PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tai Yamaguchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Boxer Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamaguchi comes into the arena with One More Time - Daft Punk blaring out of the sound system. Tai Yamaguchi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Boxer Jr's chin.

Yamaguchi
vs
Boxer Jr

189 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tai Yamaguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Boxer Jr!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Boxer Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yamaguchi avoids it really well and circles away.
Yamaguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamaguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boxer Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamaguchi looks to land a combination but Boxer Jr avoids it well.

Yamaguchi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Boxer Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Boxer Jr trying to remain calm as Yamaguchi controls from the top position.
Boxer Jr wants to control but Yamaguchi postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Boxer Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yamaguchi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Boxer Jr is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yamaguchi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamaguchi performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxer Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boxer Jr manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yamaguchi can't escape the position.
Boxer Jr controlling from the full mount.
Boxer Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boxer Jr prevents Yamaguchi from getting the reversal.

That's two 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.
Yamaguchi taking shots to the head.
Yamaguchi wants to control but Boxer Jr is having none of it.
Yamaguchi trying desperately to get to his feet.
Boxer Jr tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boxer Jr lands a nice shot to the head.
Boxer Jr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Boxer Jr avoids the attempt from Yamaguchi to control.
Boxer Jr controlling from the full mount.
Boxer Jr tries to control but Yamaguchi wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Boxer Jr.
Yamaguchi really wants to buck Boxer Jr off and get back to his feet.
Yamaguchi is looking to improve his position but Boxer Jr isn't that keen on the idea.
Boxer Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yamaguchi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Boxer Jr won't let Yamaguchi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Yamaguchi regains half guard.
Boxer Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boxer Jr is looking to take a break and control but Yamaguchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamaguchi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Boxer Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr stops Yamaguchi from getting back to his feet.
Yamaguchi punching from the bottom.
Boxer Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yamaguchi wants to get back to full guard but Boxer Jr has passed into side control.
Boxer Jr with shots to the head and body - Yamaguchi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yamaguchi is in a horrible position here. Boxer Jr smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Boxer Jr landing strikes from the mount and Yamaguchi is in trouble!
Yamaguchi wants to hold on but Boxer Jr pushes him away.
Yamaguchi can't escape the position.
Boxer Jr putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Yamaguchi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Boxer Jr on the ground.
Yamaguchi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Yamaguchi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Boxer Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamaguchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Boxer Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamaguchi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Boxer Jr moves out of range.
Yamaguchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaguchi stuffs the takedown.
Yamaguchi doesn't manage to clinch there - Boxer Jr circles away.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.

Boxer Jr looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Yamaguchi is trying to stand up here but Boxer Jr is controlling him well.
Yamaguchi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Yamaguchi has hold of Boxer Jr's hands but Boxer Jr slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boxer Jr lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxer Jr drops an elbow to the side of Yamaguchi's head.
Boxer Jr is looking to advance position but Yamaguchi won't allow it.

Boxer Jr is looking for a kimura but Yamaguchi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boxer Jr to get the leverage.
Boxer Jr is looking to take a break and control but Yamaguchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yamaguchi wants to get back to his feet.
Boxer Jr wants to control but Yamaguchi is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yamaguchi pushes Boxer Jr off and gets back to his feet.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamaguchi misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr dodges the punch combination from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Yamaguchi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yamaguchi.
Boxer Jr shoots in for a takedown but Yamaguchi shows good takedown defense.
Some wild striking there from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi tries to clinch but Boxer Jr is having none of it.
Yamaguchi fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamaguchi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yamaguchi drops his hands momentarily and Boxer Jr takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Yamaguchi looks to land a combination but Boxer Jr avoids it well.
Boxer Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boxer Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Tai Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Boxer Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boxer Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Boxer Jr trying to control the position but Yamaguchi is working away.
Yamaguchi struggling a bit here.
Boxer Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamaguchi keeps working.
Boxer Jr lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi taking a bit of punishment here - Boxer Jr scoring with strikes.
Boxer Jr working the ground and pound from side control.
Boxer Jr prevents Yamaguchi from escaping the position.
Boxer Jr landing strikes.
Boxer Jr lands an elbow.
Yamaguchi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Boxer Jr scoring with punches from side control.
Yamaguchi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Boxer Jr connects with a decent elbow.
Boxer Jr cracks Yamaguchi with a big right hand but Yamaguchi just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Yamaguchi is looking for a sweep.
Boxer Jr prevents Yamaguchi from escaping the position.
Boxer Jr working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Boxer Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Boxer Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yamaguchi pinned against the cage. Yamaguchi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Boxer Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Yamaguchi misses with a double jab
and Boxer Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Yamaguchi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Boxer Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamaguchi sprawls well. He's pushed Boxer Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tai Yamaguchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Boxer Jr.
Yamaguchi misses with a combination
and Boxer Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Boxer Jr to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamaguchi throws the left hand but Boxer Jr avoids the punch easily.
Boxer Jr looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamaguchi is fending him off so far but Boxer Jr persists. Nope, Yamaguchi circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Boxer Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boxer Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamaguchi cracks a nice hook into Boxer Jr's ribs.
Yamaguchi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Boxer Jr counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yamaguchi!

Boxer Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yamaguchi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Boxer Jr avoids the attempt from Yamaguchi to control.
Yamaguchi working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi taking shots to the head.
Boxer Jr postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yamaguchi looks a forlorn figure.
Yamaguchi tries to reverse the position but Boxer Jr maintains control.
Boxer Jr unloading with bombs!
Yamaguchi's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Boxer Jr controlling the pace for now.

Boxer Jr is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Yamaguchi is surviving well by controlling Boxer Jr's body position as best he can.
Boxer Jr content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr avoids the attempt from Yamaguchi to control.
A nice elbow there by Boxer Jr.
Boxer Jr raining down shots from the mount!
Boxer Jr lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Yamaguchi hang on?
Boxer Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Yamaguchi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Yamaguchi is rocked!

It looks like Tai Yamaguchi has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Yamaguchi badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Boxer Jr around the waist but Boxer Jr pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Boxer Jr is the winner by TKO! Boxer Jr jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Boxer Jr!