PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Norifumi Yamabotcho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keichi Imuhara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Yamabotcho
vs
Imuhara

168 cm
25
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

170 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Norifumi Yamabotcho!
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, Keichi Imuhara!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamabotcho throws a series of punches but Imuhara moves out of range.
Imuhara throws a series of punches but Yamabotcho avoids them all with ease.
Imuhara throws a head kick that half lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamabotcho.

Imuhara moves into the clinch successfully.

Imuhara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Imuhara misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Imuhara.
Yamabotcho misses with a double jab.
Yamabotcho stalks Imuhara and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Imuhara's face. Imuhara staggers backwards, shaken.

Imuhara moves into the clinch successfully.
Imuhara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imuhara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yamabotcho.
Imuhara pushes Yamabotcho back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yamabotcho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Imuhara avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Norifumi Yamabotcho. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imuhara lands a nice uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Imuhara.
Yamabotcho has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Imuhara after a bit of a struggle.
Imuhara pushes Yamabotcho back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Imuhara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Imuhara breaks from the clinch.
Imuhara dodges the punch combination from Yamabotcho.

Imuhara clinches with his opponent.

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

Imuhara moves into the clinch.
Yamabotcho changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Imuhara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Imuhara lunges at Yamabotcho with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yamabotcho's hand.
Imuhara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Imuhara, as that shot connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Imuhara does no damage.
Imuhara tries to clinch up but Yamabotcho circles away and keeps his distance.
Yamabotcho takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamabotcho moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Yamabotcho misses with a wild combination.
Yamabotcho on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Imuhara. Imuhara obviously looking to wear him down.
Yamabotcho shoots in but Imuhara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Keichi Imuhara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Imuhara rushes Yamabotcho and presses him up against the cage.
Imuhara working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Imuhara dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Imuhara is defending well.
Yamabotcho is breathing heavily.
Yamabotcho blocks a body shot from Imuhara.

Imuhara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Imuhara lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Imuhara has managed to clinch.
Yamabotcho is trying to push Imuhara away but Imuhara has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Imuhara lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Imuhara lands a hook to the side of the head.

Imuhara manages to break the clinch.
Imuhara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamabotcho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yamabotcho lands a jab to Imuhara's midsection.
Imuhara wants to land a leg kick but Yamabotcho is out of range.
Imuhara throws a right hand that Yamabotcho ducks under and follows up with a left that Yamabotcho also avoids with ease.

Imuhara rushes Yamabotcho and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imuhara is pressed up against the cage. Yamabotcho has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Imuhara down to the mat. Imuhara avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Imuhara works over Yamabotcho's head and body with a nice combination.
Imuhara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yamabotcho paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Imuhara looks to land a body kick but Yamabotcho moved away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imuhara tries to clinch there but Yamabotcho circles away.
Imuhara is looking to slow Yamabotcho down with leg kicks.
Imuhara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imuhara throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Imuhara throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamabotcho misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Yamabotcho misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imuhara misses with a kick to the body.
Imuhara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamabotcho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Imuhara.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keichi Imuhara dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamabotcho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Imuhara avoids it really well and circles away.
Yamabotcho dodges the punch combination from Imuhara.
Yamabotcho's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Yamabotcho duly obliges.
Norifumi Yamabotcho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yamabotcho tries to keep at a distance but Imuhara has taken the fight into the clinch.
Imuhara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imuhara lands a shoulder strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Imuhara dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Imuhara misses with the head strike.
Imuhara keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamabotcho's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamabotcho wants a takedown but no success here.

Imuhara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamabotcho scores with a three punch combo!

Imuhara gets a clinch.
Imuhara trying to control the position but instead, Yamabotcho has worked for underhooks and has pushed Imuhara into the cage.

Imuhara breaks from the clinch.
Yamabotcho takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yamabotcho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Some wild striking there from Yamabotcho.
Imuhara closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Imuhara is looking to clinch but Yamabotcho is avoiding it.
Imuhara avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imuhara tries to clinch up.
Yamabotcho takes a swing at Imuhara's ribcage but misses.
Yamabotcho throws a body punch but Imuhara moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Imuhara tries to clinch up.
Yamabotcho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Imuhara.
Imuhara lands a jab to the head.
Sloppy strikes from Yamabotcho. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch combination from Yamabotcho misses.

Yamabotcho looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Imuhara!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Yamabotcho landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho misses with a head shot.
Yamabotcho has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Imuhara wants to try and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yamabotcho breaks from Imuhara's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Yamabotcho throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Imuhara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yamabotcho with a couple of short strikes.
Yamabotcho landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Imuhara is bucking up trying to escape but Yamabotcho cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Yamabotcho fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Yamabotcho thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
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!
Yamabotcho lands a big shot there that rocks Imuhara but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamabotcho cracks Imuhara with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Yamabotcho lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norifumi Yamabotcho dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Imuhara misses with a two punch combination.
Yamabotcho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Imuhara tries to clinch but Yamabotcho is having none of it.
Yamabotcho misses with a series of wild punches.
Imuhara slips a jab and a cross from Yamabotcho.
Yamabotcho swats away the attempt to clinch by Imuhara.
Imuhara misses with a few strikes there.
Yamabotcho misses with a double jab.
Imuhara looks to land a combination but Yamabotcho avoids it well.

Yamabotcho is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Imuhara's half guard.
Imuhara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Imuhara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamabotcho not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamabotcho not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yamabotcho is trying to control. Imuhara wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Norifumi Yamabotcho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Imuhara has hold of Yamabotcho's hands but Yamabotcho slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Yamabotcho works his way into side control.

Yamabotcho decides to stand up, so the ref orders Imuhara to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamabotcho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Imuhara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yamabotcho swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Imuhara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yamabotcho fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamabotcho throws a right hand that Imuhara ducks under and follows up with a left that Imuhara also avoids with ease.
A big right from Imuhara misses.
Keichi Imuhara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Imuhara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yamabotcho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Imuhara as he avoids it easily.
Yamabotcho looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Imuhara moves in looking to clinch but Yamabotcho pushes him off.
Yamabotcho throws a series of punches but Imuhara avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imuhara throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Imuhara throws a body kick that misses.
Yamabotcho throws a right hand that Imuhara ducks under and follows up with a left that Imuhara also avoids with ease.
Imuhara misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamabotcho takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yamabotcho connects with a body shot.
Yamabotcho throws a right and a left that both miss.

Imuhara closes the distance and clinches.

Imuhara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Imuhara wants to clinch.
Yamabotcho misses with a few strikes there.
Yamabotcho looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Imuhara is fending him off so far but Yamabotcho persists. Nope, Imuhara circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imuhara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yamabotcho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good exchange - Imuhara coming out on top.
Yamabotcho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Imuhara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Imuhara misses with a kick to the body.

Yamabotcho scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Imuhara trying to control from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Imuhara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yamabotcho not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Yamabotcho decides to stand and escape the position.

Imuhara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norifumi Yamabotcho showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yamabotcho 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norifumi Yamabotcho!