PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Katsu Yamasaki (ranked 375 p4p, 553 weight class) and Draco Leonidas (ranked 37 p4p, 48 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yamasaki
vs
Leonidas

176 cm
26
157
11 - 4 - 0

170 cm
24
150
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Katsu Yamasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Draco Leonidas!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonidas misses with a body shot.
Yamasaki half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Leonidas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Leonidas scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamasaki should have avoided that one.
Leonidas looks to land a right hand but Yamasaki moved out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Yamasaki has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Leonidas takes a swing at Yamasaki's ribcage but misses.
Leonidas catches Yamasaki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Leonidas misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamasaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamasaki changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Leonidas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamasaki.
Leonidas throws a leg kick

and Yamasaki counters with a single leg into guard. Leonidas didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamasaki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamasaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leonidas is controlling Yamasaki's posture.
Yamasaki looking to pass the guard.
Yamasaki is looking to advance position but Leonidas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Yamasaki working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yamasaki tries to hold on but Leonidas postures up.
Yamasaki is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas controlling his opponent.
Yamasaki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Leonidas controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yamasaki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Leonidas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamasaki really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Leonidas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Leonidas throws a shot from downtown. Yamasaki moves away and avoids it.
Yamasaki attempts a counter takedown but Leonidas avoids it well and moves away.
Yamasaki moves out of range of the strikes.
Yamasaki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Leonidas can pounce on him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Leonidas, as that shot connected.
Draco Leonidas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leonidas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Leonidas throws a jab when Yamasaki was well out of range.
Leonidas keeps Yamasaki at a distance using the push kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidas throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Leonidas throws a right hand that misses

and Yamasaki counters by moving into the clinch.
Yamasaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Leonidas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamasaki.
Leonidas scores with a shot to the side of Yamasaki's head.
Leonidas tries a body shot but Yamasaki blocks it.
Leonidas misses with the head strike.
Yamasaki is trying to pull guard but Leonidas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Yamasaki manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Yamasaki has Leonidas pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yamasaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Leonidas controls the pace.

Yamasaki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Leonidas passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Yamasaki tries to lock up and control but Leonidas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Leonidas controlling from the full mount.
Leonidas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Yamasaki working to try and regain half guard.
Leonidas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Yamasaki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Leonidas slows the pace down in half guard.
Leonidas passes into side control, despite Yamasaki's attempt to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamasaki tries to improve position but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Draco Leonidas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Yamasaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Leonidas.
Yamasaki tests Leonidas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Leonidas connects with a looping right hand.
Leonidas thuds his right hand into Yamasaki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Leonidas lands with a kick to the ribs.
Leonidas throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidas cracks a nice hook into Yamasaki's ribs.
Leonidas swings for the body but Yamasaki moves out of range.
Yamasaki is looking to counter the offense by Leonidas and move into the clinch.
Leonidas throws a shot to the body.
Katsu Yamasaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonidas just misses with a punch to the body.
Leonidas misses with a leg kick.
Yamasaki misses the jab.
Leonidas throws out a counter right but Yamasaki avoids it with no problem.
Yamasaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Leonidas manages to avoid it.
Yamasaki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yamasaki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yamasaki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leonidas bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yamasaki's head.
Draco Leonidas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Leonidas tries to land a body kick

and Yamasaki counters with a shoot takedown. Leonidas fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonidas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yamasaki stopping the sweep attempt from Leonidas.
Yamasaki wants to control from the top but Leonidas keeps moving.
Yamasaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonidas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Yamasaki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Leonidas's guard.
Yamasaki is trying to control. Leonidas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Leonidas wants to control but Yamasaki is keeping busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Leonidas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Leonidas misses with a kick to the body

and Yamasaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yamasaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yamasaki wants to control from the top but Leonidas keeps moving.
Leonidas looking for a sweep. Not yet Leonidas, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonidas has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yamasaki has passed into side control.
Leonidas can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Draco Leonidas.
I've got Leonidas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Draco Leonidas!