PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Charles (ranked 2721 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sakuma Yanagamichi (ranked 2170 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Renegades Of Funk - Rage Against The Machine. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Charles
vs
Yanagamichi

175 cm
31
158 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
156 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sakuma Yanagamichi!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles digs a good body shot into Yanagamichi's ribs.
Yanagamichi shoots in and drives through. Charles sprawls well.
Charles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yanagamichi misses with a takedown
and Charles counters with a left to the body.
Mike Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakuma Yanagamichi.
Charles slaps away a takedown attempt from Yanagamichi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yanagamichi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Charles works Yanagamichi's body with a nice hook.
Yanagamichi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Charles works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Charles connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Charles throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Charles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Charles.
Yanagamichi shoots and misses
enabling Charles to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakuma Yanagamichi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Charles there.
Charles ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yanagamichi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Charles is looking to counter punch.
Yanagamichi looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Charles.
Charles's jab looks to have found its range, popping Yanagamichi under the eye.

Yanagamichi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Charles's guard.
Charles is pulling down on Yanagamichi's head. It's preventing any offense from Yanagamichi, at least for the moment.
Yanagamichi cracks Charles with a solid left hand.
Charles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Yanagamichi's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yanagamichi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Charles uses it to pass to side control.
Yanagamichi tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Charles presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagamichi is looking to improve his position but Charles isn't that keen on the idea.
Charles content just to control the position here.
Yanagamichi is desperately trying to improve his position but Charles has a good base and remains in mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yanagamichi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Charles controlling his opponent.
Yanagamichi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yanagamichi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Charles takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Yanagamichi is looking to get to half guard.
Charles takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Charles dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yanagamichi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Charles.
Yanagamichi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Charles jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Charles scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yanagamichi doesn't seem bothered though.
Yanagamichi with a poor takedown
and Charles makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Yanagamichi darts in looking for a takedown but Charles gets double underhooks and turns Yanagamichi into the cage.
Mike Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakuma Yanagamichi.
Charles turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Charles.
Charles goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yanagamichi shoots in for a double leg but Charles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Charles digs a good hook to Yanagamichi's body.
Charles connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles throws a shot to the body.
Charles bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yanagamichi's head.
Charles scores with a push kick.
Charles is looking to wear down Yanagamichi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yanagamichi has his takedown stuffed
and Charles counters with a three punch combo that has Yanagamichi backing up. Yanagamichi nods at Charles to acknowledge the strikes.
Yanagamichi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Yanagamichi is breathing heavily.
Charles thumps Yanagamichi with a low kick.
Charles throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Charles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles scores with a spinning back kick!
Yanagamichi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Charles lands with a kick to the temple. Yanagamichi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Yanagamichi tries for a takedown but Charles circles away easily
and Charles counters with a body kick.
Charles scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Charles lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yanagamichi's sensitive parts.
A nice inside leg kick there by Charles. That's going to slow Yanagamichi down.
Yanagamichi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Charles counters with an outside leg kick.
Charles lands with a straight right. Yanagamichi didn't see that one coming.
Yanagamichi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles scores with a nice body kick.
Charles throws a quick inside leg kick.
Good shot there by Charles.
A nice leg kick lands there from Charles.
Charles cracks Yanagamichi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Yanagamichi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Charles can pounce on him.
Yanagamichi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Charles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagamichi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice body punch from Charles.
Charles connects with an inside leg kick.
Yanagamichi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Charles.
Yanagamichi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Charles takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Charles lands a nice looking body shot.
Yanagamichi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Charles counters with a nice body shot.
Charles punishes Yanagamichi's body with a nice straight punch.
Charles delivers a nice body kick.
Yanagamichi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Charles scoring well with a low kick there.
Yanagamichi shoots for a double leg takedown but Charles sprawls well. He's pushed Yanagamichi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A quick step to the side and Charles tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yanagamichi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Charles lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Charles throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Yanagamichi.
Charles lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Charles scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Charles tests Yanagamichi's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanagamichi walks into a jab.
Charles lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Charles connects with a body shot.
Charles's jab looks to have found its range, popping Yanagamichi under the eye.
Yanagamichi shoots and misses
letting Charles counter with a right hand.
Charles takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Charles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yanagamichi can do to turn this around?
Charles ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Charles lands with a kick to the ribs.
Charles works Yanagamichi's body with a nice hook.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yanagamichi or perhaps it was just good defense by Charles, which made it look bad.
Charles plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yanagamichi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yanagamichi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Charles circles away.
A good leg kick by Charles.
Yanagamichi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Charles scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Charles scores with a hook to the body. Yanagamichi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Charles lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Yanagamichi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Charles lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yanagamichi's sensitive parts.
Charles scores with a jab to the body.
Yanagamichi walks into a stiff left hand from Charles.
Yanagamichi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Charles cracks Yanagamichi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Charles throws a head kick that half lands.
Yanagamichi takes a jab right on the kisser.
A jab lands there for Charles.
Yanagamichi goes for a double leg but Charles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Charles continues to drive forward.
Mike Charles is winning the standup battle so far.
Yanagamichi has his takedown stuffed
and Charles counters with an outside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yanagamichi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Jab, jab by Charles - just one landing.
Charles scores with a three punch combo!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Charles dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Charles scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sakuma Yanagamichi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yanagamichi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yanagamichi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Yanagamichi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Charles makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Charles. No joy for Yanagamichi on that attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Charles.
Yanagamichi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Charles turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yanagamichi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Charles counters with an inside leg kick.
Mike Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sakuma Yanagamichi.
Yanagamichi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Yanagamichi has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Charles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yanagamichi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yanagamichi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yanagamichi tries for a takedown but Charles circles away easily
and Charles counters with a left to the body.
Yanagamichi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Charles. Yanagamichi shrugs it off though.
A good leg kick by Charles.
Charles with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yanagamichi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles scores with a decent looking hook.
Yanagamichi shoots and misses
and Charles counters with a stiff right hand.
Charles lands a lovely overhand right.
Charles lunges at Yanagamichi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yanagamichi's hand.
Yanagamichi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Charles dips to his left and cracks Yanagamichi with an uppercut!
Yanagamichi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Charles lands with a good body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Charles, right into the meat.
Charles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Charles lands a jab to the nose.
Yanagamichi takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Charles looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice takedown defense from Charles. No joy for Yanagamichi on that attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Charles darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Charles cracks the inside of Yanagamichi's front leg.
Mike Charles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yanagamichi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Charles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Charles, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagamichi walks into a stiff left hand from Charles.
Charles lands a nice hook to Yanagamichi's body. Yanagamichi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yanagamichi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Yanagamichi fails with the takedown
and Charles counters with a nice uppercut.
Yanagamichi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Yanagamichi misses with a takedown
and Charles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Charles lands a body shot.
Yanagamichi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Charles to score with a decent uppercut.
Yanagamichi shoots and misses
letting Charles counter with a right hand.
Charles throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yanagamichi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Charles lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Charles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Charles lands a front kick.
Yanagamichi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Crunch! Charles slams his shin into Yanagamichi's torso.
Yanagamichi has his takedown stuffed
and Yanagamichi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Charles, right into the meat.
Yanagamichi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Charles fakes the leg kick and cracks Yanagamichi in the body.
Yanagamichi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Charles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That kick from Charles tenderised Yanagamichi's leg. Yanagamichi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mike Charles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yanagamichi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Charles cracks Yanagamichi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Charles lands a nice looking body shot.
Charles connects with a crisp jab.
Charles ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Charles, right into the meat.
Charles connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yanagamichi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Charles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A solid leg kick lands there for Charles.
Yanagamichi fails with a takedown attempt.
Charles chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Charles with a hook.
Charles lands a jab to Yanagamichi's midsection.
Charles lands with a good body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Charles darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Charles throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yanagamichi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Charles listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Charles throws a shot to the body.
Yanagamichi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sakuma Yanagamichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yanagamichi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Charles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Charles has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:25
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:25
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Charles!
During a confident post fight interview, Mike Charles thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.