PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yusuke Kamasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Norman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kamasaki comes to the cage accompanied by Czas Na Walke. The crowd seem to be enjoying Norman's choice of entrance music: Carrion. On his way into the cage it seems that Yusuke Kamasaki has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Yusuke Kamasaki seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kamasaki
vs
Norman

184 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yusuke Kamasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zach Norman!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kamasaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kamasaki.
Norman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kamasaki's waist but Kamasaki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Norman off to one side.
Good leg kick by Norman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kamasaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Norman.
Norman avoids the head kick by Kamasaki.
Kamasaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kamasaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuke Kamasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Norman wants to stand but Kamasaki is controlling his arm.
Norman looks gassed!
Kamasaki can't do much from the bottom here.

Norman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kamasaki has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Norman but great work by Kamasaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kamasaki stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kamasaki is looking to clinch.
Norman swats away the attempt to clinch by Kamasaki.

Kamasaki moves into range and clinches up with Norman.
Kamasaki fails to pull guard.
Come on Norman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Kamasaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Norman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Both fighters circling a little - Kamasaki finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kamasaki tries to bum rush Norman with a series of wild strikes but Norman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamasaki lands with a cross.
Norman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Norman stuffs the takedown attempt from Kamasaki. Kamasaki gets slowly back to his feet.

Norman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kamasaki working a defensive guard here.

Kamasaki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Norman wants to stand but Kamasaki is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kamasaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Norman manages to get himself to full guard.
Kamasaki trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.

Norman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kamasaki thows a big elbow that misses.

Kamasaki stands up from Norman's guard - Kamasaki perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kamasaki closes the distance and clinches.

Norman manages to break the clinch.
Kamasaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Kamasaki shoots for a double leg takedown but Norman sprawls well. He's pushed Kamasaki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zach Norman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kamasaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Norman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kamasaki counters with a shoot takedown. Norman fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kamasaki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Norman wants to stand and escape but Kamasaki is having none of it.
Kamasaki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Kamasaki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kamasaki tries to clinch up but Norman circles away and keeps his distance.
Norman throws a head kick that misses.
Kamasaki fails to land the takedown.
Kamasaki tries to bum rush Norman with a series of wild strikes but Norman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kamasaki has his takedown stuffed

and Norman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Norman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Norman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kamasaki tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Norman swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuke Kamasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kamasaki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Norman circles away.
Norman wants to clinch but Kamasaki slips to the side

and Kamasaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kamasaki.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kamasaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kamasaki stops Norman from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norman keeping moving, preventing Kamasaki from controlling successfully.
Norman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kamasaki is one step ahead there.

Kamasaki stands up and waves to Norman to follow him.
Kamasaki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kamasaki throws a right hand that Norman ducks under and follows up with a left that Norman also avoids with ease.

That's two 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.
Kamasaki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Norman darts in and clinches Kamasaki up against the cage.
Kamasaki tries to score a body lock takedown but Norman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Norman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kamasaki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Norman.
Kamasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kamasaki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Norman counters with a nice body shot.
Norman avoids the head kick by Kamasaki.

Norman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kamasaki gets control of Norman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kamasaki will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kamasaki wants to stand but Norman is controlling the position.
Norman working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman wants to pass the guard but Kamasaki is keeping the position.
Kamasaki is trying to control the position but Norman postures up.
Norman trying to control but Kamasaki is working from the bottom.

Norman gets to his feet - Kamasaki follows without any prompting.
Kamasaki fails with the takedown
and Norman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Norman has managed to clinch.
Kamasaki looking for a takedown.

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.
Kamasaki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kamasaki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Norman has him pressed against the cage.
Kamasaki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Norman walks away with a smile on his face. Kamasaki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Norman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kamasaki is fending him off so far but Norman persists. Nope, Kamasaki circles away and we're back to standing.
Kamasaki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Norman tries for a takedown but Kamasaki circles away easily

and Kamasaki counters with a shoot takedown. Norman fights it but they end up in guard.
Kamasaki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kamasaki looking to pass the guard.
Kamasaki is working hard here to advance position.
Norman working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yusuke Kamasaki dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Norman throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Norman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kamasaki darts in trying to clinch
and Norman counters with a body kick that stops Kamasaki in his tracks momentarily.
Kamasaki works Norman's body with a nice hook.

Kamasaki closes the distance and pushes Norman back into the cage.

Norman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kamasaki has a takedown stuffed.
Norman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kamasaki throws a wild body kick that Norman sees coming a mile off.
Kamasaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Norman tries to avoid it but Kamasaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Norman to the ground. Norman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamasaki closes the distance but Norman moves to the side
enabling Norman to counter with a crisp jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Kamasaki blocks the leg kick.
Norman stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yusuke Kamasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Norman rushes Kamasaki and presses him up against the cage.

Norman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kamasaki feints and as Norman raises his hands in defense, Kamasaki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kamasaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Norman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kamasaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kamasaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kamasaki wants to control from the top but Norman keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamasaki won't allow Norman to get back to his feet.
Norman is controlling Kamasaki's posture.

Norman is working an open guard so Kamasaki takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kamasaki throws a combination. Norman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Norman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Kamasaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kamasaki trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.
Kamasaki wants to pass the guard but Norman is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norman wants to stand and escape but Kamasaki is having none of it.
Kamasaki trying to control but Norman is working from the bottom.

Norman manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Norman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norman wants it to stay on the feet.
Norman displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kamasaki tries to clinch but Norman moves away
and Norman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yusuke Kamasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norman misses the jab.
Norman moves out of range as Kamasaki throws a body kick.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kamasaki.
Norman tries to clinch up but Kamasaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Norman misses with a straight right.
Norman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kamasaki looks for a takedown but Norman sprawls well.
Kamasaki tries to clinch but Norman moves out of range.
Kamasaki shoots and misses
and Norman counters with a nice body kick.

Norman rushes Kamasaki and presses him up against the cage.

Kamasaki drags the fight down to the ground.
Norman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zach Norman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yusuke Kamasaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Norman throws and elbow that misses. Kamasaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Norman's guard. Nice move by Kamasaki!

And that's the end of the fight!
Yusuke Kamasaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kamasaki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yusuke Kamasaki!