PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuu Mi (ranked 5460 p4p, 5107 weight class) and Takuma Yamauchi (ranked 284 p4p, 282 weight class). The key to victory for Yuu Mi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mi
vs
Yamauchi

169 cm
18
144
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
23
140
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yuu Mi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takuma Yamauchi!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamauchi darts in and clinches Mi up against the cage.

Mi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Yamauchi clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Yamauchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mi tries to keep at a distance but Yamauchi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yamauchi has Mi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mi is trying to stall.

Yamauchi jumps guard and drags Mi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yamauchi is pulling down on Mi's head. It's preventing any offense from Mi, at least for the moment.
Mi looking to sit in guard and control but Yamauchi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamauchi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamauchi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yamauchi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like Yamauchi might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Mi is working an open guard so Yamauchi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Yamauchi moves into range and clinches up with Mi.

That's two 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.

Yamauchi successfully pulls guard.
Mi trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamauchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mi looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mi landing with the ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yamauchi holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamauchi keeping moving, preventing Mi from controlling successfully.
Yamauchi has his hands on Mi's head, controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamauchi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mi.
Mi throws a body punch but Yamauchi moves out of range.
Mi misses with a straight right.
Yamauchi throws a sloppy head kick
and Mi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yamauchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mi lands a body shot.
Mi misses with a wild combination.

Yamauchi drives through and clinches with Mi against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yamauchi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mi tries a body shot but Yamauchi blocks it.
Yamauchi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Yamauchi wants to take the fight to the mat but Mi manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yamauchi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yamauchi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamauchi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yuu Mi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takuma Yamauchi.

Yamauchi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mi misses with a hook. Yamauchi ducked under it nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Mi. Those never looked like landing.
Yamauchi wants to counter with a clinch but Mi pushes him away.
Yamauchi slips under a jab from Mi.

Yamauchi forces Mi back against the cage and clinches.
Mi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mi is trying to stall.
Yamauchi dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Yamauchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick by Yamauchi misses
and Yamauchi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamauchi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mi throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamauchi.

Yamauchi has closed the distance and engaged Mi in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamauchi pulls guard effortlessly.
Mi wants to control from the top but Yamauchi keeps moving.
Yamauchi has Mi pulled in close to control his posture.
Mi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamauchi on the ground.
Yamauchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mi's guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mi trying to keep a closed guard but Yamauchi is proving a slippery customer.
Mi wants to sweep here but Yamauchi controlling him for the moment.
Yamauchi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yamauchi is continuing to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Takuma Yamauchi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yamauchi shoots and misses
and Mi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Yamauchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Yamauchi jumps guard.
Yamauchi keeping moving, preventing Mi from controlling successfully.
Mi looking to sit in guard and control but Yamauchi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yamauchi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Takuma Yamauchi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mi 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.
Yamauchi controlling from the top position.

Yamauchi gets to his feet - Mi follows without any prompting.

Yamauchi closes the distance and clinches.

Yamauchi gets control of Mi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yamauchi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mi stopping the sweep attempt from Yamauchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamauchi pulls Mi in to control the position.
Yamauchi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yamauchi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Yamauchi stands up and waves to Mi to follow him.

Yamauchi takes the fight into the clinch.
Mi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yuu Mi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takuma Yamauchi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mi tries a body shot but Yamauchi blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takuma Yamauchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yamauchi 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takuma Yamauchi!