PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Luka Delija (ranked 5309 p4p, 6497 weight class) and Michael Yakamito (ranked 559 p4p, 589 weight class). Delija kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Franje. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Michael Yakamito was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Delija
vs
Yakamito

183 cm
19
190
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
26
198
2 - 0 - 0

Excellent boxer
Good chin

Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luka Delija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Yakamito!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Delija uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yakamito.
Delija is looking to counter punch.
Yakamito misses with a left hand
and Delija connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yakamito displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Delija throws out the jab.
Yakamito throws a poor cross that misses
and Delija counters with a straight right hand.
Yakamito scores with a sloppy right hand. Delija should have avoided that one.
Delija thows a left - swing and a miss!
Delija loads up on a big right hand but Yakamito slips the punch.
Yakamito lands a jab to the nose.
Delija avoids the head kick by Yakamito.
Yakamito looks to throw the jab but Delija is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Delija.
Delija moves out of range of the strikes.
Delija scores with a decent looking hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yakamito scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Yakamito misses with a left hand
and Delija counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Yakamito scores with a jab. Delija acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Delija steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yakamito.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delija uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yakamito.
Delija ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yakamito throws an off balance right hand
and Delija counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yakamito looks to land a left hand but Delija moved out of range nicely.
Delija feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Delija uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yakamito.
Yakamito misses with a hook. Delija ducked under it nicely.
Delija misses with a hook.
Delija keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Delija takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yakamito throws a head kick that misses.
Yakamito might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Yakamito throws a lazy uppercut
and Delija counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yakamito throws a lazy right hand but Delija sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Delija misses the target.
Delija avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Yakamito misses the target.
Delija appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Yakamito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Delija manages to avoid it.
Yakamito misses with a wild body shot.
Delija went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakamito throws a jab when Delija was well out of range.
It looked like Delija was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Yakamito.
Yakamito looks to land a right hand but Delija moved out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Delija lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yakamito at a distance.
Yakamito misses with a hook
enabling Delija to counter with a crisp jab.
Delija gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Yakamito.
Yakamito throws a poor cross that misses
and Delija counters with a straight right hand.

Delija takes the fight into the clinch.
Delija leaning against his opponent.

Yakamito breaks from the clinch.
Delija connects with a body shot that sends Yakamito's belly button to the back.
Yakamito drops his hands momentarily and Delija takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yakamito rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Delija counters with a nice uppercut.

Yakamito is rocked!
Yakamito throws an off balance right hand
and Delija makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Delija cracks Yakamito with an open hand slap.
Yakamito is still on wobbly legs! Can Delija finish him?
Yakamito swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luka Delija will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yakamito avoids the head kick by Delija.
Yakamito seems to have recovered his senses.
Yakamito tests Delija's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A head kick misses from Yakamito.
Yakamito throws a jab when Delija was well out of range.
Yakamito staying out of range there.
Luka Delija is winning the standup battle so far.
Yakamito throws a poor cross that misses
and Delija counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've been informed that Yakamito has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A head kick misses from Yakamito.
Delija swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Delija swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yakamito uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Delija with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yakamito to score with a decent uppercut.
Yakamito throws a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Delija throws a head kick that Yakamito semi-blocks.
Delija ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Nice shot by Yakamito.
Delija defending well as Yakamito loads up on a big left hand.
Delija misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yakamito.
Yakamito throws out a counter right but Delija avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakamito bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Yakamito looks to score with a jab to the body but Delija is just out of range.
Yakamito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Delija is looking to counter punch.
Yakamito looks for the body kick but Delija saw that one coming.
Yakamito just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDelija.
Delija slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Delija tries to close the distance and clinch but Yakamito swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Delija bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yakamito throws a jab but it's blocked by Delija.
Delija moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yakamito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yakamito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Delija. Yakamito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Delija avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yakamito throws a solid leg kick but Delija takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yakamito.
Michael Yakamito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakamito throws a head kick but Delija moves out of range.
Yakamito scores with a nice right hand.
Nice defenses there by Delija.
Yakamito misses with a straight left.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yakamito misses with a straight left.
Delija throws a head kick but Yakamito moves out of range.
Yakamito swings for the body but Delija moves out of range.
Delija throws a good cross that connects.
Yakamito throws a sloppy head kick and Delija moves out of range easily.
Yakamito throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Delija to counter with a crisp jab.
Yakamito misses with a hook
letting Delija counter with a right hand.
Delija turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Delija thuds a left hand into Yakamito's body.
Yakamito misses with a body shot.
Delija lands with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luka Delija will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yakamito throws an overhand right that lands on Delija's shoulder, as Delija tries to avoid the shot.
Michael Yakamito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luka Delija is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Delija takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Delija tests Yakamito's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yakamito stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slow jab from Yakamito misses its intended target.
A big right from Yakamito misses.
Yakamito takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Yakamito misses with a body punch
and Delija connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Delija uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yakamito.
Yakamito takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab from Yakamito.
Yakamito misses with a lunging right hand
and Yakamito takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick by Yakamito misses
and Delija counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Delija slips under a jab.
Yakamito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Delija was well out of range. Poor timing from Yakamito.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakamito doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Yakamito moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A punch lands to the side of Delija 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Delija lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A big right from Yakamito misses.
A big left from Yakamito misses.
Yakamito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Delija manages to avoid it.
Delija half committed to a counter leg kick.
Yakamito misses with an uppercut
and Delija counters with a nice uppercut.
Yakamito misses with a hook.
Delija swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Delija takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yakamito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Delija throws out a powerful jab.
A head kick misses from Yakamito.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Delija steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yakamito.
Delija avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yakamito takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakamito throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Delija misses the target.
Yakamito throws out a loose jab but Delija uses good head movement to avoid it.
And Delija counters with a quick kick to the body but Yakamito blocks it.
Yakamito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Delija moves away.
Yakamito misses with a body punch
letting Delija counter with a right hand.
Yakamito tries to land a leg kick but Delija saw it coming and moves away.
Delija uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yakamito.
Delija takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yakamito lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Delija moves out of range as Yakamito strikes.
Delija checks a leg kick nicely.
Delija slips a jab from Yakamito.
A counter left hand to the body from Delija misses its target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Delija lands with a hook. Yakamito tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Delija scores with a shot to the body.
Delija dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yakamito. That did some damage!
Yakamito moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Yakamito.
Well Delija has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luka Delija!
Luka Delija decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.