PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yamaoka Yukinobu (ranked 1208 p4p, 3393 weight class) and Aleksi Heimo (ranked 68 p4p, 228 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yukinobu
vs
Heimo

170 cm
29
148
11 - 8 - 0

169 cm
29
146
8 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 160q Rec&St

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yamaoka Yukinobu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksi Heimo!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yukinobu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yukinobu misses with a straight right.
Heimo misses the body punch

and Yukinobu counters with a single leg into guard. Heimo didn't expect that.
Yukinobu is in close to Heimo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yukinobu won't allow Heimo to sweep him here.
Heimo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yukinobu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heimo pulls Yukinobu in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimo controlling Yukinobu's posture.
Heimo is trying to keep Yukinobu in close.
Yukinobu tries to free his leg and advance position but Heimo is retaining full guard.
Heimo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Heimo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yukinobu is one step ahead there.
Yukinobu is looking to work some ground and pound but Heimo has wrist control.
Yukinobu stopping the sweep attempt from Heimo.
Heimo wants to hit a sweep here but Yukinobu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Heimo there!
Heimo regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu throwing shots but Heimo is blocking nicely.
Heimo tries to roll over but Yukinobu keeps him under control.
Yukinobu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Heimo is holding on to half guard well.
Heimo has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Heimo manages to get to full guard.
Heimo looking for a sweep. Not yet Heimo, not yet.
Yukinobu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yukinobu wants to pass the guard but Heimo is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yukinobu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Heimo wants to sweep but no luck.
Yukinobu stays in close to Heimo's body and controls the position.
Heimo working a defensive guard here.
Yukinobu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've been hearing good reports from Yukinobu's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Yukinobu trying to control but Heimo is working from the bottom.
Heimo wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Heimo is on top in guard.

Heimo stops Yukinobu from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimo trying to control the position from guard on top but Yukinobu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yukinobu wants to stand and escape but Heimo is having none of it.
Heimo tries to free his leg and advance position but Yukinobu is retaining full guard.
Heimo trying to control but Yukinobu is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yukinobu pulls Heimo in close to his closed guard and prevents Heimo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Heimo wants to pass the guard but Yukinobu is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yukinobu is pulling down on Heimo's head. It's preventing any offense from Heimo, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yamaoka Yukinobu 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.

Heimo lands a jab to Yukinobu's midsection.
A telegraphed right hand from Heimo misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Heimo misses the target.
Heimo avoids a kick to the body.
Heimo throws a hook but Yukinobu blocks it.
Heimo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yukinobu looks to score with a jab to the body but Heimo is just out of range.
Yukinobu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Yukinobu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Heimo looks to throw the jab but Yukinobu is out of range.
Heimo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yukinobu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Heimo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yukinobu tries to counter with a takedown but Heimo is quick to defend against it.
Heimo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Heimo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Heimo looks to throw the jab but Yukinobu is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Yukinobu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yukinobu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Heimo.

Yukinobu 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.
Heimo wants to sweep here but Yukinobu controlling him for the moment.
Yukinobu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Heimo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yukinobu landing with the ground and pound.
Yukinobu working some strikes from top position.
Heimo is pulling down on Yukinobu's head to control his posture.
Yukinobu trying to control but Heimo is working from the bottom.
Yukinobu won't allow Heimo to sweep him here.
Yukinobu wants to control from the top but Heimo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Heimo keeping moving, preventing Yukinobu from controlling successfully.
Yamaoka Yukinobu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Heimo wants to stand and escape but Yukinobu is having none of it.
Yukinobu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heimo keeping moving, preventing Yukinobu from controlling successfully.
Heimo trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yukinobu scores with a head kick.
Yamaoka Yukinobu is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Heimo.
Yukinobu avoids a kick to the body.
Heimo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yukinobu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Heimo thows a leg kick but Yukinobu checks it

so Yukinobu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heimo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Heimo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Yukinobu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yukinobu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Heimo trying to keep a closed guard but Yukinobu is proving a slippery customer.

Heimo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Heimo trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Heimo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yukinobu is aware though and is defending well.
Yukinobu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Yukinobu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Heimo throws the left hand but Yukinobu avoids the punch easily.
Heimo throws a body shot but no joy.
Good shot there by Heimo.
Yukinobu looks for the body kick but Heimo saw that one coming.
Nice straight punches there by Yukinobu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Yukinobu.
Yukinobu slips a jab from Heimo.
Yukinobu scores with a nice body kick.
Yukinobu looks for the body kick but Heimo saw that one coming.
Aleksi Heimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Heimo slips under a jab from Yukinobu.
Heimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Yukinobu tries to counter with a takedown but Heimo is quick to defend against it.
Heimo moves out of range of the body kick from Yukinobu.
A little jabbing left from Heimo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Heimo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yukinobu lands with a slapping head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yamaoka Yukinobu dominated that second round.
That's time! Yukinobu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Heimo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Yukinobu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Heimo misses with an uppercut.
Heimo throws a lazy right hand but Yukinobu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yukinobu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Heimo throws a sloppy head kick and Yukinobu moves out of range easily.
Yukinobu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yukinobu with a jab.
Heimo misses with a leg kick.
Yukinobu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aleksi Heimo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good exchange - Yukinobu coming out on top.
Heimo misses with a low kick.
Heimo tries to move into range but Yukinobu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Heimo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yukinobu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Heimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yukinobu moves away.
Yukinobu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heimo.
Heimo throws a hook to the side of Yukinobu's head but Yukinobu sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yukinobu ducks under a wild hook from Heimo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yukinobu tries to land a front kick but Heimo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Heimo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Yukinobu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heimo.
Yukinobu looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yukinobu thuds a left hand into Heimo's body.
Heimo throws a body shot but no joy.
Yukinobu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Heimo throws a jab when Yukinobu was well out of range.
Yukinobu appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Heimo misses with a wild body shot.
A good leg kick by Heimo.
Heimo looks to throw the jab but Yukinobu is out of range.
Yukinobu misses with a looping right.
Yukinobu throws the left hand but Heimo avoids the punch easily.
Yukinobu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Heimo can do to turn this around?
Heimo misses with a body shot.
Yukinobu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yukinobu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Heimo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yukinobu is able to avoid easily.
Yamaoka Yukinobu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimo scores with a sloppy right hand. Yukinobu should have avoided that one.
Heimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yukinobu moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heimo thumps Yukinobu with a low kick.
Yukinobu misses with a kick to the body.
Yukinobu lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Heimo throws a jab when Yukinobu was well out of range.
Heimo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Heimo misses with a hook.
Nice defenses there by Yukinobu.
Yukinobu throws a body kick that misses.
Heimo feints a counter leg kick.
Yukinobu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yukinobu attempts a counter takedown but Heimo avoids it well and moves away.
Heimo throws out a loose jab but Yukinobu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heimo defending well as Yukinobu loads up on a big left hand.
A little jabbing left from Heimo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Heimo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Heimo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yukinobu throws a body punch but Heimo moves out of range.
Yukinobu throws a wild body kick that Heimo sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Yukinobu misses the target.
Yukinobu misses with a body kick.
Yukinobu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Yukinobu.
Yukinobu throws a shot to the body.
Yukinobu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Heimo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Heimo throws a predictable looking body shot

and Yukinobu counters with a shoot takedown. Heimo fights it but they end up in guard.
Heimo trying to control the position.
Heimo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yukinobu preventing the sweep.
Heimo has Yukinobu pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heimo is continuing to stall.
Yukinobu works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Heimo is trying to maintain the position but Yukinobu is very close to passing his half guard.
Heimo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yukinobu is thwarting Heimo's attempts to control the position.
Aleksi Heimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yukinobu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yamaoka Yukinobu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yukinobu 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yamaoka Yukinobu!