PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takayama Yataro (ranked 1257 p4p, 147 weight class) and Peter Zonta (ranked 2197 p4p, 247 weight class). Yataro's entrance music is Misoji Misaki. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yataro
vs
Zonta

163 cm
21
143 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Sportivité

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Takayama Yataro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Peter Zonta!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zonta throws a body shot but no joy.
Yataro changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Yataro shoots in for a double leg but Zonta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zonta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yataro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Zonta darts in and clinches Yataro up against the cage.
Yataro struggles to land a body shot inside as Zonta controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for Zonta.
Zonta is working for takedown but Yataro is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yataro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Zonta.

Yataro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zonta waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yataro.
Yataro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Zonta closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yataro to the mat! Yataro manages to get full guard.
Zonta lands a couple of elbows.
Yataro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Yataro working for a triangle but Zonta defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yataro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zonta got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yataro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zonta has managed to get both his arms back between Yataro's legs - danger averted.
Zonta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Zonta landing with the ground and pound.
Yataro trying to control the position.
Zonta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yataro swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Yataro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zonta landing with the ground and pound.
Yataro controls Zonta momentarily but Zonta frees himself.
Yataro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yataro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zonta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zonta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Yataro is looking for a triangle but Zonta pushes his legs off easily.
Yataro has momentary wrist control but Zonta slips an elbow through the middle.
Yataro is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Yataro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zonta is aware though and is defending well.
Zonta is working Yataro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zonta trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zonta postures up and lands a big shot to Yataro's brow.

Yataro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zonta trying to control the position from guard on top but Yataro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Yataro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zonta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zonta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zonta cracks Yataro with a good jab.
Zonta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yataro manages to avoid it.
Yataro shoots in but Zonta avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Yataro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zonta was covering up waiting for the punch and Yataro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We've been hearing that Yataro has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Zonta pulls Yataro in close to prevent any damage.
Yataro connects with a couple of short punches.
Zonta keeping moving, preventing Yataro from controlling successfully.
Zonta wants to sweep here but Yataro controlling him for the moment.
Zonta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yataro's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zonta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yataro has control of Zonta's left arm, preventing Zonta from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zonta's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Yataro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zonta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Yataro looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Zonta passes into side control.
Yataro wants to control but Zonta postures up.
Yataro manages to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yataro is pressing down on Zonta's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yataro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zonta.
Yataro trying to control the position.
Zonta scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zonta 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.

Yataro lands with a nice body punch.
Yataro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yataro fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yataro moves out of range of the strikes.
Zonta looks to land a combination but Yataro avoids it well.
Peter Zonta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zonta gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Yataro.
Yataro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zonta defends it nicely.

Zonta moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yataro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yataro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zonta is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yataro is defending well.
Zonta pushes Yataro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zonta lands a hook that snaps the head of Yataro backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zonta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zonta tries to throw a body punch but Yataro avoids it by throwing Zonta back against the cage.
Yataro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yataro misses with the head strike.

Yataro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zonta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zonta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zonta wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takayama Yataro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yataro shoots in but Zonta avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zonta motions for Yataro to come forward. Zonta throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Yataro shoots in looking for a takedown but Zonta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yataro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zonta throws out a powerful jab.
Yataro just misses with a punch to the body.
As Yataro backs off Zonta throws a huge counter combo but Yataro manages to avoid it all.
Zonta slaps away a takedown attempt from Yataro, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yataro shoots in for a takedown but Zonta shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A little jabbing left from Zonta on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Yataro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zonta circles away.
Zonta wants to counter the offense by Yataro and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zonta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Zonta gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Yataro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Peter Zonta has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Zonta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yataro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yataro is trying to maintain the position but Zonta is very close to passing his half guard.
Zonta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yataro is not content to let Zonta control the position.
Zonta sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yataro defending well though.
Zonta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zonta is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yataro!
Zonta scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Yataro is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zonta raining down hammerfists from mount.
Zonta landing shots from mount.
Zonta tries to control but Yataro wriggling away.
Yataro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yataro is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Zonta lands a heavy elbow.
Yataro is looking to get to half guard.
Zonta throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Zonta looking to finish with strikes here!
Zonta sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Zonta is stalling here but it's allowed Yataro to get half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zonta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yataro wants to improve his position but Zonta is controlling well.

Zonta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zonta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yataro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zonta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Yataro keeping moving, preventing Zonta from controlling successfully.
Zonta stands up over Yataro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zonta distracts Yataro with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zonta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yataro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zonta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zonta lands with an overhand left.
Zonta will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zonta doesn't manage to clinch there - Yataro circles away.
Zonta tries for a takedown but Yataro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zonta scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yataro doesn't seem bothered though.
Yataro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Yataro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zonta's half guard.
Yataro drops an elbow to the side of Zonta's head.
Yataro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zonta defending well though.
Yataro thows a huge punch but Zonta dodges it nicely.
Zonta moves into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yataro cracks Zonta with a solid left hand.
Zonta looking for a sweep. Not yet Zonta, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yataro content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Yataro landing some decent shots from guard.
Zonta looking for a sweep. Not yet Zonta, not yet.
Zonta keeping moving, preventing Yataro from controlling successfully.
Zonta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yataro.
Zonta pulls Yataro in close to prevent any damage.
Zonta controls Yataro momentarily but Yataro frees himself.
Yataro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yataro preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yataro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yataro stopping the sweep attempt from Zonta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zonta pulls Yataro in close to prevent any damage.

Yataro drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zonta looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zonta looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zonta!

Zonta throws an elbow but Yataro slips to the side and avoids it well.
Yataro is looking for a sweep.
Zonta grinds an elbow into Yataro's temple.
Yataro is trying to improve his position.
Yataro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Zonta trying to pass the guard but Yataro defending well.
Zonta landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Yataro looking for submissions off his back.
Zonta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yataro's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zonta prevents Yataro from improving his position.
Yataro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zonta.
Zonta thows a huge punch but Yataro dodges it nicely.
Yataro has hold of Zonta's hands but Zonta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Yataro trying to hold on to Zonta's head to control him but Zonta postures up.
Yataro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Yataro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Yataro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yataro regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Zonta.
Yataro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yataro keeping moving, preventing Zonta from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zonta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zonta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yataro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zonta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zonta sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yataro's guard.
Yataro is trying to maintain the position but Zonta is very close to passing his half guard.
Zonta not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peter Zonta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yataro is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zonta looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zonta wants to take a breather but Yataro is having none of it.

Yataro actively working from the bottom here.
Takayama Yataro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zonta landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Zonta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zonta 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Zonta!