PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Yap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lusiphur Kusanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yap's entrance music is Tubthumping. A fine choice. Lusiphur Kusanagi struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Yap
vs
Kusanagi

188 cm
21
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

195 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jay Yap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lusiphur Kusanagi!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yap shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kusanagi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kusanagi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Yap sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kusanagi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Yap working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Yap wants to control but Kusanagi is keeping him busy.
Yap throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Kusanagi sneaks out the side door and pushes Yap away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Yap slips a jab from Kusanagi.
Kusanagi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Jay Yap has been cut.
No luck for Yap with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yap shoots in for a double leg but Kusanagi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A jab from Kusanagi misses.
Kusanagi wants to clinch.
Kusanagi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yap ducks under a wild hook from Kusanagi.
Yap has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Yap. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kusanagi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yap ducks under a wild hook from Kusanagi.
Yap shoots in for a takedown but Kusanagi shows good takedown defense.
Kusanagi misses with a hook. Yap ducked under it nicely.
Yap slips a straight right by Kusanagi.
Kusanagi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yap.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kusanagi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kusanagi loads up on a big right hand but Yap slips the punch.
Kusanagi looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kusanagi wants to clinch up but Yap keeps it at a distance.
Yap ducks under a wild hook from Kusanagi.
Kusanagi looks to land a right hand but Yap moved out of range.
Kusanagi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lusiphur Kusanagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kusanagi tries to close the distance and clinch but Yap swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yap bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kusanagi sneaks out the side door and pushes Yap away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Donk. Kusanagi catches Yap right on the button with a cross.
Kusanagi misses with a looping right.
Yap shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kusanagi throws a looping overhand right but Yap ducks down to avoid it.
Yap circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yap throws a sloppy head kick and Kusanagi moves out of range easily.

Yap looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kusanagi defending well though.

Yap decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Yap scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yap cracks Kusanagi with a big elbow.
Kusanagi taking punishment in the form of punches.

Yap thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yap tries to score with some ground and pound. Kusanagi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yap lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kusanagi tries to escape but Yap is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yap decides to stand back up.
Kusanagi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yap.
Yap walks into a stiff left hand from Kusanagi.

Kusanagi gets caught flat footed, as Yap shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kusanagi manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yap lands with a nice combination. Kusanagi backs away looking to recover.
Yap looks for a takedown but Kusanagi sprawls well.
Kusanagi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kusanagi tries to clinch but Yap moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kusanagi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yap throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kusanagi's waist but Kusanagi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yap off to one side.
Yap ducks under a wild hook from Kusanagi.
Yap lands with a nice combination. Kusanagi backs away looking to recover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Yap dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jay Yap's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yap throws a one two combo.
Jay Yap is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kusanagi tries to clinch there but Yap circles away.
Yap slips a straight right by Kusanagi.
Yap swats away the attempt to clinch by Kusanagi.
Yap moves out of range as Kusanagi strikes.
Yap slips a jab from Kusanagi.
Kusanagi throws out a loose jab but Yap uses good head movement to avoid it.

Yap looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Yap is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kusanagi wants to stand but Yap is controlling the position.
Kusanagi is breathing heavily.
Yap distracts Kusanagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yap slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yap lands a couple of digs.
Yap is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yap distracts Kusanagi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yap is in close to Kusanagi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yap landing with the ground and pound.
Kusanagi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yap controls the pace.
Yap is looking to work some ground and pound but Kusanagi has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yap throwing strikes from guard but Kusanagi blocks nicely.
Yap pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kusanagi is keeping the position for now.
Kusanagi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kusanagi keeping moving, preventing Yap from controlling successfully.
Yap is looking to advance position but Kusanagi has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Yap is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusanagi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Yap bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kusanagi keeping moving, preventing Yap from controlling successfully.
Jay Yap overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yap throws and elbow that misses. Kusanagi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yap's guard. Nice move by Kusanagi!
Kusanagi trying to control but Yap is working from the bottom.
Kusanagi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kusanagi pushing down on Yap's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yap is trying to control but can't.

Kusanagi decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kusanagi 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.

Yap drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yap is working Kusanagi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yap looking to pass the guard.
Yap is in close to Kusanagi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yap has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yap wants to pass the guard but Kusanagi is keeping the position.
Yap passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kusanagi is letting Yap control him for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Yap dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Yap's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kusanagi avoids a kick to the body.
Kusanagi looks to throw the jab but Yap is out of range.
Kusanagi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kusanagi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yap keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kusanagi.
A left and a right from Yap both land. Nice combination.

Yap darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kusanagi is trying to stand back up but Yap is controlling him
Yap winds up and cracks Kusanagi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kusanagi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kusanagi is not content to let Yap control the position.
Yap is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yap is trying to control the action in half guard but Kusanagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kusanagi is trying to stand back up but Yap is controlling him
Kusanagi is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kusanagi taking some punishment here, with Yap in his half guard.

Yap wants to work for an arm triangle but Kusanagi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Yap is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kusanagi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lusiphur Kusanagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yap connects with a nice short shot to Kusanagi's temple.
Kusanagi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yap is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Yap is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kusanagi is just riding it out for now. Yap eventually gives up the hold.
Kusanagi taking some punishment here, with Yap in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yap is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Yap throwing shots but Kusanagi is blocking nicely.

Yap decides to return to a standing position.
Kusanagi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yap swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yap throws a nice looking combination but Kusanagi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yap circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Yap wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kusanagi.

Kusanagi breaks the clinch.
Kusanagi looks to land a left hand but Yap moved out of range nicely.
Kusanagi throws a big shot that misses.
Yap lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Yap closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yap scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yap is keen to just control but Kusanagi is a slippery customer.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yap connects with a nice short shot to Kusanagi's temple.

Kusanagi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jay Yap is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Yap in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Yap showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Yap, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Yap!