PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Punch Bag (ranked 4359 p4p, 25135 weight class) and Suzume Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bag comes to the cage accompanied by Eye of the tiger. Punch Bag could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Suzume Yamaguchi 's chin.

Bag
vs
Yamaguchi

175 cm
18
147
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
151
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Punch Bag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Suzume Yamaguchi !
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bag keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamaguchi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bag keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bag keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamaguchi .

Bag gets a double leg takedown into Yamaguchi 's guard.
Yamaguchi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bag would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bag trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bag's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamaguchi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Bag from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bag is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Yamaguchi keeping moving, preventing Bag from controlling successfully.
Bag wanted to stand there but Yamaguchi had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A slow jab from Yamaguchi misses its intended target.
Yamaguchi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bag sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bag tries to counter by clinching up but Yamaguchi breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bag uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi .
Bag defending well as Yamaguchi loads up on a big left hand.
Yamaguchi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bag.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bag manages to avoid it.

Bag closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yamaguchi quickly recovers to half guard.
Yamaguchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bag.
Bag trying to control the action but Yamaguchi is working from the bottom.
Bag tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yamaguchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yamaguchi tries to get to full guard but Bag has control of the leg.
Bag is trying to control the action in half guard but Yamaguchi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bag takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bag wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamaguchi keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
We've been informed that Yamaguchi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Bag moves out of range.
Bag appears to be looking for a big counter.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Bag moves out of range.
Yamaguchi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bag rather than just go for the knockout.
Yamaguchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bag manages to avoid it.
Bag uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi throws a hook but Bag avoids it easily.
Bag blocks a jab.
Bag doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Suzume Yamaguchi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Bag moves into the clinch.
Yamaguchi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bag's face.
Yamaguchi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bag lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Yamaguchi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bag is breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamaguchi lands a good knee to the midsection. Bag won't want to take too many of those.
Yamaguchi lands a good knee to the midsection. Bag won't want to take too many of those.
Yamaguchi lands a nice knee to the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A knee to the head by Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yamaguchi obliges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi landing knees to the body.
Yamaguchi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Yamaguchi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Suzume Yamaguchi dominated that round.
That's time! Bag's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yamaguchi misses the jab.

Yamaguchi gets caught flat footed, as Bag shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bag postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bag trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamaguchi pulls Bag in close to his closed guard and prevents Bag from doing any damage or advancing position.
Bag wants to pass the guard but Yamaguchi is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bag wants to control from the top but Yamaguchi keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yamaguchi is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bag wanted to stand there but Yamaguchi had control of the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bag slips a jab and a cross from Yamaguchi .
Bag is looking for a counter combo.
Yamaguchi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bag moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Bag attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bag ducks under a wild hook from Yamaguchi .
Bag avoids the body shot from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bag uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi misses with a two punch combination.
Yamaguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamaguchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yamaguchi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Suzume Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bag closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Bag seems to be looking for submissions.
Bag throwing shots but Yamaguchi is blocking nicely.

Bag seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamaguchi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Bag missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi wants to improve his position but Bag is controlling well.
Bag looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bag uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamaguchi .
Yamaguchi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bag was well out of range. Poor timing from Yamaguchi .

Bag shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Yamaguchi is trying to defend but Bag finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bag wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bag thows a huge punch but Yamaguchi dodges it nicely.
Bag sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yamaguchi defending well though.
Bag missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Yamaguchi tries to get to full guard but Bag has control of the leg.
Yamaguchi is positioning himself well to prevent Bag advancing to mount.
Yamaguchi is refusing to be controlled, as Bag sits in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamaguchi misses with a shot to the body
and Bag counters with a series of strikes. Yamaguchi will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Punch Bag dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bag drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Bag scoring with punches and elbows.
Punch Bag overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bag wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamaguchi keeps working.
Bag has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yamaguchi is looking to regain half guard here but Bag keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi struggling a bit here.
Bag is looking to take a break and control but Yamaguchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bag tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bag throws a strike aimed at the side of Yamaguchi 's head but Yamaguchi avoids it well.
Yamaguchi prevents Bag from improving position.
Bag in the domination position with Yamaguchi hanging on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bag wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Yamaguchi tries to sprawl but Bag drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Yamaguchi is looking for a sweep. Bag is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Bag is looking for a kimura but Yamaguchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bag to get the leverage.

Bag is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bag trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bag drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bag jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yamaguchi is pulling down on Bag's head. It's preventing any offense from Bag, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bag wants to control from the top but Yamaguchi keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Bag shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yamaguchi 's guard.
Bag is fighting to break Yamaguchi 's control of his arms but Yamaguchi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bag trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamaguchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamaguchi is pulling down on Bag's head to control his posture.

Bag is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Punch Bag showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bag has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Punch Bag!
A relieved looking Punch Bag thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.