PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Halaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiyoshi Yamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yamada has chosen B.o.B. - I Am The Champion as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Halaki
vs
Yamada

180 cm
23
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

168 cm
23
156 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

CROWN - Pit Inc

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 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rob Halaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiyoshi Yamada!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Halaki.
Yamada misses with a looping right.
A jab from Halaki misses.
Yamada swinging wilding here.
Yamada bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Halaki's head backwards.
Yamada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Halaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamada thuds a left hand into Halaki's body.
Yamada scores with a nice head shot.
Yamada scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Yamada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Halaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamada walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Yamada lands a jab to Halaki's midsection.
Yamada swings for the body but Halaki moves out of range.
Kiyoshi Yamada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamada misses with a wild body shot.
Yamada lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Halaki at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamada.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamada moves away.
Yamada throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halaki missing with a left hand there. Yamada was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yamada scores with a jab.
Halaki with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yamada to score with a decent uppercut.
Halaki throws an overhand right that lands on Yamada's shoulder, as Yamada tries to avoid the shot.
Some wild striking there from Yamada.
Yamada looks to land a right hand but Halaki moved out of range.
Halaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Halaki throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Yamada counter with a right hand.
Yamada misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Halaki counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamada misses the target.

Halaki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yamada wants to control but Halaki postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halaki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yamada has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Halaki but great work by Yamada.
Yamada controls the position.

Yamada has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Yamada connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamada on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Yamada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yamada rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Halaki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yamada will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Halaki lands a really nice looking cross but Yamada seems unphased.
Yamada looks gassed!
The fighters circling - Yamada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yamada defending well as Halaki loads up on a big left hand.
Kiyoshi Yamada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halaki shoots in but Yamada avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yamada dodges the punch combination from Halaki.
Yamada misses with a double jab
and Halaki counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yamada thinking.
Yamada throws a jab but it's blocked by Halaki.
Yamada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A big right from Yamada misses.
A punch combination from Yamada misses.
Halaki takes one to the side of the head.
Halaki throws out a loose jab but Yamada uses good head movement to avoid it.
A combination from Yamada does no damage.
Yamada slips a straight right by Halaki.
Halaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yamada.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Halaki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Halaki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yamada, who protects the arm well.
Halaki in side control, throwing shots but Yamada defends.
Halaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yamada avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Halaki.
Yamada on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Halaki tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Halaki has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halaki in side control, throwing shots but Yamada defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Yamada dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good shot there by Yamada.
Halaki fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yamada scores with a one two! Halaki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Halaki works Yamada's body with a nice hook.
Yamada closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Halaki throws a body punch but Yamada moves out of range.
Yamada misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamada swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yamada takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamada bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Halaki's head backwards.
Yamada lands with a shot to the body.
Yamada throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Halaki.
Halaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamada moves away.
Halaki misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada lands a nice shot that snaps Halaki's head back.

Halaki gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Halaki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Yamada struggling a bit here.
Halaki creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Yamada sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Halaki looks up at the clock and then as Yamada takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Halaki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Halaki working the ground and pound.
Halaki creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Yamada sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Halaki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Yamada rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Halaki's guard! Nice work there by Yamada!
Halaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halaki keeping moving, preventing Yamada from controlling successfully.
Yamada is working Halaki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yamada passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Halaki is pressing down on Yamada's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Yamada tries to free his leg and advance position but Halaki is retaining full guard.
Halaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Halaki being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada trying to control but Halaki is working from the bottom.
Yamada in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Halaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yamada can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Halaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yamada really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Halaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Halaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Halaki 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.
Yamada wants to control from the top but Halaki keeps moving.

Halaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yamada with a nice head shot there.

Halaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yamada is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiyoshi Yamada showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Yamada getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Halaki takes a swing at Yamada's ribcage but misses.
Yamada looks to land a right hand but Halaki moved out of range.
Kiyoshi Yamada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Halaki sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Halaki slips under a jab from Yamada.
Yamada falls off balance throwing a combination

and Halaki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Yamada tries to roll over but Halaki keeps him under control.
Halaki throwing shots but Yamada is blocking nicely.

Yamada manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nice uppercut there from Halaki.
Kiyoshi Yamada seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamada misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yamada looks to land a right hand but Halaki moved out of range.
Yamada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamada misses the target.
Halaki avoids the body shot from Yamada.
Yamada slips under a jab from Halaki.
Halaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamada slips a jab and a cross from Halaki.
Yamada works Halaki's body with a nice hook.
Yamada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Halaki looks to throw the jab but Yamada is out of range.
Yamada throws a shot from downtown. Halaki moves away and avoids it.
Halaki throws the left hand but Yamada avoids the punch easily.
Halaki staying out of range there.
Yamada just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two 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.
Halaki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Yamada swings away with a body shot that misses

and Halaki counters with a shoot takedown. Yamada fights it but they end up in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Halaki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rob Halaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halaki thows a big elbow that misses.
Halaki looking to pass the guard.
Halaki working some strikes from top position.
Yamada is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Halaki is controlling him.
Halaki wants to control from the top but Yamada keeps moving.
Yamada is looking to stand up but Halaki isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halaki stopping the sweep attempt from Yamada.
Halaki looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Halaki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halaki slips under a jab.
Yamada throws a right hand that Halaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Halaki also avoids with ease.
Rob Halaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halaki throws a leg kick but Yamada checks it.
Halaki fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yamada misses with a shot to the body
and Halaki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamada defending well as Halaki loads up on a big left hand.
Halaki motions for Yamada to come forward. Halaki throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Halaki throws a leg kick but Yamada sees it coming and moves out of range.
Halaki is looking to score with low kicks.
Halaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamada moves away.
Yamada ducks under a wild hook from Halaki.
Yamada misses with a double jab.
Halaki connects with a body shot.
Yamada tries to move into range but Halaki moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yamada lands with a cross.
Yamada throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Halaki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yamada's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Halaki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Halaki showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yamada has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiyoshi Yamada!