PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Yoshihira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Sanchaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Yoshihira has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yoshihira
vs
Sanchaz

185 cm
23
159 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
23
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Yoshihira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raul Sanchaz!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchaz gets a clinch.
Sanchaz tries to work over Yoshihira's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sanchaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yoshihira shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sanchaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sanchaz slowing the pace effectively.

Sanchaz drags the fight down to the ground.
Yoshihira looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yoshihira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yoshihira will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Yoshihira avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchaz pulls Yoshihira in close to his closed guard and prevents Yoshihira from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchaz working a defensive guard but Yoshihira manages to pass into side control anyway.
Yoshihira throws an elbow but Sanchaz slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sanchaz can't do much from the bottom here.
Yoshihira trying to control the position but Sanchaz is working away.
Sanchaz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Yoshihira is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira blocks the strikes from Sanchaz.
Yoshihira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchaz keeps working.
Sanchaz tries to improve position but can't.
Sanchaz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sanchaz is looking to take a break and control but Yoshihira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yoshihira wants to control but Sanchaz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanchaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yoshihira keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yoshihira fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchaz manages to avoid it.
Yoshihira slips a jab and a cross from Sanchaz.

Sanchaz rushes Yoshihira and presses him up against the cage.
Yoshihira managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchaz.
Yoshihira avoids the elbow strike from Sanchaz, against the cage.
Yoshihira prevents Sanchaz from breaking the clinch.
Sanchaz working hard to break the clinch.
Sanchaz stops a takedown attempt from Yoshihira.
Yoshihira can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Yoshihira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sanchaz.
Sanchaz tries to stall but Yoshihira uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sanchaz struggles to land a body shot inside as Yoshihira controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sanchaz as Yoshihira tries to tie him up.
Sanchaz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yoshihira tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchaz avoids the damage to the body.
Sanchaz trying to stall but Yoshihira improves his position.
Sanchaz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A body shot lands from Sanchaz.
Sanchaz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
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!
Yoshihira trying to control the position but instead, Sanchaz has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yoshihira into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchaz dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yoshihira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Sanchaz to counter with a crisp jab.

Sanchaz moves into range and clinches up with Yoshihira.

Sanchaz lands a takedown into guard.
Sanchaz wants to control from the top but Yoshihira keeps moving.
Yoshihira working a defensive guard here.
Sanchaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Yoshihira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sanchaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchaz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yoshihira keeping moving, preventing Sanchaz from controlling successfully.

Sanchaz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshihira has closed the distance and engaged Sanchaz in a clinch.
Sanchaz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yoshihira wants a takedown.
Sanchaz dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yoshihira avoiding damage as Sanchaz throws knees to the body.
Sanchaz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yoshihira pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sanchaz tries to clinch but Yoshihira is having none of it.
Yoshihira keeps the fight on the outside.
Yoshihira fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshihira scores with a sloppy right hand. Sanchaz should have avoided that one.

Yoshihira moves into the clinch successfully.
Sanchaz has Yoshihira pushed against the cage.
Sanchaz lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Yoshihira managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchaz.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yoshihira managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchaz.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yoshihira is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Yoshihira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sanchaz gets control of Yoshihira's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sanchaz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yoshihira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz keeping moving, preventing Yoshihira from controlling successfully.
Yoshihira is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kenji Yoshihira has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sanchaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Sanchaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Sanchaz lands with a nice body punch.
Sanchaz doesn't manage to clinch there - Yoshihira circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yoshihira momentarily.
Yoshihira circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yoshihira closes the distance and clinches.
Sanchaz crunches a lovely knee into Yoshihira's ribcage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshihira managing to block the knees to the body from Sanchaz.
Sanchaz with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanchaz avoids a wild elbow strike from Yoshihira.
Yoshihira tries to pull guard but Sanchaz holds him up against the cage and eventually Yoshihira drops back down to his feet.
Sanchaz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yoshihira up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knees to the body from Sanchaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Sanchaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sanchaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yoshihira.
Yoshihira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sanchaz fails with the takedown.
Yoshihira tries to bum rush Sanchaz with a series of wild strikes but Sanchaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchaz blocks a head kick by Yoshihira.
Sloppy strikes from Yoshihira. Those never looked like landing.
Sanchaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Yoshihira is just out of range.
Yoshihira looks to throw the jab but Sanchaz is out of range.

Sanchaz instigates a clinch.
Sanchaz taking a breather.

Sanchaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchaz tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshihira pushes Sanchaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Sanchaz landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Raul Sanchaz seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sanchaz stalling against the cage.
Sanchaz goes for a takedown attempt but Yoshihira pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Yoshihira drives through and clinches with Sanchaz against the cage.
Sanchaz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yoshihira changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanchaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Sanchaz has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz lands a good knee to the midsection. Yoshihira won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchaz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sanchaz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yoshihira.

Sanchaz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Yoshihira regains guard immediately.
Sanchaz landing with the ground and pound.
Sanchaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sanchaz wants to control from the top but Yoshihira keeps moving.
Sanchaz slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz just content to control the position.
Yoshihira takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sanchaz throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sanchaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sanchaz is working Yoshihira over with some ground and pound from side control.

Sanchaz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sanchaz scores with a hook to the body. Yoshihira takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Sanchaz has managed to clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Raul Sanchaz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchaz scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sanchaz breaks the clinch.

Sanchaz scores a takedown into full mount!
Sanchaz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sanchaz working Yoshihira over with strikes here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchaz controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Sanchaz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Sanchaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchaz 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Sanchaz!