PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Masahiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven DeNomee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeNomee has chosen XXL as his entrance music. Masahiro Yamamoto has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Yamamoto
vs
DeNomee

210 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
260 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Einherjer RAW Nutrition
Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Masahiro Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven DeNomee!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeNomee throws a nice looking combination but Yamamoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt.
DeNomee misses with a wild combination.
DeNomee misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Yamamoto or perhaps it was just good defense by DeNomee which made him look bad.
A nice combination there by DeNomee.

It looks like Masahiro Yamamoto has been cut.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts DeNomee as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masahiro Yamamoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yamamoto dodges the punch combination from DeNomee.
DeNomee lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yamamoto circles away quickly and effectively.
DeNomee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown but DeNomee shows good takedown defense.
Yamamoto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from DeNomee.
Steven DeNomee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt - DeNomee sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yamamoto fails to land the takedown.
Yamamoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but DeNomee sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yamamoto somewhat.
DeNomee lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
DeNomee throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeNomee looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
DeNomee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

DeNomee instigates a clinch.
DeNomee landing knees to the head.
DeNomee scores with a knee to the head.
DeNomee scores a nice knee to the body.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.
DeNomee landing knees to the head.
DeNomee works on Yamamoto's body with a couple of short punches.
DeNomee unloads a knee to the mid-section. Yamamoto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
DeNomee unloads a knee to the mid-section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
DeNomee working Yamamoto over with knees to the body.
DeNomee landing knees to the body.
DeNomee is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
DeNomee is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
DeNomee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yamamoto's face.
DeNomee connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yamamoto's face.
DeNomee landing knees to the body.
DeNomee scores with a knee to the head.
DeNomee with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
DeNomee crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
DeNomee scores with a knee to the head.
DeNomee landing knees to the head.
DeNomee crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
Yamamoto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. DeNomee is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
DeNomee lands a knee to the head.
DeNomee landing knees to the body.
DeNomee looking to throw knees to the head but Yamamoto is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeNomee prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
DeNomee lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Yamamoto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
DeNomee connects with a knee to the head.
DeNomee with a knee to the head.
Yamamoto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. DeNomee fights it off and pushes away nicely.

DeNomee instigates a clinch.
Yamamoto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. DeNomee gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
DeNomee lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
DeNomee with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
DeNomee with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yamamoto goes for a takedown attempt but DeNomee pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with DeNomee, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes DeNomee against the cage but DeNomee circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
DeNomee scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
DeNomee tries to bum rush Yamamoto with a series of wild strikes but Yamamoto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with DeNomee but DeNomee pushes him off and we're back to square one.
DeNomee throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Yamamoto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. DeNomee was covering up waiting for the punch and Yamamoto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
DeNomee looking to control.
Yamamoto postures up in DeNomee's guard and throws a big left but DeNomee blocks it.
DeNomee being controlled here, momentarily.

Yamamoto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and DeNomee dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Yamamoto is looking for a triangle here but DeNomee uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Yamamoto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
DeNomee staying calm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven DeNomee dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Masahiro Yamamoto's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yamamoto slips a jab and a cross from DeNomee.
DeNomee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
DeNomee works over Yamamoto's head and body with a nice combination.
DeNomee leaves Yamamoto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
DeNomee looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
DeNomee misses with a wild combination.
Yamamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but DeNomee circles away.

Yamamoto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. DeNomee manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yamamoto chips away with some ground and pound.
DeNomee really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yamamoto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yamamoto prevents DeNomee from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yamamoto scoring with some ground and pound.
DeNomee is breathing heavily.
DeNomee is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yamamoto is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeNomee wants to sweep but no luck.
Yamamoto distracts DeNomee with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yamamoto 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.
Yamamoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yamamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yamamoto throws a big right hand that misses.
DeNomee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
DeNomee wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if DeNomee can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yamamoto working some strikes from top position.
Yamamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
DeNomee keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DeNomee has momentary wrist control but Yamamoto slips an elbow through the middle.
Yamamoto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamamoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as DeNomee works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeNomee is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Yamamoto trying to control but DeNomee is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto is working DeNomee over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
DeNomee preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as DeNomee works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yamamoto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Yamamoto thows a big elbow that misses.

Yamamoto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yamamoto connects with a couple of short punches.
DeNomee preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yamamoto works over DeNomee with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Yamamoto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but DeNomee keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masahiro Yamamoto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Masahiro Yamamoto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Yamamoto scoring with punches to the head and body.

Yamamoto has gone for a leg lock! DeNomee slips out almost immediately though and dives into Yamamoto's guard.
Yamamoto lands a decent punch to the body there.

Yamamoto had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. DeNomee is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Yamamoto Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take DeNomee's back instead.
Yamamoto is trying to stick to DeNomee's back but DeNomee is turning into Yamamoto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Yamamoto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by DeNomee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yamamoto looking for subs off his back but DeNomee has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamamoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
DeNomee keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Yamamoto looking for submissions off his back.
DeNomee wants to control but Yamamoto is keeping him busy.

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.
Yamamoto trying to hold on to DeNomee's head to control him but DeNomee postures up.
Yamamoto manages to get to full guard.
DeNomee passes into half guard.

Yamamoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Yamamoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Yamamoto is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but DeNomee pulls his head out easily.
Yamamoto tries to roll over but DeNomee keeps him under control.
Masahiro Yamamoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yamamoto flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
DeNomee trying to mount his opponent but Yamamoto defends it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

DeNomee closes the distance and pushes Yamamoto back into the cage.
DeNomee landing knees to the body.
Yamamoto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as DeNomee walks away with a smile on his face. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Steven DeNomee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yamamoto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto thows a huge punch but DeNomee dodges it nicely.
DeNomee regains full guard. Nicely done.
DeNomee looking for a sweep. Not yet DeNomee, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Masahiro Yamamoto.
I think Yamamoto 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Masahiro Yamamoto!