PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Matsuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Igor Matsuki looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Matsuki
vs
Yamamoto

220 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

210 cm
23
265 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Matsuki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masahiro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yamamoto shoots in and bounces Matsuki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Yamamoto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yamamoto prevents Matsuki from getting back to his feet.
Matsuki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yamamoto looks gassed!
Yamamoto stops Matsuki from standing up.
Matsuki really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yamamoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuki wants to stand but Yamamoto is controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A cross from Matsuki lands.
Matsuki lands a jab to the head.
Yamamoto walks into a straight right hand from Matsuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Matsuki, as that shot connected.
Matsuki slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice jab there from Matsuki.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yamamoto.
A jab from Matsuki does it's job there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Matsuki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matsuki.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matsuki defends it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matsuki lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Yamamoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Matsuki to score with a decent uppercut.
Matsuki takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Igor Matsuki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiro Yamamoto.
Yamamoto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matsuki as he jumps to the side.
Matsuki scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto instigates a clinch.
Yamamoto wants a takedown but no success here.
Yamamoto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matsuki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Matsuki wants to break free but Yamamoto has control.
Matsuki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yamamoto tries to score a body lock takedown but Matsuki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Matsuki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto fails to land the takedown.
Matsuki looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Yamamoto staying out of range there.
Igor Matsuki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Matsuki looks to land a left hand but Yamamoto moved out of range nicely.
Some wild striking there from Matsuki.
Matsuki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Matsuki circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice sprawl there from Matsuki as Yamamoto shoots in.
Masahiro Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matsuki takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Matsuki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yamamoto wants to clinch.
No luck for Yamamoto with that takedown attempt.
Matsuki leaves Yamamoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matsuki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Matsuki lands a nice hook to Yamamoto's body. Yamamoto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Yamamoto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matsuki manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Matsuki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamamoto on the ground.
Yamamoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matsuki wants to get back to his feet but Yamamoto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto drops back looking for a leg! Matsuki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matsuki manages to kick Yamamoto off! Yamamoto jumps back into Matsuki's guard.

Matsuki has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Yamamoto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Matsuki throws a body punch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Yamamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsuki which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsuki misses with a series of wild punches.
Matsuki scores with a shot to the body.
Matsuki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Matsuki connects with a single shot there.
Yamamoto takes one to the chin there.
Yamamoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Matsuki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A left and a right from Matsuki both land. Nice combination.
Yamamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yamamoto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Matsuki throws out the jab.
No luck for Yamamoto with that takedown attempt.
Yamamoto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yamamoto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsuki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Yamamoto scores a takedown into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Yamamoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Matsuki wants to try and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yamamoto is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Matsuki is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Masahiro Yamamoto!
Masahiro Yamamoto is the new heavyweight champion!