PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keiichi Yamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Cricket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Yamada
vs
Cricket

170 cm
34
205 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

189 cm
33
208 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keiichi Yamada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Cricket!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamada connects with a jab.
Cricket misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cricket throws a head kick but Yamada moves out of range.
A left lands for Cricket.
Yamada scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cricket in his tracks.
Nice cross by Yamada.
Yamada throws a head kick but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket throws a sloppy head kick and Yamada moves out of range easily.
Cricket lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cricket works the jab nicely.

It looks like Keiichi Yamada has been cut.
Rick Cricket seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Yamada shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamada is looking to chop away at Cricket's legs.
Yamada throws out a powerful jab.
Yamada will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cricket fails to land with a series of punches.
Cricket throws a head kick that misses.
Yamada swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Yamada dives in for a single leg takedown but Cricket sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiichi Yamada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cricket misses with a straight right.
Cricket throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yamada lands a jab to Cricket's midsection.
Cricket fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamada manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada scores with the left hand. Cricket knows he should have avoided that one.
Yamada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cricket.
Cricket scores with a head kick. Yamada tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cricket waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamada.
Cricket cracks Yamada with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cricket lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamada circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamada avoids a punch combination nicely.

Yamada looking to score a takedown here. Cricket is defending well but Yamada drives through and ends up in Cricket's guard.

Yamada drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yamada jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yamada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamada stops Cricket from standing up.
Yamada with a nice head shot there.
Cricket is looking to stand up but Yamada isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamada missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamada wants to pass the guard but Cricket is keeping the position.
Cricket is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yamada is controlling him.
Cricket can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yamada controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamada prevents Cricket from getting back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cricket throws a series of punches but Yamada avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Yamada wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cricket takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cricket will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yamada attempts a counter takedown but Cricket avoids it well and moves away.
Yamada feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cricket's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cricket.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cricket! But no joy.
Cricket misses with a double jab.
Cricket throws a hook but Yamada avoids it easily.
Yamada misses with a body shot.
Yamada moves out of range of the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Yamada there.
Cricket throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yamada counters with a low kick, right behind Cricket 's knee.
Yamada misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A nice side step and Cricket releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Cricket misses with an uppercut. Yamada saw that one coming.
Cricket misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Cricket does no damage.
Cricket misses with a wild body shot.
Yamada is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cricket sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cricket throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamada.
Yamada tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cricket throws a head kick but Yamada moves out of range.

Yamada drives through with a takedown into Cricket's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Yamada might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamada passes Cricket's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Yamada 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.
Cricket is refusing to be controlled, as Yamada sits in half guard.

Yamada is looking for a kimura here.
Cricket is trying to stand up here but Yamada is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick Cricket will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keiichi Yamada's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cricket's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cricket duly obliges.
Cricket looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cricket lands with an overhand left.
Rick Cricket is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Left hook, right uppercut from Cricket.

Yamada has Cricket up against the cage in a clinch.
Cricket scores with a shoulder strike.
Yamada has Cricket pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cricket manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Yamada prevents a body shot from Cricket.
Yamada is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cricket is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cricket can't find room to land a body shot as Yamada controls the action.
Cricket prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keiichi Yamada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cricket wants to break the clinch but can't.

Cricket breaks the clinch.
Yamada throws a leg kick but Cricket sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yamada wants to land a leg kick but Cricket is out of range.
Yamada avoids the head kick by Cricket.
Cricket scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamada should have avoided that one.
Cricket misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Cricket scores with a four punch combination!
Yamada throws a body punch but Cricket moves out of range.
Rick Cricket is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamada throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cricket throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Cricket finds it's way through Yamada's defenses.
Cricket thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cricket tries a head kick but it misses.
Cricket throws a head kick but Yamada moves out of range.
Cricket has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Cricket there as he acknowledges the shot.

Yamada shoots in and gets a takedown into Cricket's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cricket is looking to stand up but Yamada isn't so interested in that idea.
Yamada postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yamada lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Yamada lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cricket being controlled here, momentarily.
Yamada stops Cricket from standing up.
Yamada scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Cricket keeping moving, preventing Yamada from controlling successfully.
Cricket wants to stand up but Yamada is controlling him.
Yamada wants to control from the top but Cricket keeps moving.
Cricket is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yamada is controlling him.
Yamada stays in close to Cricket's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is in close to Cricket's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cricket is looking to stand up but Yamada isn't so interested in that idea.
Yamada scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Yamada throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cricket works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yamada 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.
Yamada lands a couple of digs.
Cricket wants to stand up but Yamada is controlling him.
Yamada trying to control the position from guard on top but Cricket is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cricket misses with a body shot.
Yamada was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamada has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cricket tests Yamada's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cricket throws a right and a left that Yamada avoids nicely.
Cricket rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamada moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cricket misses with a wild combination.
Cricket is breathing heavily.
Cricket throws a sloppy head kick

and Yamada counters with a shoot takedown. Cricket fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamada sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yamada is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yamada scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yamada works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yamada lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Yamada is trying to work for a kimura but Cricket is defending well.
Yamada wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cricket keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Keiichi Yamada's cut.
That's time! Yamada's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yamada closes the distance and clinches up with Cricket, looking for a takedown. Yamada pushes Cricket against the cage but Cricket circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamada blocks a head kick by Cricket.
Cricket will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cricket looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Yamada was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Cricket.
Some wild striking there from Cricket.
Yamada appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A big left from Cricket misses.
Yamada lands a lovely overhand right.
Rick Cricket seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamada throws a good cross that connects.
Yamada avoids the head kick by Cricket.
A head kick misses from Cricket.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cricket rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamada moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Yamada closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, if Yamada is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Yamada wants to free his trapped foot but Cricket is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cricket takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada moves nicely into side control.
Cricket wants to get back to his feet but Yamada drags him back down.

Yamada working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Yamada just content to control the position.
Yamada cracks Cricket with a big elbow.
Cricket is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yamada taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamada tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yamada has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Yamada tries for a kimura but Cricket is defending well.
Cricket wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Yamada moves into full mount!
Cricket tries to buck Yamada off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada unloading with bombs!
Yamada looking to control and managing it successfully.

Yamada working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Yamada can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cricket is looking to escape.
Yamada working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Keiichi Yamada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You get the feeling that Cricket really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Cricket is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Keiichi Yamada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee warns Cricket that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamada lands a couple of good shots and Cricket has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Cricket is rocked!
Yamada tries to keep control of the position but Cricket is staying busy.
Cricket is still in real trouble! Can Yamada finish him?

Yamada tightening his grip on Cricket, looking for the choke.

Yamada working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Yamada looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cricket is trying to stand back up.
Cricket seems to have recovered his senses.

Yamada looking for the choke but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keiichi Yamada showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cricket has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Cricket!
Rick Cricket decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.