PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Tripplet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotetsu Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tripplet
vs
Yamamoto

165 cm
21
150 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

168 cm
21
149 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce Tripplet!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kotetsu Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tripplet gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Yamamoto to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yamamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yamamoto is fighting to break Tripplet's control of his arms but Tripplet is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tripplet working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto advances to half guard.
Tripplet knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamamoto on the ground.
Yamamoto looks to land a strike but Tripplet avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto cracks Tripplet with a solid left hand.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Tripplet keeps moving.
Yamamoto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yamamoto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yamamoto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yamamoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tripplet is keeping the position for now.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tripplet works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tripplet seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Yamamoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tripplet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tripplet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yamamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yamamoto pushes down on Tripplet's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tripplet blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto lands strikes from half guard.
Yamamoto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tripplet moves into full guard.
Yamamoto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tripplet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yamamoto throwing strikes from guard but Tripplet blocks nicely.
Tripplet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yamamoto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yamamoto landing with the ground and pound.
Yamamoto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tripplet's head.
Yamamoto throws a strike but Tripplet rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Yamamoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tripplet manages to get himself to full guard.

Yamamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yamamoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Tripplet is retaining full guard.
Yamamoto scoring with some ground and pound.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Tripplet looking to control.
Tripplet controlling Yamamoto's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Yamamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yamamoto lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tripplet keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
Tripplet has control of Yamamoto's left arm, preventing Yamamoto from doing any damage.
Yamamoto works over Tripplet with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yamamoto is looking to work some ground and pound but Tripplet has wrist control.
Tripplet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tripplet is trying to keep Yamamoto in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotetsu Yamamoto dominated that round.
That's time! Tripplet's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tripplet throws a nice looking combination but Yamamoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And Yamamoto tries to counter it with a takedown but Tripplet pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Tripplet gets caught napping as Yamamoto dives in and scores a takedown. Tripplet manages to retain guard.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tripplet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tripplet is trying to keep Yamamoto in close.
Yamamoto working some strikes from top position.
Tripplet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yamamoto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto throwing strikes from guard but Tripplet blocks nicely.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Tripplet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yamamoto is looking to work some ground and pound but Tripplet has wrist control.
Yamamoto throws a strike but Tripplet rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Yamamoto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tripplet trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tripplet is one step ahead there.
Tripplet is looking to stand up but Yamamoto won't let him.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tripplet's guard.

Yamamoto throwing strikes but missing.
Yamamoto throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto working some strikes from top position.
Tripplet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yamamoto postures up in Tripplet's guard and throws a big left but Tripplet blocks it.
Yamamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yamamoto trying to control but Tripplet is working from the bottom.
Yamamoto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yamamoto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tripplet's head.
Tripplet pulls Yamamoto in to control the position.
Yamamoto lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yamamoto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throwing strikes but missing.
Tripplet controls Yamamoto momentarily but Yamamoto frees himself.
Yamamoto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yamamoto is in close to Tripplet's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yamamoto postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Tripplet covers up, he's hurt! Yamamoto keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Yamamoto and the ref steps in to end the fight! Yamamoto can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kotetsu Yamamoto!
Kotetsu Yamamoto is the new featherweight champion!
Kotetsu Yamamoto looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'We are NJPW!!!'.
In defeat, Bruce Tripplet stepped up to the mic, saying 'This lose is hard to accept. Gonna step back and reevaluate my game plan and training and broaden my skill set. I will be back stronger then ever for MY BELT'.