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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 432 p4p, 234 weight class) and Esa Kettu (ranked 55 p4p, 34 weight class). Yamaguchi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Yama Yama. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 176 cm
40
157
42 - 15 - 1 |
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179 cm
34
155
23 - 16 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 42 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kai Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Kettu!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kettu connects with a single shot there.
Yamaguchi ducks under a wild hook from Kettu.
Kettu tries a head kick but it misses.
Yamaguchi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kettu looks to throw a body kick
and Yamaguchi counters with a straight right hand.
Kettu misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kettu misses the target.
A clash of legs there as Kettu blocks the low kick.
Kettu throws a push kick but Yamaguchi slaps the foot to one side.
Kettu throws a lazy uppercut
and Yamaguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kettu takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kettu clobbers Yamaguchi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kettu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamaguchi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kettu.
Yamaguchi slips a jab and a cross from Kettu.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Kettu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight left.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kettu.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi.
Kettu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
An inside leg kick lands from Kettu.
Nice body punch from Yamaguchi.
Esa Kettu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamaguchi walks into a straight right hand from Kettu.
Nice defenses there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throwing a counter right hand but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Kettu moves out of range.
Kettu misses the jab.
Yamaguchi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Kettu.
Kettu takes one to the chin there.
Kettu looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kettu moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
Kettu misses with a kick to the body.
A quick step to the side and Yamaguchi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yamaguchi scores with a jab.
Kettu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kettu takes one on the button.
Yamaguchi misses with a lunging right hand
and Kettu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu misses with a hook
and Yamaguchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kettu throws a sloppy head kick and Yamaguchi moves out of range easily.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kettu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Yamaguchi stuns Kettu with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The fighters circling - Kettu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kettu manages to avoid it.
Yamaguchi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Yamaguchi connects with a looping right hand.
Kettu has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kettu there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kettu works the jab nicely.
Kettu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kettu.
As Kettu backs away, Yamaguchi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild body shot.
Yamaguchi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kettu.
Kettu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yamaguchi connects with a crisp jab.
Kettu throws a poor cross that misses
and Yamaguchi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kettu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettu's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Yamaguchi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kettu scrambles back to his feet.
Kettu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yamaguchi.
Kettu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but Kettu checks it.
Yamaguchi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kettu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaguchi scrambles back to his feet.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kettu swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Yamaguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Kettu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kettu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi.
The fighters circling - Yamaguchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kettu has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Yamaguchi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kettu throws a front kick aimed at Yamaguchi's knee but Yamaguchi avoids it well.
Kettu scores with a punch to the head.
Kettu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Kettu moved out of range nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kettu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab to the body.
Kettu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi.
Kettu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Kettu moves out of range of the body kick.
Yamaguchi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
It looked like Yamaguchi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yamaguchi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kettu on the side of the head.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kettu misses the jab.
Yamaguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kettu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kettu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice body punch from Kettu.
Kettu wants to slow Yamaguchi down by chopping away at his legs.
Yamaguchi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kettu throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kai Yamaguchi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Kettu moved out of range nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Yamaguchi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kettu has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kettu and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kettu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kettu misses with a lunging right hand
and Yamaguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yamaguchi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kettu now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kettu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kettu throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi moves into the clinch successfully.
Yamaguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kettu blocks a body shot from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Kettu controls the action.
Yamaguchi lands a shoulder strike.
Yamaguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Kettu controls his hands.
Kettu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamaguchi blocking some punches.
Yamaguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamaguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kettu backwards.
Kettu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kettu scores with a shoulder strike.
Kettu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kettu's elbow.
Yamaguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yamaguchi blocking some punches.
Kettu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kettu working aggressively here.
Yamaguchi is working Kettu over against the cage.
Kettu blocking some punches.
Yamaguchi scores with a shot to the side of Kettu's head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yamaguchi.
Kettu blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kettu lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kettu.
Yamaguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Kettu.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamaguchi.
Kettu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kettu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right handed body shot lands from Yamaguchi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kettu.
Kai Yamaguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kettu misses with a hook to the ribs.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi lands with a right to the head.
Yamaguchi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kettu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Esa Kettu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kettu.
Kettu swings wildly with an uppercut but Yamaguchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kettu scores with a shoulder strike.
Kettu lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Kettu fails to land.
Kettu blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kettu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kettu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kettu scores with a shoulder strike.
Yamaguchi lands an uppercut.
Kettu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kettu is working Yamaguchi over against the cage.
Kettu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yamaguchi working aggressively here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with some punches.
Yamaguchi blocks a body shot from Kettu.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kettu.
Yamaguchi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yamaguchi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kettu.
A left hand lands to the body for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kettu scores with a shot to the side of Yamaguchi's head.
Yamaguchi is working Kettu over against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Yamaguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kettu presses Yamaguchi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kettu blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Yamaguchi.
Kettu blocks a body shot from Yamaguchi.
Kettu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kettu backwards.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi gets through Kettu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kettu can do to turn this around?
Kettu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kettu prevents a body shot from Yamaguchi.
Kettu misses with a punch on the inside.
Kettu blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yamaguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yamaguchi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kettu backwards.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kettu's elbow.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Kettu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kettu lands a shoulder strike.
Kettu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Kettu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yamaguchi lands with a right to the head.
Kettu lands with a left to the head.
Yamaguchi tries to work over Kettu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kettu.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kettu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kettu throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Kettu lands a body shot.
Yamaguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
Kettu scores with a shot to the side of Yamaguchi's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Kai Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Kettu misses with a wild body shot.
Kettu throws the kick towards the body but Yamaguchi avoids it.
Yamaguchi punishes Kettu's body with a nice straight punch.
Yamaguchi misses the shot to the body.
Yamaguchi slips a jab from Kettu.
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kettu was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kettu's head.
Kettu lands a nice shot to the body.
Kettu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yamaguchi can pounce on him.
Yamaguchi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kettu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Yamaguchi was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kettu.
Kai Yamaguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
Kettu misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
That kick from Yamaguchi tenderised Kettu's leg. Kettu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kettu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yamaguchi misses with an uppercut
and Yamaguchi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamaguchi lands with a good body shot.
Good leg kick by Kettu.
A shot to the liver by Yamaguchi. Beautiful body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Yamaguchi.
Kettu lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kettu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kettu lands with a shot to the body.
Yamaguchi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi misses with an uppercut.
Yamaguchi avoids a kick to the body.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kettu.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi. Kettu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kettu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi misses with a body kick.
Yamaguchi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kettu moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kettu. That's going to slow Yamaguchi down.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick from Kettu.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kettu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamaguchi manages to avoid it.
Kettu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kettu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kettu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kettu connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kettu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kettu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yamaguchi.
Kettu lands with a nice body punch.
Kettu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A big left from Kettu misses.
Yamaguchi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kettu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yamaguchi staying out of range there.
Kettu is looking to land body kicks.
Yamaguchi scores with a shot to the body.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamaguchi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Jab, jab by Yamaguchi - just one landing.
Yamaguchi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kettu is just out of range.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kettu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yamaguchi misses with a head kick.
Kettu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yamaguchi in his tracks.
Yamaguchi is looking to wear down Kettu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kettu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kettu lands a body shot.
Yamaguchi checks a leg kick.
Kettu with a nice cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kettu.
Yamaguchi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kettu.
Yamaguchi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kettu looks to land a right hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range.
Yamaguchi slips a jab from Kettu.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kettu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kettu throws a leg kick
enabling Yamaguchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Kettu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kettu misses with a body shot.
A jab from Yamaguchi misses.
A swing and a miss from Kettu.
Kettu misses with a looping left.
Yamaguchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Kettu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yamaguchi slips a straight right by Kettu.
Yamaguchi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kettu. Kettu obviously looking to wear him down.
Yamaguchi jabs Kettu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kettu checks a leg kick.
Kai Yamaguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kettu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A big right from Yamaguchi misses.
And that's the end of the fight!
Esa Kettu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamaguchi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
A relieved looking Kai Yamaguchi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
90% |
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