PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichi Yakuza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakuza has chosen The Legend of Zelda, Overworld as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Solomon
vs
Yakuza

208 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dexter Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichi Yakuza!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomon circles away from the clinch attempt
and Solomon counters with a thumping low kick.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Solomon circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solomon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Solomon doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakuza circles away.
Yakuza closes the distance but Solomon moves to the side

and Solomon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Solomon.
Yakuza is trying to force a seperation but Solomon has the dominant position.
Yakuza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yakuza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Solomon has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Solomon has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yakuza tries to break free but Solomon pushes him back against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon tries to pull guard but Yakuza holds him up against the cage and eventually Solomon drops back down to his feet.
Solomon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Yakuza keeps the fight on the outside.
Solomon throws a head kick but Yakuza moves out of range.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Solomon keeps it at a distance.
Yakuza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yakuza tries to clinch but Solomon moves out of range.
Yakuza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Solomon counters by moving into the clinch.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling the position.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza stands there with Solomon around his waist. Solomon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Solomon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yakuza smiles and moves away.
Yakuza moves in looking to clinch but Solomon pushes him off.
Solomon circles away from the clinch attempt

and Solomon moves into the clinch.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
Solomon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Solomon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
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!
Solomon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yakuza's efforts to push away.
Solomon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yakuza smiles and moves away.
Yakuza tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon keeps the fight on the outside.
Yakuza tries to clinch up

and Solomon counters by clinching up.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Solomon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Solomon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yakuza smiles and moves away.
Yakuza tries to clinch up but Solomon circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakuza darts in trying to clinch

and Solomon counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Solomon has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza tries to break free but Solomon pushes him back against the cage.
Solomon keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but Yakuza has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon tries to pull guard but Yakuza won't allow it.
Solomon working aggressively here.

Yakuza manages to break the clinch.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakuza.
Yakuza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yakuza wants to clinch
and Solomon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakuza.
Yakuza is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yakuza is looking to clinch.
Yakuza tries to clinch there but Solomon circles away.
Yakuza wants to clinch but Solomon slips to the side

and Solomon moves into the clinch.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Solomon has him pinned against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Solomon.
Solomon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yakuza avoiding damage as Solomon throws knees to the body.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Yakuza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling him.
Yakuza wants to get back to striking at distance but Solomon won't allow it.
Yakuza is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yakuza looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling the position.
Solomon fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakuza can't break the clinch.
Solomon stalling.

Yakuza breaks from the clinch.
Yakuza closes the distance but Solomon moves to the side

and Solomon counters by moving into the clinch.
Yakuza tries to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling the position.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ichi Yakuza seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuza wants to clinch but Solomon slips to the side

and Solomon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Solomon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yakuza is looking to break free of the clinch but Solomon has double underhooks.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling him.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solomon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza looks to clinch

and Solomon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
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!
Solomon is looking to control Yakuza's arms but Yakuza gets an underhook and turns him. Now Solomon has his back to the cage.
Solomon tries to score a body lock takedown but Yakuza shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Solomon wants to stall.
Solomon tries to pull guard but Yakuza won't allow it.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.

Yakuza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakuza moves to clinch but Solomon breaks away
and Solomon counters with a one-two to the body.
Yakuza tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Solomon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Solomon.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakuza has had enough of the clinch but Solomon keeps him there for the moment.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Yakuza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Solomon tries to circle away but Yakuza has him pinned against the cage.

Yakuza pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuza tries to clinch up
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Yakuza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solomon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Solomon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yakuza doesn't manage to clinch there - Solomon circles away.
Yakuza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Solomon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yakuza wants to clinch but Solomon slips to the side

and Solomon counters with a shoot takedown. Yakuza fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is working Yakuza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakuza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Solomon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Solomon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yakuza wants to get back to his feet but Solomon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ichi Yakuza will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Yakuza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yakuza tries to clinch

and Solomon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Solomon has him pinned against the cage.
Solomon is trying to maintain a safe position but Yakuza gets an underhook and turns Solomon into the cage.
Yakuza working hard to break the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Solomon has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but Yakuza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dexter Solomon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solomon tries to work over Yakuza's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yakuza is trying to break free.
Solomon keeps control of Yakuza as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yakuza wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling him.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Solomon wants to get back to striking at distance but Yakuza won't allow it.

Yakuza breaks the clinch.
Yakuza wants to clinch up but Solomon keeps it at a distance.
Yakuza tries to clinch there but Solomon circles away.
Yakuza tries to clinch up
and Solomon counters with a head kick.
Solomon circles away from the clinch attempt

and Solomon moves into the clinch.
Yakuza is trying to break the clinch but Solomon is controlling him.
Yakuza is trying to break free.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Yakuza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon has Yakuza pressed against the cage, preventing Yakuza from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Solomon prevents Yakuza from breaking the clinch.
Solomon fails to pull guard.
Solomon lands a body shot in the clinch.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Yakuza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Solomon has him pressed against the cage.
Yakuza is looking to break free of the clinch but Solomon has double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Yakuza as Solomon tries to tie him up.
Yakuza tries to break free but Solomon pushes him back against the cage.
Solomon jumps guard but Yakuza stands there with Solomon around his waist. Solomon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Solomon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yakuza tries to circle away but Solomon has him pinned against the cage.
Solomon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Solomon lands a takedown into guard.
Yakuza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Solomon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yakuza on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza wants to get back to his feet but Solomon is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yakuza tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Solomon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yakuza tries to break free but Solomon pushes him back against the cage.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Solomon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakuza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Solomon is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakuza wants to break free but Solomon has control.
Yakuza is trying to push Solomon away but Solomon has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yakuza is trying to force a seperation but Solomon has the dominant position.

Solomon ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Solomon no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yakuza has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Solomon is proving hard to escape from.
Dexter Solomon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ichi Yakuza is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichi Yakuza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yakuza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichi Yakuza!
Post fight, Ichi Yakuza took to the microphone: 'This has been most honorable. Maguro Yata!'.