PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shingo Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shingo Yamamoto will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rivera
vs
Yamamoto

168 cm
22
131 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenny Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shingo Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
Rivera looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Rivera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yamamoto swivels and escapes.
Yamamoto swinging wilding here.
Yamamoto lands with a shot to the body.

Yamamoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rivera, pushing him back against the cage.
Yamamoto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rivera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Yamamoto.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from Yamamoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rivera wants to take a breather but Yamamoto is having none of it.
Rivera prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.
Yamamoto is staying active underneath Rivera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yamamoto is looking to control Rivera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yamamoto avoid being mounted?
Yamamoto is trying to get back to full guard.

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.
Rivera prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.

Yamamoto has one foot on Rivera's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Yamamoto moves into range and clinches up with Rivera.
Rivera stops a takedown attempt from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a body kick.
Rivera moves out of range as Yamamoto strikes.
Yamamoto explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivera closes the distance but Yamamoto moves to the side

and Yamamoto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rivera has Yamamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rivera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yamamoto uses from the top position.
Yamamoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rivera wants to hit a switch here but Yamamoto passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rivera there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto goes for an armbar but Rivera turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rivera.
Rivera trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto is trying to control the position but Rivera postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shingo Yamamoto dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yamamoto displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Kenny Rivera has been cut.
Yamamoto throws a wild body kick that Rivera sees coming a mile off.
Yamamoto swinging wilding here.
Yamamoto keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yamamoto tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rivera decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yamamoto's guard.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Rivera isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yamamoto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.
Yamamoto trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Yamamoto tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rivera prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rivera stuffs the takedown.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that Rivera semi-blocks.
Yamamoto checks a low kick from Rivera.
Rivera fails to land the takedown.
Yamamoto throws a nice head kick!
Rivera wants to clinch but Yamamoto slips to the side
and Yamamoto counters with a one-two to the body.
Shingo Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto checks a leg kick.

Rivera feints and as Yamamoto raises his hands in defense, Rivera changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yamamoto looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yamamoto looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yamamoto!
Rivera is trying to control Yamamoto's posture but Yamamoto avoids it.

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.
Yamamoto lands some shots froms side control.
Yamamoto wants to control for a moment but Rivera uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Yamamoto wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rivera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yamamoto keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kenny Rivera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenny Rivera's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yamamoto blocks a leg kick.
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Rivera moves out of range easily.
Yamamoto looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.
Rivera throws a right hand that Yamamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Yamamoto also avoids with ease.
Rivera throws a push kick but Yamamoto slaps the foot to one side.
Yamamoto with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rivera counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yamamoto pushes Rivera off looking to stand but Rivera dives back in and keeps control.
Yamamoto lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Yamamoto wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamamoto pushes Rivera off looking to stand but Rivera dives back in and keeps control.

Yamamoto pushes Rivera off and gets back to his feet.
Rivera wants to clinch

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch.

Yamamoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
Yamamoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crunch! Yamamoto slams his shin into Rivera's torso.
Yamamoto checks a leg kick.

Yamamoto clinches up against the cage.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yamamoto lands a nice elbow.
Yamamoto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kenny Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shingo Yamamoto.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Yamamoto holds him up against the cage and eventually Rivera drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yamamoto just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yamamoto connects with a knee to the head.
Yamamoto looking for a takedown.

Yamamoto breaks from the clinch.

Rivera shoots in and bounces Yamamoto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yamamoto controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Rivera is controlling the position.
Yamamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Yamamoto keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rivera has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!