PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yamashita Maki (ranked 5672 p4p, 595 weight class) and Nikolai Ketchum Jr (ranked 5366 p4p, 577 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Maki
vs
Ketchum Jr

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yamashita Maki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikolai Ketchum Jr!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ketchum Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Maki blocks a jab.
Ketchum Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ketchum Jr misses with a kick to the body.
Maki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ketchum Jr throws a shot to the body.
A combination from Maki does no damage.
Ketchum Jr connects with a looping right hand.
Maki looks to score with a jab to the body but Ketchum Jr is just out of range.
Ketchum Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ketchum Jr misses with a looping right.
Ketchum Jr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ketchum Jr scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Yamashita Maki has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ketchum Jr misses with a double jab

and Maki counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ketchum Jr!
Ketchum Jr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Maki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maki throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Maki in side control, throwing shots but Ketchum Jr defends.
Maki is looking to take a break and control but Ketchum Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maki is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Ketchum Jr's shoulder. That is not cool.
Maki moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketchum Jr is desperately trying to improve his position but Maki has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maki thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Maki unloads with some shots from mount but Ketchum Jr bucks and avoids them well.
Ketchum Jr throwing hammer fists to the chest of Maki. What's that going to do exactly?
Ketchum Jr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ketchum Jr is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ketchum Jr is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ketchum Jr is working to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maki controlling his opponent.
Maki 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maki wants to finish this one by submission but Ketchum Jr is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Maki.

Maki working for a submission but Ketchum Jr is keeping him at bay.
Maki lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maki looking to ground and pound but Ketchum Jr is blocking nicely.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ketchum Jr is looking to escape.
Maki throwing strikes here but Ketchum Jr is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ketchum Jr is trying to escape the mount.
Ketchum Jr keeps trying to improve his position.
Maki controlling from mount.
Maki lands a couple of good shots and Ketchum Jr has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Ketchum Jr is trying to remain composed but Maki is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Ketchum Jr staying busy and making it hard for Maki to control.
Maki missing with strikes from the back.
Maki missing with punches from the back.
Maki is looking to control Ketchum Jr but Ketchum Jr is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yamashita Maki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yamashita Maki's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ketchum Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ketchum Jr lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ketchum Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ketchum Jr misses with a body shot.
Ketchum Jr slips under a jab.
Ketchum Jr throws a series of punches but Maki moves out of range.
Maki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maki tries to clinch but Ketchum Jr is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ketchum Jr throws a body punch but Maki moves out of range.
Ketchum Jr scores with a nice head shot.
Ketchum Jr finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A leg kick checked by Maki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki throws a head kick but Ketchum Jr moves out of range.
Ketchum Jr throws a good cross that connects.
Maki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maki throws a sloppy head kick and Ketchum Jr moves out of range easily.
Ketchum Jr wants to counter with a clinch but Maki pushes him away.
Ketchum Jr misses with a body shot

and Maki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ketchum Jr's guard.
Ketchum Jr keeping moving, preventing Maki from controlling successfully.
Yamashita Maki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maki's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Maki throws a big elbow that misses.
Ketchum Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Maki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Maki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ketchum Jr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketchum Jr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maki.
Maki slows the pace down in half guard.
Ketchum Jr trying to control here.
Maki trying to control the pace.
Maki trying to control from half guard but Ketchum Jr is working away.
Still in half guard, Maki seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketchum Jr misses with a double jab.
Ketchum Jr throws a push kick but Maki slaps the foot to one side.
Maki is looking to counter punch.
Yamashita Maki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maki is defended easily by Ketchum Jr.
Ketchum Jr loads up on a big right hand but Maki slips the punch.
Ketchum Jr dodges the punch combination from Maki.
Nikolai Ketchum Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ketchum Jr throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ketchum Jr looks to land a combination. Maki sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ketchum Jr misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ketchum Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Ketchum Jr misses with a kick to the body

and Maki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Maki.
Ketchum Jr is looking to stand back up but Maki counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ketchum Jr.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Maki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ketchum Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ketchum Jr defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Ketchum Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yamashita Maki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ketchum Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ketchum Jr moves away.
Maki throws a push kick but Ketchum Jr slaps the foot to one side.
Maki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maki throws a body punch but Ketchum Jr moves out of range.
Ketchum Jr stuns Maki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ketchum Jr, as that shot connected.
Nikolai Ketchum Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maki slips a jab and a cross from Ketchum Jr.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ketchum Jr lands a two punch combo.
Maki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ketchum Jr scores with a hook.

Maki is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crack! Ketchum Jr connects with the perfect overhand right and Maki falls face first to the canvas. Timbeeeeeeeer! Beautiful knockout for Ketchum Jr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:06 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nikolai Ketchum Jr!