PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Yoshida (ranked 2627 p4p, 127 weight class) and Jish Bratch (ranked 4825 p4p, 227 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yoshida
vs
Bratch

165 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
26
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takashi Yoshida!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jish Bratch!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yoshida cracks the inside of Bratch's front leg.
Yoshida scores with a jab to the body.
Bratch tries to clinch up
and Yoshida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bratch shoots for a takedown but Yoshida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A lazy left from Yoshida finds it's target.
Bratch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yoshida half committed to a counter leg kick.
Bratch walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Bratch closes the distance and clinches.
Yoshida lands with a left to the head.
Yoshida working aggressively here.
Bratch takes a shot to the head.
Yoshida has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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!
Yoshida lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Bratch is rocked!

Bratch gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Yoshida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bratch on the ground.
Bratch trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bratch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yoshida is keeping the position for now.
Yoshida controlling the position.
Bratch trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yoshida is controlling Bratch's posture.
Bratch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yoshida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bratch throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bratch throws a strike but Yoshida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida controlling from the top position.
Bratch is trying to control the position but Yoshida postures up.

Bratch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yoshida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yoshida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Bratch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yoshida can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yoshida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bratch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bratch looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Yoshida is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yoshida paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Bratch gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bratch goes for a takedown attempt but Yoshida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yoshida lands with a good body shot.

Bratch drives through with a takedown into guard.

Yoshida has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Bratch is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yoshida lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yoshida lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yoshida stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yoshida.
Bratch jumps guard but Yoshida turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Takashi Yoshida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jish Bratch.
Yoshida scores with a shot to the side of Bratch's head.
Yoshida lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bratch is still on wobbly legs! Can Yoshida finish him?
Yoshida lands a hook that snaps the head of Bratch backwards.
Bratch tries to pull guard but Yoshida forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takashi Yoshida dominated that 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.

Bratch misses with a takedown attempt
and Yoshida counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yoshida paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bratch gets tagged by a hook that puts him to sleep! Yoshida points and yells something to his unconcious foe before strutting off. Bratch wakes up just in time to hear Yoshida thank his coaches in the post fight interview.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Takashi Yoshida!
Takashi Yoshida retains his bantamweight title!