PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yamaoka Yukinobu (ranked 1366 p4p, 2053 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 79 p4p, 115 weight class). River has chosen Metallica: Enter Sandman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yukinobu
vs
River

170 cm
24
145
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
135
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yamaoka Yukinobu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River misses with a straight right.
River walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
River misses with a low kick.
River scores with a shot to the body.
Yukinobu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
River slips a jab from Yukinobu.
River drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yukinobu defends it well.
Yukinobu shoots in looking for a takedown but River manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yukinobu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
River swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yukinobu throws a looping overhand right but River ducks down to avoid it.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
River scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yukinobu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Yukinobu drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yukinobu trying to control but River is working from the bottom.
River is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River looking to control.
Yukinobu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. River swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yukinobu wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.

River escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yukinobu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yukinobu looking to pass the guard.

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.

River has his foot on Yukinobu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yukinobu works his way back into a safe position though.

River is looking for a triangle but Yukinobu pushes his legs off easily.
Yukinobu passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Yukinobu is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. River knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Yukinobu goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, River rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Yukinobu's guard! Nice work there by River!
Yukinobu looking to hit a scissor sweep but River is one step ahead there.

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

Yukinobu is looking for a triangle here but River uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Yukinobu is not content to let River control the position.
River lands a nice forearm strike.
Yukinobu is looking to regain half guard here but River keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu is working to avoid the ground and pound but River connects with a decent elbow.
Yukinobu tries to improve position but can't.
River working away.

River is trying to get an arm triangle but Yukinobu is defending well.
River landing strikes.
Yukinobu tries to control the position but he's not in luck - River easily slips into full mount!
River putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
River lands a big shot there that rocks Yukinobu but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Yukinobu is wriggling around trying to escape.

River with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River 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.

River moves in looking to clinch but Yukinobu pushes him off.

Yukinobu gets caught flat footed, as River shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

River avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
River wants to control from the top but Yukinobu keeps moving.

River avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
River slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yukinobu tries to roll over but River keeps him under control.
Yukinobu trying to hold on to River's head to control him but River postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River is nestled in close to Yukinobu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Yukinobu wants to control but River is keeping busy and won't allow it.
River not doing much here.
Yukinobu is trying to get back to full guard.

River is working for a submission of some sort.
Yukinobu is trying to get back to full guard.

Yukinobu looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Yukinobu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
River landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yukinobu is not content to let River control the position.
River takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
River thows a huge punch but Yukinobu dodges it nicely.

Yukinobu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but River pulls his head out easily.
Yukinobu is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. River lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu tries to roll over but River keeps him under control.
River working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
River landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yukinobu wants to control but River is keeping busy and won't allow it.
River scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
River landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
River not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
River tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yukinobu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yukinobu is trying to defend against the ground and pound but River scores with a couple of nice shots.
River lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. River lands a nice short elbow.
River trying to control from half guard but Yukinobu is working away.
Yukinobu tries to get to full guard but River has control of the leg.

River is trying to work for a kimura but Yukinobu is defending well.
River prevents Yukinobu from improving his position.

River wants to work for an arm triangle but Yukinobu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

River seems to be looking for submissions.
Yukinobu is looking for a sweep. River is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

River throws an overhand right that lands on Yukinobu's shoulder, as Yukinobu tries to avoid the shot.
River looks to throw the jab but Yukinobu is out of range.
Yukinobu looks to throw the jab but River is out of range.
River tries a quick counter leg kick but Yukinobu is wise to it.
Yukinobu moves out of range as River strikes.
River slips a jab from Yukinobu.
River slips under a jab from Yukinobu.
Yukinobu blocks a jab.
Yukinobu misses with a wild body shot.
River throws a poor cross that misses

and Yukinobu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yukinobu trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.
River wants to control but Yukinobu is keeping busy.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yukinobu looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
River trying to hold on to Yukinobu's head to control him but Yukinobu postures up.
River is positioning himself well to prevent Yukinobu advancing to mount.
Yukinobu is looking to stall here but River recovers full guard.
Yamaoka Yukinobu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
River manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yukinobu manages to get himself to full guard.

Bernhard River has got the better of the ground game so far.
River postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

River got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yukinobu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, River has managed to get both his arms back between Yukinobu's legs - danger averted.
River works a leg free and moves into half guard.
River landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
River winds up and cracks Yukinobu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Yukinobu wants to get back to full guard but River has passed into side control.
River lands an elbow.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Yukinobu is trying to control the action in half guard but River is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
River is looking for a sweep. Yukinobu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
River has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yukinobu is working away from the top position though.
Yukinobu is controlling the pace.

River actively working from the bottom here.
River wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yukinobu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Yukinobu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yukinobu stalling away here and it's allowed River to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
River keeping moving, preventing Yukinobu from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yukinobu drops back, looking for a kneebar! River looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. River looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from River!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bernhard River.
Well River 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
A victorious Bernhard River thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.