PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Brennan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yamamoto
vs
Brennan

170 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takashi Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gary Brennan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brennan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto leaves Brennan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Yamamoto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brennan fails to pull guard.
Takashi Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Brennan.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Brennan tries to clinch up

and Yamamoto counters by clinching up.
Brennan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yamamoto to keep the fight standing.
Yamamoto is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Brennan prevents the takedown attempt.
Brennan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Brennan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yamamoto avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Brennan fails to land.

Yamamoto pulls Brennan into guard.
Brennan being controlled here momentarily.
Yamamoto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Brennan stopping the sweep attempt from Yamamoto.

Yamamoto has his feet on Brennan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Yamamoto takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan looks for a takedown but Yamamoto sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yamamoto is defended easily by Brennan.
Yamamoto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Brennan is looking to clinch.
Yamamoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Brennan circles away.
Gary Brennan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto swinging wildly here.

Yamamoto closes the distance and pushes Brennan back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Yamamoto pulls guard.
Yamamoto pulls Brennan in close to prevent any damage.
Brennan trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brennan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Brennan prevents Yamamoto from getting back to his feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gary Brennan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Brennan slaps away a takedown attempt from Yamamoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Brennan.
Brennan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brennan wants it to stay on the feet.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Brennan shoots in but Yamamoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto shoots in but Brennan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Brennan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brennan wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt

and Yamamoto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yamamoto.

Yamamoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yamamoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamamoto wants it to stay on the feet.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brennan as he avoids it easily.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Brennan, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Brennan against the cage but Brennan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Brennan has managed to clinch.
Brennan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Brennan looking to stall.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Brennan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Brennan blocks a head kick by Yamamoto.
Brennan closes the distance but Yamamoto moves to the side

and Yamamoto counters by clinching up.
Brennan is working for takedown but Yamamoto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Takashi Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Brennan.
Brennan tries for a takedown but Yamamoto manages to get underhooks.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brennan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yamamoto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Brennan somewhat.
Brennan is breathing heavily.

Brennan clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto prevents the takedown attempt.

Yamamoto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.
Brennan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Brennan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Brennan gets tackled into the cage by Yamamoto. Yamamoto maintains the clinch.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brennan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yamamoto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Yamamoto forces Brennan back against the cage and clinches.
Brennan goes for a takedown attempt but Yamamoto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Brennan, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Brennan against the cage but Brennan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Brennan has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brennan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yamamoto somewhat.

Yamamoto clinches.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Brennan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yamamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Brennan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Brennan swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamamoto.
Brennan tries to clinch up
and Yamamoto counters with a big head kick but Brennan shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Yamamoto dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Brennan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Brennan misses the shot to the body.

Yamamoto clinches with his opponent.
Brennan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Brennan tries to circle away but Yamamoto has him pinned against the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to drag Brennan to the mat but Brennan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Yamamoto lands an elbow inside.

Brennan breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto throws a poor cross that misses
and Brennan counters with a big head kick but Yamamoto shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brennan has closed the distance and engaged Yamamoto in a clinch.
Yamamoto is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Takashi Yamamoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Brennan.
Brennan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.

Yamamoto drives through and clinches with Brennan against the cage.
Yamamoto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brennan's efforts to push away.
Yamamoto can't get the takedown.
Yamamoto holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Yamamoto has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Brennan uses from the top position.

Yamamoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brennan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yamamoto holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan wants to control from the top but Yamamoto keeps moving.
Yamamoto trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Brennan looking to pass the guard.
Brennan throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto keeping moving, preventing Brennan from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gary Brennan wasn't active enough on the ground.

Yamamoto moves into the clinch successfully.
Yamamoto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yamamoto obliges.
Brennan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Brennan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brennan has Yamamoto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yamamoto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Yamamoto lands a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brennan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yamamoto but Yamamoto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yamamoto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brennan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yamamoto is defended easily by Brennan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brennan misses with a right hand
and Yamamoto counters with a three punch combo that has Brennan backing up. Brennan nods at Yamamoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Yamamoto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brennan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yamamoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takashi Yamamoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yamamoto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Takashi Yamamoto!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Takashi Yamamoto!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Takashi Yamamoto!

Takashi Yamamoto wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Takashi Yamamoto started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.