PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shai Tai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yamamoto
vs
Tai

165 cm
23
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norifumi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shai Tai!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto throws a sloppy head kick and Tai moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tai.

Yamamoto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tai to the mat! Tai manages to get full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tai keeping full guard, as Yamamoto tries to pass.
Tai should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tai seems keen to control Yamamoto's posture.
Yamamoto looking to pass the guard.
Tai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.
Tai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yamamoto!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tai prevents Yamamoto from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto blocking the ground and pound.
Tai avoids the attempt from Yamamoto to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamamoto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yamamoto reaches up to try and control the position but Tai seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Yamamoto rolls and tries to escape and now Tai has his back!
Tai is looking to control Yamamoto but Yamamoto is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Tai tightening his grip on Yamamoto, looking for the choke.
Yamamoto tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tai has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Yamamoto has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Tai slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Yamamoto is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tai gets his way!
Tai is not going to allow Yamamoto to sit and survive in this position.
Yamamoto breaks Tai's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is being controlled here.
Yamamoto parries the strikes from Tai easily there. Tai is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yamamoto to escape.
Tai trying to control the position but Yamamoto is working away.
Yamamoto tries to buck Tai off but Tai is having none of it.

Tai decides to stand up, so the ref orders Yamamoto to his feet.
Tai looks gassed!
Tai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throws a head kick but Tai moves out of range.
Tai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to avoid it but Tai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yamamoto to the ground. Yamamoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norifumi Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shai Tai.
Yamamoto throws a right and a left that Tai avoids nicely.
Tai scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yamamoto doesn't seem bothered though.
Yamamoto tries a head kick but it misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tai!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tai avoids the head kick by Yamamoto.
Yamamoto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tai.
Yamamoto defending well as Tai loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shai Tai will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yamamoto checks a leg kick.
Yamamoto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Yamamoto drives through with a takedown into Tai's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Tai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Yamamoto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yamamoto has Tai in his guard.
Tai pushes down on Yamamoto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tai trying to control the action but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to full guard.
Yamamoto wants to control but Tai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Yamamoto is not content to let Tai control the position.
Yamamoto tries to kick Tai off but Tai keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yamamoto wants to control but Tai is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yamamoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tai closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yamamoto did well to prevent Tai getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tai gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Yamamoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamamoto wants it to stay on the feet.
Yamamoto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A head kick by Yamamoto misses
and Tai counters with a head kick. That will keep Yamamoto thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamamoto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tai somewhat.

Yamamoto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tai is trying to control Yamamoto's posture but Yamamoto avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tai is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shai Tai has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yamamoto is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Tai is trying to escape and Yamamoto transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Tai is forced to tap! Nice work there by Yamamoto! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Norifumi Yamamoto!
Norifumi Yamamoto thanked the fans post fight for their support.