PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Awang Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yamato Yoshimitsu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshimitsu is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by My Generation - Limp Bizkit. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fernandez
vs
Yoshimitsu

175 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Awang Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yamato Yoshimitsu!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshimitsu throws a head kick that Fernandez semi-blocks.
Yoshimitsu connects with a high kick.
Yoshimitsu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Yoshimitsu tries to sprawl out of it but Fernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yoshimitsu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yoshimitsu tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yoshimitsu moves into the clinch successfully.

Yoshimitsu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fernandez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Yoshimitsu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fernandez tries for a takedown but Yoshimitsu manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Awang Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.
Yoshimitsu landing knees to the head.
Yoshimitsu lands an elbow inside that Fernandez shrugs off.

Yoshimitsu jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshimitsu kicks Fernandez off and gets to his feet.

Yoshimitsu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fernandez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
It looks like Yoshimitsu is going to stand back up.

Yoshimitsu decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Yoshimitsu rushes Fernandez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yoshimitsu looking to throw knees to the head but Fernandez is blocking nicely.
Yoshimitsu lands a damaging elbow.
Yoshimitsu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yoshimitsu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yoshimitsu is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yoshimitsu down to the mat. Yoshimitsu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch up but Fernandez circles away and keeps his distance.
Fernandez keeps the fight on the outside.

Yoshimitsu clinches with his opponent.

Yoshimitsu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Yoshimitsu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez prevents Yoshimitsu from getting back to his feet.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshimitsu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshimitsu wants to stand up but Fernandez is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshimitsu trying to control the position here.
Yoshimitsu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernandez manages to get himself to full guard.
Yoshimitsu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Yoshimitsu landing some decent shots from guard.
Yoshimitsu passes Fernandez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fernandez wants to improve his position but Yoshimitsu is controlling well.
Yoshimitsu lands with a punch from half guard.

Fernandez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yoshimitsu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fernandez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fernandez moves into full guard.
Yoshimitsu wants to stand but Fernandez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fernandez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yoshimitsu is controlling him.
Yoshimitsu tries to free his leg and advance position but Fernandez is retaining full guard.

Yoshimitsu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yoshimitsu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fernandez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yamato Yoshimitsu dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yoshimitsu avoids the head kick by Fernandez.

Yoshimitsu has closed the distance and engaged Fernandez in a clinch.
Yoshimitsu crunches a lovely knee into Fernandez's ribcage.
Yoshimitsu with a knee to the head.
Yoshimitsu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yoshimitsu lands a knee to the head.
Yoshimitsu lands a knee to the head.

Yoshimitsu pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yoshimitsu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fernandez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yoshimitsu trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez trying to control but Yoshimitsu is working from the bottom.
Fernandez looking to sit in guard and control but Yoshimitsu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Yoshimitsu stands up over Fernandez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yoshimitsu stands up over Fernandez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yoshimitsu won't allow Fernandez to get back to his feet.
Yoshimitsu is looking to work some ground and pound but Fernandez has wrist control.

Yoshimitsu stands and steps away. Fernandez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fernandez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Yoshimitsu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fernandez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshimitsu preventing the sweep.
Fernandez is trying to keep Yoshimitsu in close.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fernandez wants to sweep here but Yoshimitsu controlling him for the moment.
Yoshimitsu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yoshimitsu postures up in Fernandez's guard and throws a big left but Fernandez blocks it.
Yoshimitsu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fernandez is proving hard to escape from.
Fernandez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yoshimitsu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Fernandez has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Yoshimitsu off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch there but Fernandez circles away.
Yoshimitsu fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Yoshimitsu or perhaps it was just good defense by Fernandez which made him look bad.
Yoshimitsu doesn't manage to clinch there - Fernandez circles away.
Fernandez looks for a takedown but Yoshimitsu sprawls well.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch there but Fernandez circles away.
Yamato Yoshimitsu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fernandez has his takedown stuffed

and Yoshimitsu counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Awang Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshimitsu stalls.
Fernandez is working for takedown but Yoshimitsu is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Yoshimitsu pulls Fernandez into guard.

Yoshimitsu pushes Fernandez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Yoshimitsu wants to clinch up but Fernandez keeps it at a distance.

Yoshimitsu moves into the clinch.
Fernandez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yoshimitsu fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yoshimitsu is looking to clinch but Fernandez is avoiding it.

Yoshimitsu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yamato Yoshimitsu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Fernandez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yoshimitsu misses with a takedown

and Fernandez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yoshimitsu's guard now.
Yoshimitsu is pulling down on Fernandez's head to control his posture.
Yoshimitsu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fernandez trying to control but Yoshimitsu is working from the bottom.
Fernandez won't allow Yoshimitsu to get back to his feet.
Fernandez postures up.
Yoshimitsu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fernandez is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Yoshimitsu keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yoshimitsu closes the distance looking to clinch

and Fernandez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez is looking to take a break and control but Yoshimitsu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yoshimitsu is looking for a sweep. Fernandez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yoshimitsu is trying is best to control the position here.
Fernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yoshimitsu keeps working.
Yoshimitsu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fernandez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fernandez trying to control from half guard but Yoshimitsu is working away.

That's two 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.
Fernandez stops Yoshimitsu from getting back to his feet.
Yoshimitsu is trying to control but can't.

Fernandez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Yoshimitsu to stand up.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yoshimitsu won't be happy with that.
Fernandez wants to control but Yoshimitsu is keeping him busy.

Fernandez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yoshimitsu is trying to buck Fernandez off.
Yoshimitsu tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Fernandez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fernandez is looking to take a break and control but Yoshimitsu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yoshimitsu wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fernandez misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Yoshimitsu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fernandez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fernandez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yoshimitsu.
Fernandez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yoshimitsu is working away from the top position though.
Fernandez wants to get back to his feet.
Yoshimitsu is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Yoshimitsu stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Yoshimitsu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.
Awang Fernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamato Yoshimitsu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yoshimitsu tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.
A shot to the body from Fernandez misses

and Yoshimitsu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fernandez's guard now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Awang Fernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yoshimitsu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yamato Yoshimitsu!