PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yushin Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto comes to the cage accompanied by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg - On The Boulevard. Mr Ward has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yamamoto
vs
Ward

162 cm
24
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

165 cm
20
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Conviction

Conquer
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Yushin Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Ward!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ward decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ward is trying to control the action in half guard but Yamamoto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yamamoto is pressing down on Ward's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yamamoto is trying to keep Ward in close.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yamamoto is trying to keep Ward in close.
Ward working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamamoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yamamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ward is one step ahead there.
Yamamoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamamoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward passes Yamamoto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Yamamoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yamamoto.
Yamamoto looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ward puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries to pass to full mount but Yamamoto defends it.

Ward is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yamamoto is looking to improve his position.
Yamamoto trying to control but Ward postures up.
Ward is looking to take a break and control but Yamamoto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ward thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to get back to full guard.
Ward has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yamamoto wants to control but Ward is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Yamamoto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yamamoto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Yamamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yamamoto trying to keep a closed guard but Ward is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ward throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ward is in Yamamoto's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to control the position but Ward postures up.
Ward trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Ward from controlling successfully.
Ward working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Ward gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ward tries to sprawl but Yamamoto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto misses with a head shot. Ward uses the momentum to regain guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yamamoto slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Ward dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yamamoto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ward sprawls well initially but Yamamoto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yamamoto prevents Ward from improving his position.
Yamamoto trying to control the action but Ward is working from the bottom.

Yamamoto is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ward has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto trying to move into half guard but instead Ward has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto trying to control the position.
Ward throws a big elbow that misses.
Ward is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Yamamoto can't keep his opponent in guard - Ward advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Yamamoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yamamoto is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Tenement of Conviction, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Yamamoto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yamamoto.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.

Ward is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yamamoto is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yamamoto has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward has his foot on Yamamoto's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yamamoto works his way back into a safe position though.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ward has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yamamoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yamamoto looking to pass the guard.

Yamamoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ward has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yamamoto has managed to get both his arms back between Ward's legs - danger averted.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yamamoto defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mr Ward has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ward works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ward utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yamamoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ward trying to keep a closed guard but Yamamoto is proving a slippery customer.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.
Yamamoto postures up.
Yamamoto trying to move into half guard but instead Ward has managed to sweep!

Yamamoto controlling Ward's posture.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ward's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ward is looking for a triangle but Yamamoto pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yushin Yamamoto dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto gets caught flat footed, as Ward shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Yamamoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yamamoto is trying to control the position but Ward postures up.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yamamoto is keeping the position for now.
Ward works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yamamoto is looking to control Ward's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yamamoto avoid being mounted?
Ward prevents Yamamoto from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward misses with a head shot. Yamamoto uses the momentum to regain guard.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ward's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Ward is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Yamamoto lands a couple of elbows.
Yamamoto looking to pass the guard.

Ward escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yamamoto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yamamoto trying to control but Ward is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto lands a couple of elbows.

Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yamamoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yamamoto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yamamoto scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Ward is retaining full guard.
Yamamoto scoring with some ground and pound.
Ward working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ward wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.
Yamamoto works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yamamoto is just content to waste time from the top position. Ward takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ward is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yamamoto defends well.
Yamamoto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ward's head.
Ward keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Ward tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yamamoto advances position into side control!
Yamamoto scores with a couple of short elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yamamoto in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ward tries to bench press Yamamoto off him but Yamamoto keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yushin Yamamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yamamoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yushin Yamamoto!
Yushin Yamamoto very nearly forgot to thank Conviction 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.