PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yoshida Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Test Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kotaro might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dance Yourself Clean. Ninja has chosen Super Bon Bon - Soul Coughing as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kotaro
vs
Ninja

194 cm
31
139 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

150 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========#

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoshida Kotaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Test Ninja!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kotaro closes the distance and pushes Ninja back into the cage.
Kotaro stalling.
Kotaro landing knees to the head.
Ninja is looking for a takedown.
Kotaro really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Kotaro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kotaro darts in and clinches Ninja up against the cage.
Kotaro connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ninja's face.
Kotaro lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ninja or not.
Kotaro lands a knee to the head.
Kotaro lands a knee to the head.
Ninja takes a knee right on the jaw!

Kotaro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kotaro forces Ninja back against the cage and clinches.
Kotaro landing knees to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Kotaro.
Kotaro tries to land a knee to the head but Ninja blocks with his arms.
Ninja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kotaro comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kotaro looking to throw knees to the head but Ninja is blocking nicely.
Kotaro misses with a knee to the head.

Kotaro manages to break the clinch.
Nice cross by Kotaro.
Kotaro throws a body punch but Ninja moves out of range.
Kotaro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ninja.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kotaro tries to avoid it but Ninja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kotaro to the ground. Kotaro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Ninja or perhaps it was just good defense by Kotaro which made him look bad.
Yoshida Kotaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Test Ninja.

Ninja gets a double leg takedown into Kotaro's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kotaro wants to stand and escape but Ninja is having none of it.
Ninja trying to control the position from guard on top but Kotaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ninja must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ninja is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kotaro can't keep his opponent in guard - Ninja advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja trying to control the action but Kotaro is working from the bottom.

Ninja is looking for a kimura here.
Kotaro controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Ninja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kotaro is just riding it out for now. Ninja eventually gives up the hold.
Kotaro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro is trying to stand up here but Ninja is controlling him well.
Ninja prevents Kotaro from improving his position.
Ninja is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Ninja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kotaro wants to get back to full guard.

Ninja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ninja perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshida Kotaro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kotaro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kotaro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ninja, pushing him back against the cage.
Kotaro looking to throw knees to the head but Ninja is blocking nicely.
Kotaro unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kotaro misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Kotaro.

Kotaro manages to break the clinch.
Ninja shoots and misses
and Kotaro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ninja takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kotaro lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro is looking to clinch but Ninja is avoiding it.

Kotaro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kotaro throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ninja blocks it with crossed arms.
Kotaro is stalling here.
Kotaro scores with a knee to the head.
Kotaro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kotaro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kotaro is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kotaro tries a knee to the head but Ninja blocks it.
Kotaro lands an elbow just above Ninja 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro tries a knee to the head but Ninja blocks it.

Kotaro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kotaro lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ninja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kotaro tries to avoid it but Ninja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kotaro to the ground. Kotaro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ninja misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yoshida Kotaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Test Ninja.

Ninja shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kotaro is trying to defend but Ninja finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kotaro is looking to control Ninja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kotaro avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to roll over but Ninja keeps him under control.
Kotaro is staying active underneath Ninja, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ninja passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kotaro really wants to buck Ninja off and get back to his feet.
Ninja trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ninja looking to secure an arm triangle but Kotaro defends it well.

Ninja has control of Kotaro's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kotaro regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro tries to reverse the position but Ninja maintains control.
Kotaro wants to get back to his feet.
Ninja tries to control but Kotaro wriggling away.
Ninja is looking to work his way around to Kotaro's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ninja looking to secure an arm triangle but Kotaro defends it well.
Ninja looking to control but Kotaro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshida Kotaro dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ninja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kotaro closes the distance and pushes Ninja back into the cage.
Ninja tries to pull guard but Kotaro holds him up against the cage and eventually Ninja drops back down to his feet.
Kotaro works on Ninja's body with a couple of short punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ninja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Yoshida Kotaro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kotaro scores a nice knee to the body.
Kotaro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kotaro manages to break the clinch.
Yoshida Kotaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kotaro lands with a kick to the temple. Ninja shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Yoshida Kotaro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ninja closes the distance but Kotaro moves to the side
and Kotaro counters with a straight right hand.

Ninja throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kotaro was covering up waiting for the punch and Ninja finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ninja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kotaro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ninja forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro is looking for a sweep. Ninja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ninja looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Ninja is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Kotaro as he works his way to full guard.
Kotaro trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja prevents Kotaro from getting back to his feet.
Ninja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kotaro is keeping the position for now.
Ninja stands and throws Kotaro's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ninja advances nicely into full mount.

Ninja is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kotaro has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kotaro!

Ninja looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kotaro passes into half guard.
Ninja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ninja.
Yoshida Kotaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ninja is looking for a triangle but Kotaro pushes his legs off easily.

Ninja looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kotaro passes into half guard.
Kotaro is taking a breather. Ninja says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ninja looking for submissions off his back.
Kotaro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kotaro slows the pace down in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ninja trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Test Ninja.
I think Kotaro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoshida Kotaro!
Yoshida Kotaro very nearly forgot to thank Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========# amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.