PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Materla (ranked 25143 p4p, 24357 weight class) and Ren Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michal Materla looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Materla
vs
Yamato

212 cm
19
212
2 - 10 - 0

218 cm
21
210
0 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michal Materla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ren Yamato!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamato shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Materla as he jumps to the side.
Yamato looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Yamato is looking to clinch.
Materla shoots in for a double leg but Yamato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yamato leaves Materla with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Materla has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yamato trying to control the position but instead, Materla has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yamato into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yamato breaks the clinch.
Materla fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Materla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamato is fending him off so far but Materla persists. Nope, Yamato circles away and we're back to standing.
Materla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamato is fending him off so far but Materla persists. Nope, Yamato circles away and we're back to standing.
Yamato fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Materla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yamato, pushing him back against the cage.
Yamato wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Materla has him pressed against the cage.
Materla has Yamato pushed against the cage.
Materla wants to get back to striking at distance but Yamato won't allow it.

Materla has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yamato uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Materla is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Materla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yamato trying to control but Materla is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Materla holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Materla ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Materla really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Materla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamato defends it nicely.

Materla is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yamato's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Materla not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Yamato actively working from the bottom here.

Yamato with the active half guard here but Materla passes nicely into side control.
Materla in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Materla dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Materla darts in and clinches Yamato up against the cage.
Materla is trying to force a seperation but Yamato has the dominant position.
Materla pushes Yamato back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Yamato gets control of Materla's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yamato will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Materla gets to his feet. Yamato looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Materla throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamato's waist but Yamato gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Materla off to one side.
Materla fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Materla pushes Yamato up against the cage in a clinch.
Yamato is trying to pull guard but Materla turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Materla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yamato can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Materla jumps guard and drags Yamato to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Materla pushes Yamato off and gets back to his feet.

Yamato gets tackled into the cage by Materla. Materla maintains the clinch.
A short right from Materla.
We've been informed that Yamato has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Yamato prevents the takedown attempt.
Materla tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Materla is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yamato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamato avoiding damage as Materla throws knees to the body.
Materla wants to take the fight to the mat but Yamato manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamato misses with a knee strike.

Yamato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Materla fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Materla forces Yamato back against the cage and clinches.
Yamato tries to pull guard but Materla forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
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!
Materla wants a takedown but no success here.
Materla throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yamato blocks it with crossed arms.
Materla is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yamato is defending well.

Yamato breaks the clinch.
Materla throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yamato's waist but Yamato gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Materla off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Materla gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Materla scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Yamato misses with a takedown attempt - Materla sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Materla swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamato.
Materla closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yamato circles away.
Materla moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromYamato.
Yamato ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Materla shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Yamato eats them both and turns towards Materla to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamato walks into a jab.

Yamato shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Yamato is working for a kimura but Materla is defending it quite comfortably.
Yamato wants to pass to mount but Materla is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Materla dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamato gets tackled into the cage by Materla. Materla maintains the clinch.
Yamato tries to circle away but Materla has him pinned against the cage.
Materla lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamato backwards.
Yamato changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Materla fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Materla shoots in for a takedown but Yamato shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Materla shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamato sprawls well. He's pushed Materla's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Materla goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Michal Materla is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamato keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamato shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Materla defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Materla checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Materla fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yamato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Materla.

Yamato shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Materla gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Materla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yamato stands up over Materla, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamato accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yamato is fighting to break Materla's control of his arms but Materla is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Yamato stands up from Materla's guard - Yamato perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Materla defends well and Yamato ends up having to push Materla into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Yamato shoots in but Materla avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Materla cracks a nice hook into Yamato's ribs.
Materla shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamato defends it nicely.
Yamato slips a jab and a cross from Materla.

Yamato gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamato breaks from the clinch.
Materla circles away from the clinch attempt
and Materla counters with a left and a right that stings Yamato.
Materla moves out of range of the strikes.
Michal Materla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Materla.
Yamato wants to counter with a clinch but Materla pushes him away.
Nice cross by Yamato.
Yamato stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamato wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamato stuffs the takedown attempt from Materla. Materla gets slowly back to his feet.
Ren Yamato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michal Materla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Materla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamato.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ren Yamato.
I think Materla has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Materla!