PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jin Endo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kira Yamato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kira Yamato will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Endo
vs
Yamato

168 cm
23
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
26
152 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jin Endo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kira Yamato!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamato misses with a hook.
Yamato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Endo circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamato moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Jin Endo has been cut.
Yamato misses with a looping left.
Endo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yamato has Endo up against the cage in a clinch.

Endo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamato misses with a left hand
and Endo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Endo shoots in for a takedown but Yamato shows good takedown defense.
Endo shoots in looking for a takedown. Yamato tries to sprawl out of it but Endo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yamato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yamato tries to clinch up but Endo circles away and keeps his distance.

Yamato gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Endo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamato utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Endo trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamato is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Endo thows a big elbow that misses.
Endo postures up in Yamato's guard and throws a big left but Yamato blocks it.
Endo throwing strikes from guard but Yamato blocks nicely.
Endo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Endo stops Yamato from standing up.
Endo wants to stand and escape but instead Yamato has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two 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.

Endo is looking for a triangle but Yamato pushes his legs off easily.
Endo has a closed guard, preventing Yamato from standing up.

Endo pushes Yamato off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Endo slips under a jab.
Kira Yamato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamato stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Endo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Endo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Yamato manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Endo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamato preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Endo is working Yamato over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Endo prevents Yamato from getting back to his feet.
Endo wants to pass the guard but Yamato is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Endo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamato keeping moving, preventing Endo from controlling successfully.
Endo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Endo stops Yamato from standing up.

Endo has gone for a leg lock! Yamato slips out almost immediately though and dives into Endo's guard.
Endo wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kira Yamato will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jin Endo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Endo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yamato.
A big right from Yamato misses.
Yamato wants to clinch up but Endo keeps it at a distance.
A swing and a miss from Yamato.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Endo.
Jin Endo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamato looks to throw the jab but Endo is out of range.
Yamato keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Yamato closes the distance and pushes Endo back into the cage.

Yamato escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Endo has his takedown stuffed
and Yamato counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Endo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Endo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice sprawl there from Yamato as Endo shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Endo misses with a body shot.

Yamato closes the distance and pushes Endo back into the cage.

Yamato pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Yamato.
Yamato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Endo shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamato sprawls well. He's pushed Endo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yamato misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Endo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yamato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yamato throws a shot from downtown. Endo moves away and avoids it.
Endo misses with a takedown attempt - Yamato sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Endo keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Endo shoots for a double leg takedown but Yamato sprawls well. He's pushed Endo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yamato throws a right hand that misses

and Endo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamato keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yamato is looking to escape.
Yamato is staying active underneath Endo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Endo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Endo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Endo misses with a head shot. Yamato uses the momentum to regain guard.
Yamato keeping moving, preventing Endo from controlling successfully.
Endo is looking to work some ground and pound but Yamato has wrist control.
Endo slips nicely into half guard.
Endo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yamato defending well though.

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 wants to get back to his feet.
Endo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yamato defending well though.
Endo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Endo trying to mount his opponent but Yamato defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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. Endo connects with a nice short shot to Yamato's temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Endo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kira Yamato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jin Endo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yamato tries to clinch

and Endo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Endo stops Yamato from getting back to his feet.
Endo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yamato with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Endo wants to take a breather but Yamato is having none of it.
Endo is really struggling to control Yamato but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Endo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yamato is just riding it out for now. Endo eventually gives up the hold.
Yamato is trying to stand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Endo stands up from half guard.
Endo slips under a jab from Yamato.
Endo tries for a takedown but Yamato sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yamato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Endo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Endo throwing strikes but Yamato manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Endo is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Endo is trying to control Yamato's posture but Yamato avoids it.
Endo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yamato has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Endo is trying to improve his position.

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.
Endo is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jin Endo clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jin Endo'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.

Endo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Endo shoots in for a double leg but Yamato sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yamato feints a jab promting Endo to slip. Yamato then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Endo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Yamato is looking to clinch.
Yamato throws a nice looking combination but Endo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Endo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Endo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Endo staying out of range there.
Endo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kira Yamato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Endo shoots in looking for a takedown but Yamato manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Endo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yamato scores with a jab. Endo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
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!
Endo blocks a jab.
Endo takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Yamato closes the distance and pushes Endo back into the cage.

Yamato manages to break the clinch.
Endo swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamato.
Yamato throws a hook but Endo blocks it.

Yamato fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Endo, pushing him back against the cage.
Endo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yamato pulls his leg out and moves away.
Endo ducks right into an uppercut from Yamato.
Yamato misses with a hook. Endo ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamato misses with a looping left.
Yamato bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Endo's head.

Yamato gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Endo can't get the takedown.
Yamato lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Yamato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yamato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Endo.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch but Endo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yamato feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Endos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Endo dives in and grabs Yamato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamato pushes down on Endo's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato wants to clinch.
Yamato fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yamato is looking to clinch but Endo is avoiding it.
Yamato misses with a straight right.
Kira Yamato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yamato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Endo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Endo.
Yamato misses with a hook. Endo ducked under it nicely.
Yamato connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Endo dives in and grabs Yamato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yamato pushes down on Endo's head and hops out.
Yamato tries to clinch but Endo is having none of it.
Yamato cracks Endo with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamato throws a looping overhand right but Endo ducks down to avoid it.
Endo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Endo slips a jab from Yamato.
Endo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yamato's jab looks to have found its range, popping Endo under the eye.

Yamato instigates a clinch.
Yamato is trying to push Endo away but Endo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Endo is working for takedown but Yamato is calmly controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kira Yamato dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Jin Endo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Endo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yamato to score with a decent uppercut.
A slow jab from Endo misses its intended target.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamato misses the target.
Yamato 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.
Endo shoots in and drives through. Yamato sprawls well.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamato misses the target.
Yamato wants to clinch.
Endo circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yamato instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Endo has Yamato pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamato manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Endo has Yamato pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Endo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Yamato tumbling to the mat - Endo dives into Yamato's guard.
Endo wants to control from the top but Yamato keeps moving.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yamato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Endo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Endo throwing strikes from guard but Yamato blocks nicely.
Endo wants to control from the top but Yamato keeps moving.

That's two 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.

Endo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yamato looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yamato looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yamato!
Endo wants to control but Yamato postures up.

Yamato decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Endo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yamato keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Endo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Endo shoots in and drives through. Yamato sprawls well.
Yamato fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Yamato misses.
Yamato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Endo.
Yamato tries to clinch up but Endo circles away and keeps his distance.
Endo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Endo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yamato defends it nicely.
Endo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

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.
Endo defending well as Yamato loads up on a big left hand.
Endo has a takedown stuffed.
Yamato tries to clinch up.
Endo slips a jab from Yamato.
Yamato throws the left hand but Endo avoids the punch easily.
Yamato lands with a cross.
Endo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yamato.
Endo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamato.
Yamato misses with a hook. Endo ducked under it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamato tries to close the distance and clinch but Endo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yamato throws a hook but Endo blocks it.
Jin Endo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Endo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamato was well out of range. Poor timing from Endo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kira Yamato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yamato has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 45:49
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 45:49
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kira Yamato!