PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenshin Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keiji Kawada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenshin Yamamoto had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Yamamoto
vs
Kawada

169 cm
37
147 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

167 cm
38
145 lbs
18 - 26 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenshin Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Keiji Kawada!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kawada is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kawada throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Yamamoto.
Kawada misses with a takedown attempt

so Yamamoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kawada has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yamamoto is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Yamamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kawada lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kawada throws a shot from downtown. Yamamoto moves away and avoids it.
Kawada looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kawada scores with a hook to the body. Yamamoto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kawada takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kawada tries to bum rush Yamamoto with a series of wild strikes but Yamamoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice sprawl there from Yamamoto as Kawada shoots in.
Kawada walks into a stiff left hand from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kawada takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kawada shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kenshin Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keiji Kawada.
A lazy left from Yamamoto finds it's target.

Kawada is rocked!
Kawada tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamamoto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kawada somewhat.
Yamamoto connects with a jab.
Kawada fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kawada fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamamoto lands a nice shot that snaps Kawada's head back.
Yamamoto lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Kawada. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Kawada to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Kawada is still in real trouble! Can Yamamoto finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kawada is retaining full guard.
Yamamoto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kawada seems to have recovered his senses.
Yamamoto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kawada 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.
Kawada keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Kawada is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yamamoto tries to get to full guard but Kawada has control of the leg.
Kawada wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamamoto keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Kawada passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Yamamoto!
Yamamoto is in all sorts of trouble here.

Kawada goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yamamoto is on top in guard.
Yamamoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kawada keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kawada looking for a sweep. Not yet Kawada, not yet.
Kawada wants to control but Yamamoto passes easily into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto works his way into full mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Yamamoto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yamamoto with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Yamamoto looking for a guillotine from mount but Kawada is having none of it.
Kawada keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshin Yamamoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yamamoto looks to throw the jab but Kawada is out of range.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.

Oooh a lovely combination from Yamamoto sends Kawada down but not out. Yamamoto dives into side control looking to finish.
Kawada tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yamamoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kawada keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamamoto is really struggling to control Kawada but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Yamamoto tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto working the head with strikes.
Kawada tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yamamoto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kenshin Yamamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yamamoto trying to control the position but Kawada is working away.
Yamamoto controls the position.
Yamamoto scoring with punches from side control.
Yamamoto scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kawada to see if he's OK.
Yamamoto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Yamamoto working away.
Yamamoto scoring with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto moves into full mount!
Kawada tries to hold on but Yamamoto pushes him away.
Yamamoto lands a heavy elbow.
Yamamoto lands a big elbow - Kawada is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Kawada is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Kenshin Yamamoto!
During a confident post fight interview, Kenshin Yamamoto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.