PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Point (ranked 533 p4p, 530 weight class) and Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 61 p4p, 59 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Yamaguchi's choice of entrance music: Yama Yama. 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.

Point
vs
Yamaguchi

170 cm
34
170
22 - 11 - 0

176 cm
39
157
41 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

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 22 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jesse Point!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kai Yamaguchi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab from Point.
A left lands for Yamaguchi.
Point defending well as Yamaguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Point is looking to counter punch.
Point throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yamaguchi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Point has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Point there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Point is just out of range.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Point throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Point gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Point takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Point slips a jab from Yamaguchi.
Point walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamaguchi lunges at Point with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Point's hand.
A shot to the body from Point misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a straight right hand.
We've been told by Point's head coaches at Brooklyn MMA & Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Point is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Point stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Point looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Yamaguchi blocks a leg kick.
Yamaguchi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamaguchi's corner calls for a 1-2. Yamaguchi obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Point moves out of range.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice head shot.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice head shot.
Point throws a hook to the side of Yamaguchi's head but Yamaguchi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamaguchi digs a good body shot into Point's ribs.
Point looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yamaguchi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Point has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Point there as he acknowledges the shot.
Point uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Point swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Point connects with a nice looking jab.
Point misses with a straight right.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Point misses with a lunging right hand
and Yamaguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Point.
Point uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yamaguchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight right.
Yamaguchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yamaguchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamaguchi lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Yamaguchi finds it's way through Point's defenses.
Yamaguchi checks the leg kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Point - that will leave a mark!
Point is looking to chop away at Yamaguchi's legs.
Yamaguchi throws a shot from downtown. Point moves away and avoids it.
Point misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Point connects with a crisp jab.
Point looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yamaguchi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Point just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi throws out a counter right but Point avoids it with no problem.
Yamaguchi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Point's head.
Point takes a jab right on the kisser.
Yamaguchi digs a good hook to Point's body.
Yamaguchi lunges at Point with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Point's hand.
Yamaguchi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Point misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Point counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Point looks to throw a body kick
and Yamaguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi misses with an uppercut.
Point throws a leg kick but Yamaguchi checks it.
Point throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Point keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yamaguchi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Point throws a lazy body kick
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yamaguchi.
Point takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Point gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yamaguchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Point looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Point crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yamaguchi - the referee stops the clock and Point gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yamaguchi. Point manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi darts in trying to clinch
enabling Point to counter with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Point throws a poor cross that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Point throws the left hand but Yamaguchi avoids the punch easily.
Point fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
Decent striking displayed by Point there.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Point might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Point throws a shot from downtown. Yamaguchi moves away and avoids it.
Point misses with a body kick.
Yamaguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yamaguchi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Point moves forwards but Yamaguchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Point misses with a body punch
enabling Yamaguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Point takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yamaguchi throws the kick towards the body but Point avoids it.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Point waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
The fighters circling - Point throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamaguchi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Yamaguchi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Point connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaguchi scrambles back to his feet.
Point walks into a stiff left hand from Yamaguchi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Point slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Point misses with a hook. Yamaguchi ducked under it nicely.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Point.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Point uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi stuns Point with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Point misses with an uppercut
and Yamaguchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Point moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Point moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
Point was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Point avoids the body shot from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi cracks a nice hook into Point's ribs.
Yamaguchi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Point throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Yamaguchi sizes up Point with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Point lands with a thumping leg kick.
Point fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A little feinted left hand from Point on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yamaguchi. That's going to slow Point down.
Point misses with a lunging right hand
and Point takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi misses with a low kick.
Point moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice side step and Yamaguchi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Point misses with a right hand
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi throws a jab but it's blocked by Point.
Point thows a leg kick but Yamaguchi checks it
and Yamaguchi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yamaguchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yamaguchi connects with a right hand. Point shakes it off.
Point connects with a good right hand that stumbles Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Yamaguchi blocks a low kick nicely.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Point bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yamaguchi's head backwards.
Point misses with an uppercut
enabling Yamaguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Point throws an overhand right that lands on Yamaguchi's shoulder, as Yamaguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Yamaguchi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yamaguchi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Point is out of range and Yamaguchi settles back down.
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Point avoids it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi slips a straight right by Point.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Point misses with a hook. Yamaguchi ducked under it nicely.
Point takes one to the chin there.
Point throws out a loose jab but Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Point's ribcage but misses.
Point tries to land a leg kick but Yamaguchi saw it coming and moves away.
Yamaguchi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The fighters circling - Point throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Point misses with a body shot
enabling Yamaguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Yamaguchi pushes Point away with a front kick.
Yamaguchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yamaguchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Point misses the jab.
Point looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Point looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Point swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Point misses the body punch
and Yamaguchi counters with a right hand to the body.
Yamaguchi scores with the left hand. Point knows he should have avoided that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Point throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws out a counter right but Point avoids it with no problem.
Yamaguchi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Point scores with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a low kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Point misses the target.
Yamaguchi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Point uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Point moves away.
Nice uppercut there from Yamaguchi.
Point on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Point misses with a left hand
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Point throws a body kick that misses
and Yamaguchi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamaguchi lands with a nice body punch.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Point.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Point lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Yamaguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Point takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Point throws a low kick but Yamaguchi avoids it.
Yamaguchi cracks a nice hook into Point's ribs.
Yamaguchi scores with a body shot.
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yamaguchi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yamaguchi blocks a low kick nicely.
Yamaguchi misses with a two punch combination.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Point is just out of range.
Point scores with a body shot.
Yamaguchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Point's head backwards.
Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Point.
Point has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws out a loose jab but Point uses good head movement to avoid it.
Point drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaguchi works Point's body with a nice hook.
Point is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Point feints and then cracks Yamaguchi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yamaguchi down.
A jab from Point misses.
Point looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Point lands an overhand right.
Point moves out of range as Yamaguchi throws a body kick.
Yamaguchi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Point to score with a decent uppercut.
Yamaguchi throws a front kick that sends Point stumbling back into the cage.
Point takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Yamaguchi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Point looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Point tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Point slips a jab from Yamaguchi.
Point connects with a leg kick.
Point lands a right hook to the body.
Point throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Yamaguchi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Point blocks a head kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi blocks a jab.
Point misses with the body kick
and Yamaguchi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A solid leg kick lands there for Point.
Point uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Nice jab there from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
A big left from Yamaguchi misses.
Point was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Point takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yamaguchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Point's head backwards.
Point misses with an uppercut.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Point moves out of range.
Yamaguchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Point misses.
Yamaguchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Point moves away.
Yamaguchi works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Point.
Yamaguchi lands a slapping body shot.
Point throws a wild body kick that Yamaguchi sees coming a mile off.
Point misses with an uppercut. Yamaguchi saw that one coming.
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Point.
Yamaguchi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Yamaguchi jabs at Point's body.
Yamaguchi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jesse Point has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kai Yamaguchi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Yamaguchi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Yamaguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamaguchi 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
During a confident post fight interview, Kai Yamaguchi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.