PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Seth Mansour (ranked 5867 p4p, 24266 weight class) and Michael Yakamito (ranked 687 p4p, 814 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mansour
vs
Yakamito

201 cm
19
185
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
28
198
4 - 3 - 0

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seth Mansour!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Yakamito!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mansour stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mansour throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yakamito lands a right hook to the body.
Yakamito's coach down at BLOODBATH Training Grounds was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Yakamito's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Yakamito scores with the left hand. Mansour knows he should have avoided that one.
Mansour moves out of range as Yakamito strikes.
Yakamito misses with a left hand
enabling Mansour to counter with a crisp jab.
Yakamito looks to throw the jab but Mansour is out of range.
Mansour swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mansour swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mansour scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yakamito in his tracks.
We've been told by Mansour's head coaches at five angels that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Yakamito throws a jab when Mansour was well out of range.
Yakamito moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansour misses with a hook.
Yakamito jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mansour. Yakamito does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yakamito jabs Mansour right on the nose. Mansour blinks but takes it well.
Yakamito closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mansour staying out of range there.
A big left from Mansour misses.
It seemed like Yakamito was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yakamito misses with a hook.
Mansour takes a swing at Yakamito's ribcage but misses.
Yakamito on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansour throws a hook but Yakamito blocks it.
Yakamito let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Yakamito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yakamito misses with a hook. Mansour ducked under it nicely.
Yakamito misses the body punch
and Mansour counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Yakamito is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Yakamito misses with a hook to the body
and Mansour connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yakamito takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yakamito misses the shot to the body.
Mansour fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yakamito manages to avoid it.
Mansour walks into a jab.

It looks like Seth Mansour has been cut.
Mansour on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansour changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mansour connects with a jab.
Yakamito looks to throw the jab but Mansour is out of range.
Mansour throws a hook but Yakamito blocks it.
Mansour misses with a body shot.
Jab by Mansour.
Yakamito swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mansour counters with a left to the body.
Mansour throws the left hand but Yakamito avoids the punch easily.
Yakamito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mansour.
Mansour is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansour throws a jab when Yakamito was well out of range.
Yakamito is looking for the big counter here.
Yakamito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mansour.
Mansour moves away from the strike by Yakamito.
Mansour really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yakamito scores with the left hand. Mansour knows he should have avoided that one.
Mansour misses with a straight left.
Yakamito looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mansour throws a body shot but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakamito misses with a lunging right hand
and Mansour connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yakamito doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Yakamito defending well as Mansour loads up on a big left hand.
Yakamito fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mansour on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seth Mansour dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Seth Mansour's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yakamito swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mansour counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some wild striking there from Mansour.
A little jabbing left from Yakamito on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mansour misses the shot to the body.
Yakamito appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Mansour ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yakamito throws a body shot but no joy.
Mansour was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Yakamito throws a jab when Mansour was well out of range.
A quick step to the side and Mansour tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakamito misses with a body shot
enabling Mansour to counter with a crisp jab.
Mansour lands a jab to the head.
Mansour throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansour throws a big shot that misses.
Mansour is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yakamito can do to turn this around?
Yakamito misses with a left hand
and Mansour connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yakamito misses with an uppercut. Mansour saw that one coming.
Mansour uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yakamito.
Seth Mansour is winning the standup battle so far.
Yakamito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yakamito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mansour was well out of range. Poor timing from Yakamito.
A counter left hand to the body from Mansour misses its target.
Mansour scores with a punch to the head.
Mansour ducks under a wild hook from Yakamito.
Yakamito loads up on a big right hand but Mansour slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansour avoids the body shot from Yakamito.
An attempted straight right counter from Mansour misses the target.
Mansour scores with a body shot.
Yakamito misses with a hook to the body

and Mansour moves into the clinch.
Yakamito lands a right hand.
Mansour is leaning against Yakamito and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yakamito takes a shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mansour is working Yakamito over against the ropes.
Yakamito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yakamito missing with knees to the body.

Mansour pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mansour digs a good body shot into Yakamito's ribs.
Mansour throws a body punch but Yakamito moves out of range.
Yakamito ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Mansour clips Yakamito with a right and a left that makes him do the chicken dance for a couple of seconds. He touched his left hand down on the canvas so the referee steps between the fighters to give Yakamito a standing 8 count before we can continue the bout.

It looks like Michael Yakamito has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Mansour misses
and Yakamito counters with a nice uppercut.
Mansour throws a body shot but no joy.
Yakamito throws out a counter right but Mansour avoids it with no problem.
Mansour scores with a body shot.
Mansour throws a poor cross that misses
and Yakamito cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mansour stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yakamito.
A right-left combo lands from Mansour.
Mansour throws a jab when Yakamito was well out of range.
Mansour lands a nice shot to the body.
Yakamito defending well as Mansour loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansour throws a series of punches but Yakamito moves out of range.
Mansour cracks a nice hook into Yakamito's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakamito tries to clinch but Mansour is having none of it.
No joy there for Mansour, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yakamito throws a right hand that misses
and Mansour counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mansour throws an overhand right that lands on Yakamito's shoulder, as Yakamito tries to avoid the shot.
Yakamito works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Mansour lands with a straight right. Yakamito didn't see that one coming.
Mansour lands the left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seth Mansour will take that round after scoring the only knockdown of the round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mansour lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Yakamito is looking to clinch.
Yakamito throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yakamito looks to throw the jab but Mansour is out of range.
Mansour lands a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mansour. Yakamito does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Yakamito misses.
Nice straight punches there by Yakamito. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Yakamito.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mansour swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yakamito now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Yakamito throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Mansour to counter with a crisp jab.
Yakamito takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansour takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yakamito walks into a straight right hand from Mansour.

Yakamito is rocked!
Yakamito bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mansour comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yakamito lunges at Mansour with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mansour's hand.
Yakamito misses with a hook
and Mansour counters with a left to the body.
Mansour scores with a hook.
Yakamito jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Yakamito tests Mansour's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Michael Yakamito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Seth Mansour is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakamito lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mansour paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Mansour tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yakamito was well out of range. Poor timing from Mansour.
Yakamito changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mansour blocks a jab.
Yakamito bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Yakamito swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mansour connects with a body shot.
A jab from Yakamito misses.
Mansour swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansour fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yakamito looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mansour fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yakamito looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mansour connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mansour avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yakamito takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yakamito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mansour.
Yakamito throws out a counter right but Mansour avoids it with no problem.
Yakamito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mansour moves away.
Mansour tests Yakamito's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakamito misses with a lunging right hand
and Mansour counters with a one-two to the body.
Yakamito throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mansour.
It looked like Mansour was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Yakamito.
Mansour fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakamito misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Mansour cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mansour looks to throw the jab but Yakamito is out of range.
Mansour with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mansour's corner calls for a 1-2. Mansour obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Yakamito misses with an uppercut
and Mansour counters with a stiff right hand.
Mansour cracks Yakamito with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seth Mansour showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mansour 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seth Mansour!
During a confident post fight interview, Seth Mansour thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.