PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Venegas (ranked 676 p4p, 1236 weight class) and Yuuji Hoshino (ranked 40 p4p, 69 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Venegas
vs
Hoshino

150 cm
28
145
17 - 8 - 0

168 cm
28
140
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Maximum Human Performance

Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

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 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Frankie Venegas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Yuuji Hoshino!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoshino tries to keep at a distance but Venegas has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hoshino's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hoshino breaks from the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Hoshino.

Venegas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Venegas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Venegas is looking for a kimura but Hoshino is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Venegas to get the leverage.
Hoshino controlling the position well.
Venegas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Venegas wants to work for an arm triangle but Hoshino is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Venegas seems to be working for a kimura but Hoshino defends the submission attempt.
Hoshino keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've been hearing good reports from Venegas '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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venegas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hoshino's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hoshino can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hoshino is trying to control but Venegas passes into side control!

Venegas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Venegas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Venegas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hoshino keeps working.

Venegas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Hoshino is right now.
Hoshino takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Venegas taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on Hoshino's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Venegas tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hoshino felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Hoshino is looking to regain half guard here but Venegas keeps moving and retains side control.
Hoshino manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Venegas desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Venegas tries to get to full guard but Hoshino has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Venegas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hoshino pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Venegas wants to get back to his feet.
Venegas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venegas tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hoshino prevents Venegas from improving his position.
Venegas punching from the bottom.
Hoshino works his way into full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Venegas tries to lock up and control but Hoshino gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Venegas dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Venegas clinches.

Venegas has clasped his hands together around Hoshino's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Venegas scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hoshino to see if he's OK.
Hoshino is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Venegas works to advance to full mount. Hoshino defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Hoshino tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hoshino is squirming around, avoiding Venegas 's attempts to control the action.
Hoshino tries to hold on but Venegas postures up.
Hoshino really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Venegas . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Venegas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hoshino looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Venegas is trying to control here but Hoshino has managed to regain half guard.
Venegas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoshino can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venegas is looking to take a break and control but Hoshino is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hoshino is looking to control Venegas 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hoshino avoid being mounted?
Venegas trying to control from Hoshino's half guard. Hoshino has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Venegas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Venegas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hoshino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hoshino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hoshino can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Venegas controls the pace.
Venegas throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hoshino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Venegas is one step ahead there.
Hoshino working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Venegas .
Venegas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Venegas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Venegas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoshino is keeping the position for now.
Venegas scoring with some ground and pound.
Hoshino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hoshino preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoshino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hoshino preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Venegas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoshino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Hoshino does it's job there.
Venegas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hoshino counters with a left to the body.
Venegas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Venegas backing away here, and Hoshino unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Venegas clinches.

Hoshino escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A jab lands there for Hoshino.
A left and a right from Hoshino both land. Nice combination.
Hoshino dodges the punch combination from Venegas .
Frankie Venegas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Hoshino.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoshino scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Hoshino gets tackled into the cage by Venegas . Venegas maintains the clinch.

Hoshino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoshino is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Venegas throws a looping overhand right but Hoshino ducks down to avoid it.
Hoshino lands with a nice body punch.

Venegas pushes Hoshino up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoshino has had enough of the clinch but Venegas keeps him there for the moment.
Hoshino is looking to break free of the clinch but Venegas has double underhooks.

Venegas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A cross from Hoshino lands.
Crunch! Hoshino slams his shin into Venegas 's torso.
Venegas has his takedown stuffed
and Venegas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Venegas is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yuuji Hoshino will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hoshino scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Venegas doesn't seem bothered though.
Venegas closes the distance but Hoshino moves to the side
and Hoshino counters with a nice leg kick.

Venegas closes the distance and pushes Hoshino back into the cage.
Hoshino looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hoshino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Venegas wants to clinch
and Hoshino counters with a nice uppercut.
Oh Venegas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Venegas moves to clinch but Hoshino breaks away
and Hoshino counters with a nice leg kick.
Venegas throws a combination that misses
and Hoshino counters with a nice body kick.
Venegas gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Hoshino gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Venegas is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yuuji Hoshino!
A very excited looking Yuuji Hoshino made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.