PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anahi Yoshida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Waddell (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.

Yoshida
vs
Waddell

186 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anahi Yoshida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Waddell!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Waddell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Waddell doesn't manage to clinch there - Yoshida circles away.
Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.
Waddell takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yoshida keeps the fight on the outside.

Yoshida drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Waddell tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Yoshida connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Waddell to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshida 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, Waddell has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Yoshida tries to get the hooks in deep but Waddell pushed the leg off.

Yoshida working for a choke but Waddell is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshida trying to control.

Yoshida tightening his grip on Waddell, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Waddell!
Yoshida trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Waddell's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Yoshida.

Waddell 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 Yoshida gets his way!
Waddell is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waddell tries to escape but Yoshida has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Yoshida is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Yoshida gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Yoshida gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Yoshida apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Yoshida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Waddell sprawls well initially but Yoshida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Yoshida stands up out of the half guard.
Yoshida is breathing heavily.
Yoshida shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Waddell pinned against the cage. Waddell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yoshida circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yoshida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Waddell tries to clinch but Yoshida is having none of it.
Yoshida circles away from the clinch attempt.
Waddell wants to clinch up but Yoshida keeps it at a distance.
Waddell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yoshida paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Waddell fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anahi Yoshida dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Waddell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yoshida swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Waddell with that takedown attempt.
Yoshida tries to score with a low kick but Waddell moves his leg out of the way.
Waddell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Yoshida gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waddell is looking to control Yoshida's arms but Yoshida gets an underhook and turns him. Now Waddell has his back to the cage.

Waddell breaks the clinch.
Yoshida throws a push kick but Waddell slaps the foot to one side.
Yoshida tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Waddell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida wants to sweep here but Waddell controlling him for the moment.
Waddell is pushing down on Yoshida's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yoshida is fighting to maintain full guard but Waddell has managed to sneak the leg through.

Waddell gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Waddell is breathing heavily.
Waddell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yoshida throws a right hand that Waddell ducks under and follows up with a left that Waddell also avoids with ease.
Yoshida gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Waddell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yoshida is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yoshida kicks Waddell off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick by Yoshida misses

and Waddell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yoshida is trying to get back to full guard.
Yoshida slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Waddell trying to control but Yoshida is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida has a closed guard, preventing Waddell from standing up.

Waddell gets to his feet - Yoshida follows without any prompting.

Waddell has managed to clinch.
Waddell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yoshida.
Waddell stops a takedown attempt from Yoshida.
Yoshida is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yoshida can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Waddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Waddell instigates a clinch.
Waddell stalling the fight.
Waddell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yoshida.
Waddell keeps control of Yoshida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Waddell gets underhooks to prevent Yoshida's takedown attempt.
Waddell with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Waddell tries to land a knee to the head but Yoshida blocks with his arms.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Waddell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yoshida shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anahi Yoshida. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yoshida misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Waddell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Yoshida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Waddell tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Yoshida counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Waddell keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Yoshida with the ground and pound but Waddell uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Yoshida won't allow Waddell to get back to his feet.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Waddell keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.
Waddell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yoshida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yoshida passes into half guard.

Waddell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Yoshida pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Yoshida in particular looking to stall.

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.
Anahi Yoshida overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Waddell moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Waddell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Waddell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshida slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Yoshida thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yoshida working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Yoshida working the ground and pound from side control.
An elbow from Yoshida crashes against the mat.
Waddell tries to buck Yoshida off but Yoshida is having none of it.
Waddell is trying to control Yoshida's posture but Yoshida avoids it.
Waddell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Waddell is trying to maintain the position but Yoshida is very close to passing his half guard.
Yoshida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anahi Yoshida showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yoshida 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

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