PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taito Tijuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tijuri has chosen Cloud Age as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Taito Tijuri enters the cage!

Yamamoto
vs
Tijuri

160 cm
18
134 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

157 cm
19
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taito Tijuri!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tijuri defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yamamoto.
Tijuri looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Tijuri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tijuri moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
Yamamoto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tijuri darts in trying to clinch

and Yamamoto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tijuri's guard now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Yamamoto is looking to work some ground and pound but Tijuri has wrist control.
Yamamoto looking to pass the guard.
Yamamoto controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tijuri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yamamoto working some strikes from top position.
Yamamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tijuri is keeping the position for now.
Yamamoto trying to control but Tijuri is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Norifumi Yamamoto.

Yamamoto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Yamamoto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yamamoto lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yamamoto decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Tijuri as Yamamoto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tijuri tries to avoid it but Yamamoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tijuri to the ground. Tijuri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Tijuri tries to sprawl but Yamamoto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tijuri is trying to stand back up but Yamamoto is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Yamamoto there.
Yamamoto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Yamamoto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tijuri has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tijuri on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tijuri taking some punishment here, with Yamamoto in his half guard.
Well, if Yamamoto is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Yamamoto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tijuri is just riding it out for now. Yamamoto eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to pass the guard but Tijuri is defending well.
Tijuri on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tijuri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Yamamoto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norifumi Yamamoto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Yamamoto wants to control the pace but Tijuri is squirming around nicely.
Yamamoto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Yamamoto working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tijuri in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Yamamoto working the ground and pound effectively.
Yamamoto lands a heavy elbow.
Tijuri is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamamoto postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tijuri looks a forlorn figure.
Yamamoto lands a heavy elbow.

Tijuri is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tijuri is still in real trouble! Can Yamamoto finish him?
The referee warns Tijuri that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Yamamoto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tijuri is squirming around, avoiding Yamamoto's attempts to control the action.
Yamamoto postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Tijuri in real trouble here! The ref calls for Tijuri to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Norifumi Yamamoto!