PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gil Nambatac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake yi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nambatac
vs
yi

193 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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, Gil Nambatac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake yi!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
yi throws a chopping leg kick but Nambatac manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
yi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nambatac moves out of range of the body kick.
Nambatac has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from yi.
Nambatac is looking to clinch but yi is avoiding it.
Nambatac tries to close the distance and clinch but yi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Nambatac moves into the clinch.
Nambatac is looking for a takedown up against the cage. yi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
yi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
yi cracks Nambatac with a nice body shot.
Nambatac goes for a takedown attempt but yi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
yi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nambatac.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nambatac explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nambatac fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but yi avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gil Nambatac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nambatac fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yi throws a combination. Nambatac tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jake yi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
yi throws a half hearted mid kick.
yi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
yi misses the jab.
yi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nambatac.
A nice inside leg kick there by yi. That's going to slow Nambatac down.
yi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nambatac.

Nambatac gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nambatac looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from yi.
yi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
yi struggles to land a body shot inside as Nambatac controls his hands.
yi slowing the pace effectively.
Nambatac wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nambatac's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
yi scores with the left hand. Nambatac knows he should have avoided that one.
Nambatac will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from yi! But no joy.
Jake yi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

yi gets caught flat footed, as Nambatac shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if yi can do anything to dispel that myth.
yi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nambatac controls the pace.
yi is looking to stand up but Nambatac isn't so interested in that idea.
yi looks winded!
Nambatac trying to control the position from guard on top but yi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
yi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Nambatac advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nambatac lands with a punch from half guard.

Nambatac seems to be looking for submissions.
yi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Nambatac manages to mount him!
Nambatac sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nambatac looking to finish yi with some ground and pound. This is bad for yi!
Nambatac won't let yi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nambatac trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nambatac lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
yi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
yi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nambatac lands a nice shot to the head.
yi is trying desperately to improve position.
Nambatac lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
yi is squirming around, avoiding Nambatac's attempts to control the action.
yi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nambatac landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gil Nambatac 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.

Nambatac pulls out of a head kick attempt.
yi tries a quick counter leg kick but Nambatac is wise to it.

Nambatac moves into the clinch.

Nambatac's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

yi rushes Nambatac and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nambatac is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
yi tries to break the clinch but Nambatac is controlling the position.
A right handed body shot lands from yi.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
yi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
yi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

yi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
yi throws an overhand right that lands on Nambatac's shoulder, as Nambatac tries to avoid the shot.
Nambatac looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nambatac really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
yi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Nambatac will feel that in the morning.
yi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nambatac circles away quickly and effectively.
Nambatac drops down looking for a counter takedown but yi sprawls and moves away.
yi is breathing heavily.
Nambatac fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but yi is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yi tries to clinch there but Nambatac circles away.

Nambatac moves into the clinch.
Nambatac has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. yi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nambatac tries to score a body lock takedown but yi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gil Nambatac. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nambatac has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. yi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
yi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Nambatac breaks the clinch.

yi clinches.
yi taking a breather.
yi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
yi misses with a hook to the ribs.
yi wants to break free but Nambatac has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Nambatac creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nambatac has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by yi after a bit of a struggle.
Nambatac prevents yi from breaking the clinch.
Nambatac misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from yi.
yi tries to throw a body punch but Nambatac avoids it by throwing yi back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
yi tries to break free but Nambatac pushes him back against the cage.
Nambatac holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Nambatac wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jake yi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
yi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
yi tries to break the clinch but Nambatac is controlling the position.
yi is looking to break free of the clinch but Nambatac has double underhooks.

Nambatac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
yi stuffs the takedown.
Nambatac shoots for a takedown but yi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from yi.
Nambatac takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
yi lands with a right hand.
Jab, jab by yi - just one landing.
yi throws a jab but it's blocked by Nambatac.
Nambatac is looking for a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from yi as Nambatac shoots in.
yi throws a nice head kick!
yi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nambatac tries to clinch but yi moves out of range.
yi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nambatac paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nambatac tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

yi rushes Nambatac and presses him up against the cage.
yi can't break the clinch.
Nambatac wants a takedown.
Nambatac is looking for a takedown.
yi scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Nambatac breaks from the clinch.
Nambatac moves in looking to clinch but yi pushes him off.
yi stalks Nambatac and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Nambatac's face. Nambatac staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nambatac shoots in but yi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nambatac is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nambatac misses with a shot to the body
and yi counters with a straight right hand.
Nambatac tries to clinch up.
Gil Nambatac is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
yi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nambatac shoots in looking for a takedown but yi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Nambatac's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
yi lands a leg kick that knocks Nambatac off balance momentarily.
Nambatac doesn't manage to clinch there - yi circles away.
yi delivers a nice body kick.
Nambatac shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has yi pinned against the cage. yi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

yi rushes Nambatac and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake yi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nambatac's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nambatac walks into a jab.
Nambatac wants to clinch.

Nambatac pushes yi up against the cage in a clinch.
yi pushes Nambatac back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
yi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
yi tries to work over Nambatac's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
yi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nambatac's elbow.
yi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nambatac tries to throw a body punch but yi avoids it by throwing Nambatac back against the cage.
Nambatac goes for a takedown in the clinch but yi prevents it.
yi misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

yi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
yi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

yi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
yi wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nambatac manages to pass to side control.

Nambatac working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Nambatac stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nambatac shoots for a double leg takedown but yi sprawls well. He's pushed Nambatac's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Nambatac shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Nambatac was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
yi is looking to reverse the position.
Nambatac controlling the position from side mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
yi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nambatac is controlling him well.
yi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Nambatac connects with a decent elbow.

Nambatac working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
yi is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Nambatac is controlling him well.
yi is looking to reverse the position.
Nambatac working the ground and pound.
Nambatac creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
yi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nambatac has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nambatac will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
yi looks to move to half guard but instead Nambatac has passed into mount! Damn!
yi can't escape the position.
Gil Nambatac overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nambatac with good strikes from the mount here!
Nambatac controlling the position easily from mount.
Nambatac with the ground and pound from mount.
Nambatac controlling from mount.
yi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Nambatac working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. yi turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Nambatac off and cradles yi's limp body as Nambatac celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Gil Nambatac!
Gil Nambatac took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.
The defeated Jake yi had this to say: 'the snake will return.'.