PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Naoki Yoshikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yoshikuni
vs
York

176 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Naoki Yoshikuni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thom York!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshikuni fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from York.
York has a takedown stuffed.
York looks for a takedown but Yoshikuni sprawls well.
Naoki Yoshikuni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thom York.
Yoshikuni ducks down and throws a hook to the body but York moves away.
Yoshikuni tries to clinch there but York circles away.

Yoshikuni looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for York!
York throwing hammer fists to the chest of Yoshikuni. What's that going to do exactly?

Yoshikuni looking to secure an arm triangle but York defends it well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
York can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yoshikuni looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
York really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yoshikuni tries to control but York wriggling away.
Yoshikuni wants to take York's back here but York is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Yoshikuni looking for a guillotine from mount but York is having none of it.
York looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
York regains half guard.

Yoshikuni seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. York manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yoshikuni pushes down on York's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Yoshikuni is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yoshikuni is breathing heavily.
York trying to hold on to Yoshikuni's head to control him but Yoshikuni postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. York manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
York tries to land a sweep but no joy.
York trying to keep a closed guard but Yoshikuni is proving a slippery customer.
Yoshikuni stopping the sweep attempt from York.

York had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Yoshikuni is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. York Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Yoshikuni's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

York is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Yoshikuni defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
York struggling to land strikes to the head as Yoshikuni covers up.
York has the hooks in. Yoshikuni is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Yoshikuni rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

York is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yoshikuni is looking for a sweep. York is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yoshikuni moves into full guard.

Yoshikuni had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. York is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Yoshikuni Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take York's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yoshikuni looking for the choke but no joy.
Yoshikuni is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Yoshikuni 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. Yoshikuni gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Yoshikuni apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Yoshikuni clinches.

Yoshikuni drags the fight down to the ground.
Yoshikuni is trying to keep York in close.

Yoshikuni working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. York doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. York manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Yoshikuni dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yoshikuni shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Yoshikuni was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
York is looking to get to half guard.
York wants to control but Yoshikuni is having none of it.
York tries to reverse the position but Yoshikuni maintains control.
York tries to lock up and control but Yoshikuni gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yoshikuni moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, York has worked his arm free - good work by York!
Yoshikuni lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Yoshikuni trying to control the action but York is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York is trying to control Yoshikuni's posture but Yoshikuni avoids it.
York tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yoshikuni trying to control the position but York is working away.
York is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yoshikuni's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Yoshikuni looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Yoshikuni is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and York defends it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yoshikuni is tying to control. York wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Yoshikuni shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
York working to try and regain half guard.
York is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Yoshikuni has hold of York's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and York manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Yoshikuni lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
York regains half guard.
York is looking to improve his position.
Yoshikuni trying to control from half guard but York is working away.
Yoshikuni wants to stand up but York is controlling the position.
York trying to get back to full guard but Yoshikuni takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
York is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yoshikuni manages to capitalize on a mistake by York to take his back!
I really don't envy York right now.

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.
York has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Yoshikuni.

Yoshikuni is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but York has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Yoshikuni is persistently looking for the submission but York is defending it well.
York turns into Yoshikuni and is now in his guard.
Yoshikuni keeping full guard, as York tries to pass.

Yoshikuni looking for submissions from the bottom but instead York passes into side control.
York slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naoki Yoshikuni dominated that second round.
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. And we move into the final round!

York misses with a takedown attempt
and Yoshikuni counters with a left to the body.
York with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yoshikuni counters with a takedown into side control.
York can't do much from the bottom here.

Yoshikuni decides to stand back up.
Yoshikuni will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yoshikuni shoots and misses

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

York is posturing up here but Yoshikuni has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! York tries to roll out but it's too tight and York has to tap! Slick submission there by Yoshikuni!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Naoki Yoshikuni!