PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Roots. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Yamato
vs
Gomi

173 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Yamato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gomi.
Gomi lands with a hook. Yamato tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

It looks like Yoshi Yamato has been cut.
Gomi misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yamato.
Yamato stuns Gomi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from Gomi does no damage.
Yamato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gomi circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Gomi as he connects with a hook.
Yamato throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Yamato avoids them all with ease.
Gomi scores with a jab. Yamato acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Yamato rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Gomi decides to pull guard.
Yamato looking to sit in guard and control but Gomi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yamato is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi trying to control but Yamato is working from the bottom.
Gomi is pushing down on Yamato's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yamato is fighting to maintain full guard but Gomi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gomi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yamato's head.
Yamato wants to stand back up but Gomi manages to pass into side control.
Yamato is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yamato controls the position for a moment.

Gomi stands up and beckons Yamato to his feet.

Yamato shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yamato is breathing heavily.
Gomi wants to control but Yamato is keeping busy.
Gomi tries to roll over but Yamato keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato stops Gomi from getting back to his feet.
Gomi wants to get back to full guard.
Yamato prevents Gomi from standing back up.
Yamato frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gomi swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yamato jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gomi manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gomi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Yamato's best efforts.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gomi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yamato slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yamato looking to sit in guard and control but Gomi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yamato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yoshi Yamato's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gomi!
A punch combination from Yamato misses.
Gomi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gomi wants it to stay on the feet.
Yamato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yamato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.
Yamato fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gomi avoids it really well and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gomi, as that shot connected.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Yamato moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gomi throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamato.
Gomi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamato circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato walks into a left hand.
Takanori Gomi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A clash of legs there as Yamato blocks the low kick.

Yamato rushes Gomi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gomi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yamato just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yamato wants to get back to striking at distance but Gomi won't allow it.
Gomi tries to pull guard but Yamato holds him up against the cage and eventually Gomi drops back down to his feet.
Yamato jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gomi walks away with a smile on his face. Yamato gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshi Yamato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Takanori Gomi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamato misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Gomi cracks Yamato with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gomi thuds his right hand into Yamato's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gomi takes a swing at Yamato's ribcage but misses.
Gomi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Yamato takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Good standup being displayed there by Gomi as he connects with a hook.
Gomi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Yamato. Yamato circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gomi misses the body punch
and Yamato counters with a good, hard body kick but Gomi shrugs it off.
Yamato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Gomi as Yamato shoots in.
Yamato takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamato fails with the takedown.
Takanori Gomi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamato with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gomi to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi scores with a decent looking hook.
Yamato tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gomi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi scores with a punch to the head.
Gomi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yamato looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yamato will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yamato is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gomi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gomi throws a right and a left that Yamato avoids nicely.
A swing and a miss from Gomi.
Gomi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
Yamato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomi throws out the jab.
Yamato fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yamato shoots in and drives through. Gomi sprawls well.
Yamato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gomi as he avoids it easily.
Gomi scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamato fails with the takedown
and Gomi counters with a left and a right that stings Yamato.
Yamato showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.
No luck for Yamato with that takedown attempt.
Yamato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi stuffs the takedown.
A left lands for Gomi.
Gomi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Yamato throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gomi was covering up waiting for the punch and Yamato finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gomi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yamato controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yoshi Yamato's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yamato closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gomi counters with a stiff right hand.
Yamato tries for a takedown but Gomi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Gomi does no damage.
Yamato takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gomi scores with the left hand. Yamato knows he should have avoided that one.
Yamato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamato misses with a takedown
and Gomi counters with a one-two to the body.
Gomi fails to land with a series of punches.
Gomi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gomi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshi Yamato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gomi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi misses with an uppercut.
Yamato misses with a head kick.
Yamato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yamato with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gomi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Yamato really felt that one!
Yamato closes the distance but Gomi moves to the side
and Gomi counters with a nice body shot.
Gomi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Yamato closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Yamato lands in his opponent's guard.
Yamato trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gomi's guard.
Gomi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamato works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yamato is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Yamato is thwarting Gomi's attempts to control the position.
Yamato wants to pass to mount but Gomi is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato prevents Gomi from improving his position.

Gomi has one foot on Yamato's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Gomi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yamato shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gomi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Gomi circles away.
Some wild striking there from Gomi.
Yamato keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gomi throws a head kick that misses

and Yamato decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gomi's guard.
Gomi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gomi wants to get back to his feet but Yamato is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Gomi kicks Yamato off and gets to his feet.
Gomi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yamato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamato is just out of range.
Yamato takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gomi jabs at Yamato's body.
Yoshi Yamato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takanori Gomi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gomi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yoshi Yamato.
I think Gomi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takanori Gomi!