PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zenzo Rai (ranked 1153 p4p, 2255 weight class) and Calabi Yau (ranked 174 p4p, 316 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rai
vs
Yau

183 cm
30
180
6 - 2 - 0

184 cm
39
182
23 - 18 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

FF Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zenzo Rai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Calabi Yau!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Rai misses its intended target.
Yau tries to work over Rai's front leg with a kick but Rai checks it.
Rai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rai.
Yau throws a series of punches but Rai moves out of range.
Rai cracks Yau with a right hand to the side of the head.
No joy there for Rai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rai lands a leg kick that knocks Yau off balance momentarily.
Yau has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rai.
Rai throws a leg kick which misses Yau's front leg but catches the back leg as Yau tries to avoid it.
Rai scores with a jab to the head.
Yau swinging wildly here.
Rai blocks a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rai manages to avoid it.
Rai looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yau takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rai tries to land a leg kick but Yau saw it coming and moves away.
Rai throws a body shot but no joy.
Yau takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Yau walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yau keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rai takes one to the chin there.
Nice shot lands for Rai.
Rai throws the left hand but Yau avoids the punch easily.
Rai moves out of range as Yau strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab from Yau.
Yau fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rai.
Yau throws an overhand right that lands on Rai's shoulder, as Rai tries to avoid the shot.
The fighters circling - Rai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab from Rai misses.
Yau lands a jab.
Yau takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yau. Rai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yau lands with a hook. Rai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rai motions for Yau to come forward. Rai throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai moves out of range as Yau strikes.
Rai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rai throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yau throws a jab when Rai was well out of range.
Yau misses with a hook.
A punch lands to the side of Rai 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yau throws a leg kick but Rai sees it coming and moves out of range.
It looked like Rai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big left from Yau misses.
Rai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rai scoring well with a low kick there.
Rai moves out of range of the strikes.
Yau takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Yau takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rai cracks Yau with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yau with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yau throws a hook to the side of Rai's head but Rai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rai wants to land a leg kick but Yau is out of range.
Yau swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rai with a jab.
Yau lands a leg kick that knocks Rai off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Yau motions for Rai to come forward. Yau throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rai avoids the body shot from Yau.
Rai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rai misses with a series of wild punches.
Yau punishes Rai's body with a nice straight punch.
Rai connects with an inside leg kick.
Yau connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rai's hands.
Sloppy strikes from Yau. Those never looked like landing.
Rai connects with a looping right hand.
Yau misses with a straight left.
Yau takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yau fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yau connects with an inside leg kick.
Rai throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai misses with a body punch
and Yau cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A slow jab from Rai misses its intended target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yau. That's going to slow Rai down.
Rai misses with a looping right.
Jab by Yau.
Rai throws a head kick but Yau moves out of range.
Rai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yau manages to avoid it.
Rai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rai misses with a wild combination.
Yau misses with a looping right.
Rai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Yau swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Yau lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yau. That did some damage!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yau misses with a straight left.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Yau jabs at Rai's body.
Rai ducks under a wild hook from Yau.
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 Zenzo Rai will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Rai misses with a double jab.
Rai takes one on the button.
Yau scores with a jab to the body.
Rai with the inside leg kick.
Rai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rai.
Rai misses with a looping left.
Rai motions for Yau to come forward. Rai throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yau fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zenzo Rai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rai goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yau's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rai under the eye.
A shot to the liver by Yau. Beautiful body shot.
Rai throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yau.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yau is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rai.
Yau misses with a hook. Rai ducked under it nicely.
Yau scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rai cracks Yau with a good jab.
Rai throws a head kick that misses.
Rai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yau looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yau's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rai throws a jab but it's blocked by Yau.
Yau misses with a hook.
Rai throws a sloppy head kick and Yau moves out of range easily.
A little jabbing left from Yau on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yau throws out a loose jab but Rai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yau shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yau on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Zenzo Rai is winning the standup battle so far.
Rai misses with a body kick.
Rai misses with a left hand
and Yau counters with a right hand to the body.
A big left from Rai misses.
Rai scores with a sloppy right hand. Yau should have avoided that one.
Rai checks a low kick from Yau.
Yau 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.
Yau stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yau throws a right and a left that Rai avoids nicely.
Rai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yau stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Yau takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai slips under a jab from Yau.
Yau blocks a head kick by Rai.
Yau attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Yau misses.
Rai jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rai 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.
Nice defenses there by Yau.
Yau looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rai manages to avoid it.
Rai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Yau throws a body shot but no joy.
Rai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yau uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rai has time to react.
Rai looks to score with a jab to the body but Yau is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Rai.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rai. Yau does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big right from Yau misses.
Yau will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yau avoids the body shot from Rai.
Rai connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yau momentarily.
Yau waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rai.
Rai lands with a straight right. Yau didn't see that one coming.
Rai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yau was well out of range. Poor timing from Rai.
Yau unleashes a big counter combination but Rai bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Yau misses with an uppercut
and Rai counters with a right hand to the body.
Yau slips under a jab.
Yau appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Rai ducks under a wild hook from Yau.
Yau throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A low kick lands for Rai.
Yau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rai manages to avoid it.
Rai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yau moves away.
Rai lands with a kick to the temple. Yau shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rai ducks under a wild hook from Yau.
Yau swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rai.
Rai looks to throw the jab but Yau is out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rai misses with a combination
enabling Yau to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Yau scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rai ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick from Rai, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yau throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It looked like Rai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good leg kick by Yau.
Rai throws a head kick that misses.
Yau connects with a body shot.
Rai takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rai.
Yau lands a body shot.
Yau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rai manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yau misses with a looping left.
Rai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yau. Rai does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Calabi Yau will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rai connects with a nice looking jab.
Rai misses with a straight left.
Yau lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Yau tries a low kick but Rai avoids it.
Rai tried to counter with a leg kick but Yau avoided it.
Jab by Rai.
A leg kick checked by Yau.
Rai misses with a looping right.
A low kick lands for Yau.
Yau lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rai circles away quickly and effectively.
Yau lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rai misses with a few strikes there.
Rai avoids the body shot from Yau.
Yau misses with a straight left.
Rai quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Yau throws out a loose jab but Rai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yau.
Yau looks to score with a jab to the body but Rai is just out of range.
Rai checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rai thows a body kick. Yau tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai pushes Yau away with a front kick.
Yau takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rai digs a good body shot into Yau's ribs.
Rai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yau throws out the jab.
Rai stuns Yau with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yau.
A good leg kick by Rai.
Yau throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yau throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rai lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rai throws a jab but it's blocked by Yau.
Yau looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Yau is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yau jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yau scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rai doesn't seem bothered though.
Yau scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Yau throws the left hand but Rai avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Yau checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A lazy left from Rai finds it's target.
A big right from Rai misses.
A big right from Yau misses.
Rai misses with a double jab
enabling Yau to counter with a crisp jab.
Yau smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yau scores with a hook.
Rai tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rai lands with a nice combination. Yau backs away looking to recover.
Yau scores with a nice right hand.
Yau scores with a shot to the body.
Yau swinging wildly here.
Rai throws the left hand but Yau avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yau misses with a straight right.
Rai blocks a jab.
Yau misses with a right hand
and Rai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yau takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rai pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yau checks a leg kick.
Rai fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Yau checks it well.
Yau misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rai.
Rai thumps Yau with a low kick.
Rai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yau just misses with a punch to the body.
Rai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yau was well out of range. Poor timing from Rai.
A little jabbing left from Yau on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yau takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rai will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Yau throws a hook but Rai blocks it.
Yau misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rai misses with a straight right.
Yau connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rai throws an off balance right hand
and Yau counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rai checks a low kick from Yau.
A swing and a miss from Rai.
A telegraphed right hand from Yau misses the target.
Rai stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yau lands a nice looking body shot.
Rai lands with a thumping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Yau.
Rai throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yau stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rai misses with a body punch
and Yau counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yau.
Rai throws a leg kick but Yau sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yau misses with a body shot.
Yau misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Calabi Yau.
I think Yau has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zenzo Rai!
Zenzo Rai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.