchi doesn't seem phased though.
Urani scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Urani fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi avoids the body shot from Urani.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
That kick from Urani tenderised Yamaguchi's leg. Yamaguchi is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Urani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Urani moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Urani loads up on a big right hand but Yamaguchi slips the punch.
Urani throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Urani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Urani misses.
And Yamaguchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Urani pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yamaguchi ducks under a wild hook from Urani.
Urani pushes Yamaguchi away with a front kick.
Yamaguchi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Urani.
Urani looks to land a left hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range nicely.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani cracks Yamaguchi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Urani throws a shot from downtown. Yamaguchi moves away and avoids it.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Urani.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani throws a hook but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
A head kick misses from Urani.
Urani doesn't manage to clinch there - Yamaguchi circles away.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Urani throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
That kick from Urani tenderised Yamaguchi's leg. Yamaguchi is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big left from Urani misses.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
Yamaguchi tries to move into range but Urani moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Urani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ephram Urani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Urani throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Urani throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi blocks a jab.
Urani throws a jab when Yamaguchi was well out of range.
Urani tries to clinch there but Yamaguchi circles away.
And Yamaguchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Urani pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yamaguchi slips under a jab from Urani.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Urani.
Urani smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Urani lands a head shot.
Urani throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yamaguchi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Urani throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephram Urani 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.

Nice jab there from Urani.
Urani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Urani loads up on a big right hand but Yamaguchi slips the punch.
Yamaguchi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Urani lands a head kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Urani misses the target.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
Urani misses with a straight right.
Urani connects with a crisp jab.
Urani lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamaguchi circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Urani.
Urani looks to land a right hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ephram Urani is winning the standup battle so far.
Urani misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urani throws a predictable looking body shot

and Yamaguchi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Urani won't be happy with that.
Urani is trying to improve his position.
Urani is trying to control Yamaguchi's posture but Yamaguchi avoids it.

Yamaguchi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kai Yamaguchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Urani is looking to land body kicks.
Yamaguchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Urani.
Yamaguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Urani.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Urani digs a good body shot into Yamaguchi's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urani is looking to land body kicks.
A big right from Urani misses.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
A jab from Urani misses.
Urani pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yamaguchi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Urani smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yamaguchi slips under a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Urani. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Urani misses with a hook.
And Yamaguchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Urani pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Urani misses with a hook. Yamaguchi ducked under it nicely.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi defending well as Urani loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
Urani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamaguchi.
Urani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Urani misses with a straight left.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani throws out a loose jab but Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Urani throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yamaguchi can do to turn this around?
Urani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamaguchi.
Urani throws out a powerful jab.
Urani misses with an uppercut. Yamaguchi saw that one coming.
Urani jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani throws a front kick that sends Yamaguchi stumbling back into the cage.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Urani.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urani misses with a body shot.
Urani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamaguchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Urani throws an overhand right that lands on Yamaguchi's shoulder, as Yamaguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Urani misses with a wild combination.
Urani has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Urani strikes.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Urani throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Yamaguchi is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big left from Urani misses.
Yamaguchi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Urani to score with a decent uppercut.
Urani tries to clinch up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Urani. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephram Urani dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Urani throws out a loose jab but Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Urani throws a wild body kick that Yamaguchi sees coming a mile off.
Urani throws out a loose jab but Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Urani finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Urani throws a shot from downtown. Yamaguchi moves away and avoids it.
Urani waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yamaguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Urani.
The fighters circling - Urani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yamaguchi defending well as Urani loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Urani looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Urani misses with a double jab.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani throws a hook but Yamaguchi avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice defenses there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Urani misses with an uppercut.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Urani misses with a body shot.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Urani defends it well.
Urani throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Urani fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Urani throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Urani looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi feints the counter takedown.
Urani swings widly with a right hand

and Yamaguchi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi wants to get up but he can't break Urani's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Yamaguchi won't allow Urani to sweep him here.
Urani has a closed guard, preventing Yamaguchi from standing up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Urani 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.
Yamaguchi wanted to stand there but Urani had control of the position.
Urani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Urani trying to keep a closed guard but Yamaguchi is proving a slippery customer.

Urani working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Yamaguchi has passed into half guard!

Urani looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Urani tries to get to full guard but Yamaguchi has control of the leg.

Yamaguchi postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Urani to stand up.
Urani looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Urani misses with a hook. Yamaguchi ducked under it nicely.
Urani throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And Yamaguchi tries to counter it with a takedown but Urani pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Urani.
Yamaguchi with the counter takedown but Urani avoids it easily.
Urani wants to land a leg kick but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Yamaguchi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yamaguchi needs to keep his hands up - Urani had a free shot at his head there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urani throws a lazy right hand but Yamaguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Urani fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Urani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Urani lands a leg kick that knocks Yamaguchi off balance momentarily.
Yamaguchi moves out of range as Urani strikes.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Urani waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
A slow jab from Urani misses its intended target.
Sloppy strikes from Urani. Those never looked like landing.
Yamaguchi changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Good shot there by Urani.
A decent looking cross lands there for Urani.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Urani throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Urani tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamaguchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kai Yamaguchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Urani throws a lazy right hand but Yamaguchi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ephram Urani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Urani, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ephram Urani!