PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Jacquar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuhki Tajima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jacquar
vs
Tajima

179 cm
18
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
184 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Samuel Jacquar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yuhki Tajima!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jacquar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jacquar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jacquar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jacquar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tajima pinned against the cage. Tajima gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Jacquar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jacquar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tajima as he avoids it easily.
Yuhki Tajima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jacquar looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jacquar.

Tajima shoots in and bounces Jacquar off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jacquar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tajima landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tajima preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajima tries to free his leg and advance position but Jacquar is retaining full guard.
Jacquar looking for a sweep. Not yet Jacquar, not yet.
Tajima controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tajima slips nicely into half guard.
Jacquar is trying to stand up here but Tajima is controlling him well.
Jacquar is breathing heavily.
Jacquar is trying to control but can't.
Jacquar is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tajima jumps into side control!
Jacquar being controlled for a moment.
Tajima working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacquar has control of an arm but Tajima manages to advance to Tajima's back!
Tajima scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

Tajima is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Jacquar just trying to survive but Tajima is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Tajima looking for the RNC.
Jacquar is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jacquar is working hard here to advance position.
Tajima has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Jacquar's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tajima is trying to stick to Jacquar's back but Jacquar is turning into Tajima. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tajima's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jacquar.
Tajima managing to control the position.
Tajima looking for a sweep. Not yet Tajima, not yet.
Tajima keeping moving, preventing Jacquar from controlling successfully.
Jacquar advances position into side control!
Jacquar wants to stand but Tajima is controlling his arm.
Jacquar is looking to take a break and control but Tajima is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Jacquar postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tajima shoots in but Jacquar avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Tajima scores with a takedown into Jacquar's guard.
Jacquar is trying to control the position but Tajima postures up.
Jacquar working a defensive guard but Tajima manages to pass into side control anyway.
Jacquar is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Jacquar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuhki Tajima dominated that round.
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.

Jacquar gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jacquar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tajima manages to get himself to full guard.
Jacquar tries to free his leg and advance position but Tajima is retaining full guard.

Jacquar 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.

Tajima working for submissions but it's allowed Jacquar to get to half guard.
Tajima is looking to control Jacquar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tajima avoid being mounted?
Tajima looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajima wants to get back to full guard.
Jacquar trying to control the action but Tajima is working from the bottom.
Tajima wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jacquar shoots and misses

and Tajima decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jacquar's guard.
Jacquar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tajima bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Tajima stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Tajima looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tajima stands and throws Jacquar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jacquar is trying to control Tajima's posture but Tajima avoids it.
Tajima wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jacquar keeps working.
Jacquar tries to improve position but can't.
Tajima controls the position.
Yuhki Tajima has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jacquar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tajima wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jacquar struggling a bit here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jacquar with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tajima counters with a nice double leg into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jacquar is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacquar trying to control but Tajima is working from the bottom.
Jacquar won't allow Tajima to sweep him here.
Tajima avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tajima bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jacquar's guard.
Tajima trying to control but Jacquar is working from the bottom.
Tajima working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tajima wants to pass the guard but Jacquar is keeping the position.
Jacquar is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tajima controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jacquar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tajima seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tajima pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jacquar is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice shot by Jacquar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jacquar shoots and misses

and Tajima counters with a single leg into guard. Jacquar didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Jacquar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tajima controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuhki Tajima showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Jacquar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jacquar misses with a takedown

and Tajima counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Well, if Tajima is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Tajima is thwarting Jacquar's attempts to control the position.
Jacquar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jacquar tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Tajima has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Tajima looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tajima prevents Jacquar from getting the reversal.
Tajima lands a heavy elbow.
Jacquar working to try and regain half guard.
Jacquar gets back to half guard.
Jacquar is trying to maintain the position but Tajima is very close to passing his half guard.
Jacquar misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Jacquar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Jacquar is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tajima pulls his head out easily.
Jacquar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tajima trying to pass the guard but Jacquar defending well.
Jacquar is not content to let Tajima control the position.
Jacquar is looking to control Tajima's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jacquar avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jacquar misses with a takedown attempt

and Tajima counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tajima controlling from the top position.
Tajima pushing down on Jacquar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tajima trying to advance position but Jacquar counters by regaining guard.
Tajima sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jacquar escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tajima gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tajima sitting in guard here, content to control.

Tajima stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jacquar misses with a takedown
and Tajima counters with a nice body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Jacquar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jacquar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tajima counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tajima drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jacquar controls Tajima momentarily but Tajima frees himself.
Jacquar is pulling down on Tajima's head. It's preventing any offense from Tajima, at least for the moment.
Tajima pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jacquar is keeping the position for now.
Jacquar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Tajima avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jacquar is looking to stand up but Tajima isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuhki Tajima comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tajima has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuhki Tajima!