PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nat Star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nat Star has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Star
vs
Yoshida

180 cm
19
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nat Star!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mark Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshida tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Star was well out of range. Poor timing from Yoshida.
Star connects with a high kick.
Yoshida checks a leg kick nicely.
Yoshida blocks a head kick by Star.
Yoshida checks the leg kick nicely there.
A jab from Yoshida misses.
A head kick from Star lands but Yoshida takes it in his stride.
Star throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Star misses with a low kick.
Star throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Star finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Star tries a head kick but it misses.
Yoshida avoids the head kick by Star.
A slapping leg kick lands for Star.
A head kick misses from Star.
Star chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Star throws a nice head kick!
Yoshida takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Star misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Yoshida decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Yoshida 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.
Nice strikes from Yoshida there.
Yoshida wants to free his trapped foot but Star is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida thows a huge punch but Star dodges it nicely.
Yoshida lands with a punch from half guard.
Star keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yoshida controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yoshida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Star won't allow Yoshida to pass to mount.
Star blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yoshida.
Star blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yoshida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida prevents Star from standing back up.
Yoshida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Star's head.
Star has hold of Yoshida's hands but Yoshida slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Star keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yoshida misses with a head shot. Star uses the momentum to regain guard.
Yoshida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Star is breathing heavily.
Yoshida 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.
Yoshida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yoshida is working Star over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Star can't keep his opponent in guard - Yoshida advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nice strikes from Yoshida there.
Yoshida works his way into full mount!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yoshida controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Yoshida will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

An inside leg kick from Star misses.
Nat Star seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Star wants to land a leg kick but Yoshida is out of range.
Star throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yoshida blocks a head kick by Star.
Crunch! Star slams his shin into Yoshida's torso.
Yoshida blocks a head kick by Star.
Star looks for the body kick but Yoshida saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Star misses with a leg kick.
Star throws a head kick that misses.
Star throws a head kick that half lands.
Yoshida checks a leg kick.
Star throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Star throws a chopping leg kick but Yoshida manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Star tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Star avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Star lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yoshida moves out of range of the body kick from Star.
Star throws a sloppy head kick and Yoshida moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Star.
Star fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yoshida is out of range.
Yoshida takes a kick to the side of the head.
Star throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yoshida blocks a head kick by Star.
Yoshida avoids the head kick by Star.
Star throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida avoids the head kick by Star.
Nat Star is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Yoshida misses.
Star lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Star misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Star.
Yoshida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Star.

Yoshida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yoshida not doing much here.
Star avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yoshida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to pass the guard but Star defending well.
Yoshida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Yoshida not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yoshida with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Yoshida trying to control from half guard but Star is working away.
Yoshida works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshida scoring with strikes but Star is staying in there.
Yoshida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yoshida with shots to the head and body - Star looks very uncomfortable down there.
Star is desperately trying to improve his position but Yoshida has a good base and remains in mount.
Yoshida working Star over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Yoshida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yoshida throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Star was covering up waiting for the punch and Yoshida finishes the takedown easily into guard.

It looks like Nat Star has been cut.
Yoshida looking to pass the guard.
Star trying to control the position.
Mark Yoshida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yoshida trying to control but Star is working from the bottom.
Yoshida looking to pass the guard.
Yoshida postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida postures up in Star's guard and throws a big left but Star blocks it.
Star wants to get back to his feet but Yoshida passes into half guard.
Yoshida wants to pass the guard but Star is defending well.
Yoshida scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Yoshida not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yoshida has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yoshida with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Yoshida is pressing down on Star's thigh, looking to free his foot. Star is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Star wants to get back to his feet.
Yoshida lands strikes from half guard.
Yoshida stalling.
Yoshida wants to take a breather but Star is having none of it.
Yoshida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Star defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control the action but Star is working from the bottom.
Yoshida sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Star defending well though.
Yoshida takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Yoshida was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Star connects with a solid leg kick.
Star misses with a head kick.
Star throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yoshida.
Star throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Yoshida's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Star misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Star tries a head kick but it misses.
Star moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Star throws a sloppy head kick and Yoshida moves out of range easily.
A swing and a miss from Star.
A head kick misses from Star.
Yoshida blocks a jab.
Star pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Yoshida drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Yoshida stands up over Star, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yoshida scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nat Star has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Yoshida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yoshida is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Yoshida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yoshida winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Yoshida!