PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cho Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Collins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cho Yamato has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yamato
vs
Collins

180 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Win Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cho Yamato!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Collins!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collins throws a lazy right hand but Yamato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Collins misses with a straight right.

Yamato clinches.
Collins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yamato walks away with a smile on his face. Collins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Steve Collins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yamato looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Yamato gets to his feet - Collins follows without any prompting.
Collins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Collins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yamato in his tracks.
Collins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Yamato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab from Collins misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins moves out of range of the body kick from Yamato.
A swing and a miss from Collins.
Yamato shoots in for a takedown but Collins shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A jab from Collins misses.
Collins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yamato.
Yamato throws a sloppy head kick and Collins moves out of range easily.
Yamato slips a straight right by Collins.
Collins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamato.
Yamato wants to clinch.
Yamato takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yamato throws a right hand that Collins ducks under and follows up with a left that Collins also avoids with ease.

Yamato instigates a clinch.
Yamato missing with knees to the body.
Collins avoids a wild elbow strike from Yamato.
Collins is trying to break the clinch but Yamato has him pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yamato takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Collins tries to pull guard but Yamato holds him up against the cage and eventually Collins drops back down to his feet.
Collins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yamato lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Steve Collins has been cut.
Collins tries to break free but Yamato pushes him back against the cage.
Collins wants to break the clinch but can't.

Collins breaks the clinch.
Collins connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato moves out of range as Collins strikes.
Yamato checks the leg kick.
Steve Collins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Collins throws a leg kick but Yamato moved away.
Yamato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Collins throws a right and a left that Yamato avoids nicely.
Yamato lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Collins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Collins takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

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.
Yamato ducks under a wild hook from Collins.
Yamato fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Collins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamato moves out of range of the strikes.
Collins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamato.
Collins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Collins stuffs the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yamato moves into range and clinches up with Collins.
Collins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamato tries to land knees in the clinch but Collins avoids the damage to the body.
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 Cho Yamato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Steve Collins's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamato shoots in and bounces Collins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yamato has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Collins is proving hard to escape from.

Yamato stands up from Collins's guard - Yamato perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yamato takes one to the side of the head.
Yamato staying out of range there.
A punch combination from Collins misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato tries to work over Collins's front leg with a kick but Collins checks it.
Collins throws a looping overhand right but Yamato ducks down to avoid it.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Collins circles away.
Collins circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Yamato.
Yamato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Collins. Collins obviously looking to wear him down.
Collins looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamato is just out of range.
Yamato tries to clinch but Collins moves out of range.
Yamato misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A swing and a miss from Collins.
Yamato doesn't manage to clinch there - Collins circles away.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Collins circles away.
Collins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Collins avoids the head kick by Yamato.
Cho Yamato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Yamato.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Collins circles away.

Yamato closes the distance and pushes Collins back into the cage.
Yamato pushes off an throws an elbow but Collins leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yamato has Collins pressed against the cage, preventing Collins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Collins tries to break the clinch but Yamato is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yamato obliges.
Collins takes an elbow to the temple.
Collins working hard to break the clinch.
Yamato trying to land knees to the body.
Yamato creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Collins's defenses.
Collins tries to circle away but Yamato has him pinned against the cage.
Collins tries to circle away but Yamato has him pinned against the cage.
Collins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yamato landing knees to the body.
Yamato misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Collins.
Yamato throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Yamato missing with knees to the body.
Yamato using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Collins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Collins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yamato smiles and moves away.
Collins misses with a few strikes there.
Collins misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamato moves in looking to clinch but Collins pushes him off.
A right-left combo lands from Collins.
Collins jabs Yamato right on the nose. Yamato blinks but takes it well.
Yamato moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Collins misses the target.
A head kick misses from Yamato.
Collins throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Yamato's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Collins misses with an uppercut. Yamato saw that one coming.

Yamato moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cho Yamato dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Collins's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Collins throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamato.
Collins misses with a wild body shot.
Yamato throws a head kick that misses
and Collins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamato misses with a kick to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Collins misses the target.
Yamato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Collins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamato moves out of range as Collins strikes.
Yamato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Collins doesn't seem bothered though.
Yamato avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins cracks Yamato with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Yamato throws the kick towards the body but Collins avoids it.
Collins throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamato.
Yamato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamato wants to clinch.

Yamato pushes Collins up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yamato with a knee to the head.
Yamato tries a knee to the head but Collins blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Collins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Collins is trying to break the clinch but Yamato is controlling him.
Yamato crunches a lovely knee into Collins's ribcage.
Collins wants to get back to striking at distance but Yamato won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Yamato.
Yamato lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Collins wants to break free but Yamato has control.

Collins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Collins throws a hook to the side of Yamato's head but Yamato sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yamato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Collins sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yamato somewhat.
Yamato slips under a jab from Collins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Collins throws a shot from downtown. Yamato moves away and avoids it.
Collins misses with a straight left.
Collins throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yamato counters with a head kick. That will keep Collins thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Yamato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yamato doesn't manage to clinch there - Collins circles away.
Yamato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yamato defending well as Collins loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yamato with a lazy takedown attempt
and Collins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cho Yamato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Collins throws a jab but it's blocked by Yamato.
A cross from Collins lands.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Collins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yamato misses with a kick to the body.
Collins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yamato momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Collins connects with the punch.
Collins throws a looping overhand right but Yamato ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Cho Yamato did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Steve Collins'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.

Collins throws a lazy right hand but Yamato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Collins missing with a left hand there. Yamato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamato looks to clinch
and Collins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Collins looks to land a right hand but Yamato moved out of range.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch but Collins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yamato bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Yamato misses
and Collins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yamato misses with a body kick.
Collins misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Yamato
and Collins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Collins throws a hook to the side of Yamato's head but Yamato sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Collins blocks a head kick by Yamato.
Collins lands a jab.
Yamato takes one to the chin there.
Collins throws a sloppy body shot

so Yamato counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Yamato wants to stand but Collins is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins wants to stand but Yamato is controlling the position.

Yamato gets to his feet. Collins looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Yamato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Collins.
Collins connects with a single shot there.
Collins takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Yamato throws a sloppy head kick
and Collins counters with a stiff right hand.
Collins throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato ducks under a wild hook from Collins.
A swing and a miss from Collins.
Yamato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yamato slips under a jab from Collins.
Yamato tries to clinch up but Collins circles away and keeps his distance.
Collins waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Yamato.
Yamato clinches but Collins breaks the clinch
and Collins counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Collins misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Collins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Collins swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamato.
Collins throws a jab when Yamato was well out of range.

Yamato gets a takedown into half guard.

Yamato decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Collins misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cho Yamato had his way with Steve Collins in that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Collins's cut.
That's time! Yamato's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yamato walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Steve Collins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamato tries to clinch up
and Collins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A low kick from Collins misses
and Yamato counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yamato moves in looking to clinch but Collins pushes him off.
Yamato will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick by Yamato misses
and Collins counters with a one-two to the body.
Yamato walks into a jab.
Yamato looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Yamato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Collins misses with a looping left.
Yamato throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Yamato tries to clinch but Collins is having none of it.
Collins misses with a wild body shot.
Collins throws a right and a left that Yamato avoids nicely.
Yamato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Collins with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yamato at a distance.
Collins misses with a few strikes there.
Yamato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yamato tries to clinch up but Collins circles away and keeps his distance.
Yamato tries to clinch there but Collins circles away.
Collins throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Collins.
Collins thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collins waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Yamato.
Collins misses with a hook. Yamato ducked under it nicely.
Collins misses with a hook.
Collins blocks the body kick.
A left and a right from Collins both land. Nice combination.
Yamato throws a sloppy head kick and Collins moves out of range easily.
Yamato wants to clinch
and Collins counters with a nice body shot.
An inside leg kick from Collins misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yamato throws a lazy body kick
letting Collins counter with a right hand.
Yamato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab, jab by Collins - just one landing.
Collins missing with a left hand there. Yamato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Collins scores with a decent looking hook.
Yamato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Collins doesn't seem bothered though.
Yamato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yamato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Collins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yamato 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 49:46
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cho Yamato!
Cho Yamato is the new middleweight champion!