PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Bartman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kanye Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamamoto comes into a darkened arena with his song building. No Way Out by ZZ kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Steve Bartman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kanye Yamamoto's chin.

Bartman
vs
Yamamoto

160 cm
23
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

169 cm
24
145 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Bartman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kanye Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartman throws out a loose jab but Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bartman throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamamoto.
Bartman connects with a nice looking jab.
Bartman swings for the body but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Bartman misses with a series of wild punches.
Bartman shoots in looking for a takedown. Yamamoto tries to sprawl out of it but Bartman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yamamoto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bartman.
No joy there for Yamamoto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yamamoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bartman misses with an uppercut. Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Yamamoto has a takedown stuffed.
Yamamoto ducks under a wild hook from Bartman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartman throws a combination that misses

and Yamamoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Bartman falls off balance throwing a combination

and Yamamoto holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bartman is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Bartman's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamamoto ducks under a wild hook from Bartman.
Bartman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bartman fails with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bartman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Bartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bartman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bartman throws a lazy head kick
and Yamamoto counters with an outside leg kick.
Bartman is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Steve Bartman has been cut.
Yamamoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bartman.
Bartman takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Yamamoto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bartman throws a sloppy body shot
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both fighters circling a little - Yamamoto finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Yamamoto fails to land the takedown.
Bartman misses with a leg kick
and Yamamoto counters with a left and a right that stings Bartman.
Yamamoto displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bartman backs up against the cage.

Yamamoto has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bartman throws a jab when Yamamoto was well out of range.
Yamamoto throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Yamamoto decides to stand up.
Yamamoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Bartman takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bartman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yamamoto counters with a solid body kick.
Yamamoto lands with a cross.
Bartman avoids a punch combination nicely.
A swing and a miss from Bartman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamamoto moves away.
Bartman tries for a takedown but Yamamoto circles away easily
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Bartman backing up. Bartman nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bartman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Steve Bartman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bartman slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto moves out of range of the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bartman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bartman. That did some damage!
Bartman looks to throw a body kick
and Yamamoto counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanye Yamamoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Bartman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bartman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Yamamoto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Yamamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bartman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yamamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yamamoto has control of Bartman's left arm, preventing Bartman from doing any damage.
Bartman stands up over Yamamoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bartman throwing strikes from guard but Yamamoto blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartman throws and elbow that misses. Yamamoto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bartman's guard. Nice move by Yamamoto!
Bartman wants to sweep but no luck.
Bartman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bartman trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bartman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Bartman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bartman tries to strike from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bartman misses with a takedown attempt
and Yamamoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Yamamoto looks to land a combination. Bartman sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yamamoto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yamamoto is working the combinations to good effect here.
Bartman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Bartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto lands a jab-cross combination.
Bartman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yamamoto counters with a series of strikes. Bartman will be more careful next time no doubt.
Good standup being displayed there by Yamamoto as he connects with a hook.
Bartman throws a left and a right that both miss

so Yamamoto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bartman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Bartman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Bartman trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bartman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bartman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bartman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yamamoto's guard.
Yamamoto wants to stand and escape but Bartman is having none of it.
Bartman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bartman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yamamoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bartman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamamoto's head.
Bartman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bartman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bartman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bartman works over Yamamoto with some ground and pound from guard.
Bartman is working Yamamoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yamamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bartman.
Bartman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yamamoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bartman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big left from Bartman misses.
Yamamoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Bartman. Bartman gets slowly back to his feet.
Bartman loads up on a big right hand but Yamamoto slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kanye Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Bartman's cut.
That's time! Bartman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bartman tries for a takedown but Yamamoto circles away easily
and Yamamoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bartman's knee momentarily.
Yamamoto misses with a few strikes there.
Bartman fails with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bartman misses with a double jab
and Yamamoto counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve Bartman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bartman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamamoto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartman misses with a combination
and Yamamoto counters with a one-two to the body.
Yamamoto lands with a slapping head kick.
Yamamoto ducks under a wild hook from Bartman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bartman shoots and misses
and Yamamoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Bartman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto digs a good hook to Bartman's body.
Yamamoto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bartman backs up against the cage.
Nice uppercut there from Yamamoto.
Bartman swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Bartman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Yamamoto counters with a straight right hand.

Bartman tries to keep at a distance but Yamamoto has taken the fight into the clinch.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartman misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Yamamoto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bartman tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Yamamoto passes to side control.
Bartman tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Bartman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bartman tries to get out of the position.
Bartman throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Bartman throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Yamamoto moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Bartman tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartman tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bartman is looking for a sweep.
Bartman manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bartman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bartman wants to sweep but no luck.
Bartman throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kanye Yamamoto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bartman trying to strike off his back.
Bartman trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bartman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Bartman is working an open guard so Yamamoto takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Yamamoto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bartman.
Yamamoto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yamamoto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bartman.
Bartman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bartman takes a swing at Yamamoto's ribcage but misses.
Horrible takedown by Bartman or perhaps it was just good defense by Yamamoto which made him look bad.
Bartman has his takedown stuffed
and Yamamoto counters with a left and a right that stings Bartman.
Steve Bartman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bartman throws a shot from downtown. Yamamoto moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kanye Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamamoto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kanye Yamamoto!