PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shinya Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kahn Poppason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poppason has chosen Mortal Kombat Theme as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yamamoto
vs
Poppason

167 cm
19
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shinya Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kahn Poppason!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yamamoto has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Poppason looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Poppason.
Poppason looks to land a combination but Yamamoto avoids it well.

Yamamoto manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Poppason on his heels. He'll look to pass Poppason's guard now, I'm sure.
Poppason should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Yamamoto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Poppason is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yamamoto, into his guard.
Yamamoto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Poppason would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Yamamoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppason wants to stand but Yamamoto is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yamamoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Poppason is aware though and is defending well.

Yamamoto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Poppason defends well.

Poppason stands up from Yamamoto's guard - Poppason perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto looking to score a takedown here. Poppason is defending well but Yamamoto drives through and ends up in Poppason's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Yamamoto postures up.
Yamamoto wants to pass the guard but Poppason is keeping the position.
Yamamoto passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Poppason looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppason is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yamamoto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Poppason is defending against the submission attempts here by Yamamoto.

Yamamoto trying to work for an americana but Poppason has managed to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto won't allow Poppason to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto controlling from the top position.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Poppason works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yamamoto trying to control but Poppason is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Poppason pulls Yamamoto in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Yamamoto dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Poppason throws a right and a left that both miss.

Yamamoto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Poppason tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yamamoto is in Poppason's guard.
Poppason keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

Yamamoto drops back, looking for a kneebar! Poppason looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Poppason looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Poppason!

Poppason stands up.
Poppason throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Poppason throws a series of punches but Yamamoto moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppason looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Yamamoto dodges the punch combination from Poppason.
Kahn Poppason is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from Poppason.

Yamamoto fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Poppason to the ground. Yamamoto is now in Poppason's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamamoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Poppason is breathing heavily.
Yamamoto pushing down on Poppason's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura but Poppason is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Yamamoto to get the leverage.

Yamamoto is trying to work for a kimura but Poppason is defending well.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Poppason still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Poppason has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poppason has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Poppason misses with a jab, cross combination.

Yamamoto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Poppason sprawls well initially but Yamamoto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamamoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Yamamoto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Poppason has managed to free his arm - good work.

Yamamoto is working for a kimura but Poppason is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is just content to waste time from the top position. Poppason takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Poppason wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yamamoto works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Yamamoto seems to be looking for submissions.
Yamamoto seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poppason does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Poppason blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yamamoto.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yamamoto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Poppason is just riding it out for now. Yamamoto eventually gives up the hold.
Yamamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poppason keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shinya Yamamoto dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Poppason misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Poppason throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yamamoto.
Kahn Poppason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yamamoto shoots in and bounces Poppason off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yamamoto advances to half guard.
Poppason wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Yamamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poppason keeps working.

Yamamoto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poppason decides to stand back up.

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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poppason swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Poppason's guard.
Yamamoto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Poppason takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yamamoto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poppason defends it well.
Poppason avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Poppason sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yamamoto trying to mount his opponent but Poppason defends it.
Shinya Yamamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Yamamoto is working for a kimura but Poppason is defending it quite comfortably.
Yamamoto tries to pass to full mount but Poppason defends it.
Kahn Poppason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to advance to full mount but Poppason doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Poppason keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shinya Yamamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Yamamoto, 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shinya Yamamoto!