PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 1546 p4p, 721 weight class) and Radio Active (ranked 211 p4p, 92 weight class). Yamaguchi comes into the arena with Yama Yama blaring out of the sound system. Active is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Yamaguchi
vs
Active

176 cm
42
157
43 - 17 - 1

169 cm
32
160
18 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 43 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kai Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Radio Active!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Active fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yamaguchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Active.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Yamaguchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Active throws a big shot that misses.
Active throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Active clinches up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamaguchi.
Active tries to break free but Yamaguchi pushes him back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Yamaguchi.
Active is leaning against Yamaguchi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Active lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yamaguchi digs a right hand underneath Active's ribcage. Active let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Active lands with a right to the head.
Active blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Active scores with a shot to the side of Yamaguchi's head.
Yamaguchi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Active.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamaguchi.
Active is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yamaguchi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Actives head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Active has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Yamaguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Active.
Yamaguchi throws a head punch that misses.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Active takes a shot to the head.

Active breaks the clinch.
Yamaguchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yamaguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Yamaguchi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Active's head backwards.
Active swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight right.
Active appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A shot to the liver by Yamaguchi. Beautiful body shot.
A low kick lands for Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi connects with an inside leg kick.
Yamaguchi misses with a straight left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Active throws a right and a left that Yamaguchi avoids nicely.
Yamaguchi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Active.
Active scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Active manages to avoid it.
Active swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Active checks the leg kick.
Active misses the jab.
Kai Yamaguchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamaguchi walks into a jab.
Active is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamaguchi.
A jab from Active does it's job there.
Active with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yamaguchi tries to land a leg kick but Active saw it coming and moves away.
The fighters circling - Active throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Active misses with a combination
and Yamaguchi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Active's knee momentarily.
Active looks to land a right hand but Yamaguchi moved out of range.
Active takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Active throws an overhand right that lands on Yamaguchi's shoulder, as Yamaguchi tries to avoid the shot.
Active walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Active throws a body shot but no joy.
Active throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamaguchi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Active.
Active throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Active throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Active smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Active takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Active misses with a looping right.
Active blocks a head kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Active's ribcage but misses.
Yamaguchi catches Active with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Active steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.
Active shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kai Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Radio Active.
Yamaguchi takes a swing at Active's ribcage but misses.
Active misses with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Active swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Active misses the target.

Yamaguchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Active lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
Active blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Active misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Active misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Active lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yamaguchi backwards.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand.
Yamaguchi blocking some punches.
Yamaguchi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yamaguchi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Yamaguchi lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Active - that landed with a thud.
Yamaguchi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Active blocks an uppercut.
Yamaguchi lands a body shot.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Yamaguchi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kai Yamaguchi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Yamaguchi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi. Active does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice cross by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a looping left.
Active looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yamaguchi looks to land a right hand but Active moved out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a looping left.
Active tries to move into range but Yamaguchi moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Active feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Yamaguchi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Active has gone for a leg lock! Yamaguchi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Active's guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yamaguchi stopping the sweep attempt from Active.

Active had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yamaguchi defends it easily.
Active looking for a sweep. Not yet Active, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Active looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yamaguchi passes into side control.
Active manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yamaguchi's best efforts.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Yamaguchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Active keeps working.
Active wants to improve his position but Yamaguchi is controlling well.
Yamaguchi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Active regains full guard. Nicely done.

Active is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yamaguchi is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi won't allow Active to sweep him here.

Active is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yamaguchi is aware though and is defending well.
Yamaguchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Active is keeping the position for now.

Active is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Active looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamaguchi is one step ahead there.

Yamaguchi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yamaguchi, as that shot connected.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot.
Yamaguchi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Active counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Active throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Active steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Active closes the distance and clinches.
Active misses with a body punch.
Yamaguchi misses with some punches.
Active tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yamaguchi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Active's elbow.
Yamaguchi blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Active.
Yamaguchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Active uses good head movement to avoid it.
Active lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kai Yamaguchi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hand to the body from Yamaguchi.
Active pushes Yamaguchi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yamaguchi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Active tries to throw a body punch but Yamaguchi avoids it by throwing Active back against the cage.
Yamaguchi scores with a hook to the body.
Active scores with a shoulder strike.
Yamaguchi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Active blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi pushes Active back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Active misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Active backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Active.
Active misses with some punches.
Active drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamaguchi can't find room to land a body shot as Active controls the action.
Active lands a shoulder strike.
Active misses with the head strike.
Yamaguchi misses with a body punch.
Yamaguchi misses with some punches.
Yamaguchi lands an uppercut.
Yamaguchi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Yamaguchi prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yamaguchi.
Active blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Yamaguchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Yamaguchi dominated that second round.
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!

Active tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamaguchi was well out of range. Poor timing from Active.
Active takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Yamaguchi tried to counter with a leg kick but Active avoided it.
Yamaguchi jabs Active to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yamaguchi with the inside leg kick.
Active takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Active lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Active shoots and misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yamaguchi.
Active stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Active takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yamaguchi blocks a jab.
Active misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Active avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamaguchi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi slips a jab from Active.
Active takes a swing at Yamaguchi's ribcage but misses.
Yamaguchi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A jab lands there for Yamaguchi.
Active takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook. Active ducked under it nicely.
Yamaguchi looks to land a left hand but Active moved out of range nicely.
Active scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yamaguchi in his tracks.
Active thuds a left hand into Yamaguchi's body.
Active scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yamaguchi doesn't seem bothered though.
Active works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Active throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Kai Yamaguchi is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Yamaguchi misses the target.
Active stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yamaguchi.
Active keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamaguchi.
Active throws out a counter right but Yamaguchi avoids it with no problem.
Active's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Active throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamaguchi.
Radio Active has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Active stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yamaguchi.
Nice straight punches there by Active. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Active.
Active throws a shot from downtown. Yamaguchi moves away and avoids it.

Active looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Yamaguchi!

Yamaguchi sneaks out the side door and pushes Active away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Yamaguchi lands a glancing blow to the side of Active's head.
Yamaguchi connects with a nice looking jab.
Active swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Active takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Active moves out of range.
Active with the counter takedown but Yamaguchi avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Yamaguchi.
Active uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamaguchi.
Active misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Active misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yamaguchi counters with a low kick, right behind Active 's knee.
Active steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi.

Active clinches up against the cage.
Active lands an uppercut.
Active is working Yamaguchi over against the cage.
Yamaguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Active.
Yamaguchi lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Active.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamaguchi.
Kai Yamaguchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice right hand lands inside from Active.
Active scores with a nice hook to the head.
Active scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Active lands with a short shot to the head.
A short body shot lands from Active as the two fighters clinch.
Yamaguchi has a couple of punches blocked by Active.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Active misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaguchi is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Active blocking some punches.
Active lands a hook to the side of the head.
Active prevents a body shot from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Active fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kai Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Radio Active.
Active tries a body shot but Yamaguchi blocks it.
Active lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yamaguchi struggles to land a body shot inside as Active controls his hands.
Yamaguchi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yamaguchi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Active backwards.
Active throws a head punch that misses.
Active lands a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Active pushes Yamaguchi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Active.
Yamaguchi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Active misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Radio Active.
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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

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.