PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haneul Yang (ranked 4706 p4p, 4936 weight class) and Katsu Duro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yang
vs
Duro

192 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
192
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haneul Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsu Duro!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yang tries to clinch up but Duro circles away and keeps his distance.
Duro closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yang circles away.
As Duro tries to get set, Yang tries to push him back and clinch up but Duro manages to avoid the attempt.
Duro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yang looking to throw knees to the head but Duro is blocking nicely.
Yang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Duro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yang misses with a knee strike.
Duro avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.
Yang missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang misses with a knee to the head.
Yang working Duro over with knees to the body.
Yang missing with knees to the body.
Yang throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yang with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duro successfully pulls guard.
Duro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Duro pulls Yang in close to prevent any damage.
Yang trying to stand up but can't free himself from Duro's guard.

Duro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yang doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yang manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Duro has a closed guard, preventing Yang from standing 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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Yang postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yang wants it to stay on the feet.
Haneul Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Duro.
Yang stuffs the takedown attempt from Duro. Duro gets slowly back to his feet.
Yang tries to counter by clinching up but Duro breaks away and moves out of range.

Duro darts in and clinches Yang up against the cage.
Yang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Duro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang trying to stall but Duro improves his position.
Duro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yang landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Yang tries to land knees in the clinch but Duro avoids the damage to the body.
Yang stalling against the cage.
Yang is trying to stall.
Duro is trying to pull guard but Yang has him pressed against the cage.
Yang throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Duro blocks it with crossed arms.
Yang is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Duro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Yang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Yang looking to throw knees to the head but Duro is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yang working Duro over with knees to the body.
Duro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duro is defending well for now.
Yang throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but Duro blocks with his arms.
Yang is breathing heavily.
Duro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Duro has had enough of the clinch but Yang keeps him there for the moment.
Yang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Duro avoids it.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Yang.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Duro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Yang has Duro pressed against the cage, preventing Duro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Duro is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yang is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haneul Yang dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Duro shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yang as he jumps to the side.
Duro fails with the takedown.
Yang tries to close the distance and clinch but Duro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And Duro tries to counter it with a takedown but Yang pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Duro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Duro counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yang tries to keep at a distance but Duro has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yang throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haneul Yang has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Yang.
Duro wants to stall.
Duro is breathing heavily.
Yang is trying to stall.
Yang crunches a lovely knee into Duro's ribcage.
Yang is trying to maintain a safe position but Duro gets an underhook and turns Yang into the cage.
Yang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Duro avoids it.

Duro successfully pulls guard.
Yang tries to stand but Duro is controlling from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duro can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yang darts in and clinches Duro up against the cage.
Duro avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yang misses with a knee strike.
Yang throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Duro blocks it with crossed arms.
Duro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Duro wants a takedown.
Haneul Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Duro.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but Duro blocks with his arms.
Yang is struggling to control the position.
Yang misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Duro.
Yang misses with a knee strike.
Duro tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang throws a knee to the head but misses.
Duro wants to get back to striking at distance but Yang won't allow it.
Duro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duro avoiding damage as Yang throws knees to the body.
Yang with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Yang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Duro can do to turn this around?
Duro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yang utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duro is defending well for now.
Yang lands a good knee to the midsection. Duro won't want to take too many of those.
Yang tries a knee to the head but Duro blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yang misses with a knee to the head.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duro is defending well for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yang obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duro is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Haneul Yang dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Duro looks to land a combination. Yang sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Yang tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yang wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yang is fending him off so far but Duro persists. Nope, Yang circles away and we're back to standing.

Duro clinches.
A knee to the head by Yang.
Duro wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duro tries to pull guard but Yang won't allow it.
Haneul Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Duro.
Duro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yang smiles and moves away.
Duro tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yang defends well and Duro ends up having to push Yang into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Duro keeps the fight on the outside.

Yang has closed the distance and engaged Duro in a clinch.
Yang scores with a knee to the head.
Yang leaning against his opponent.
Yang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duro is defending well for now.
Yang lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Yang tries to land knees in the clinch but Duro avoids the damage to the body.
Yang scores a nice knee to the body.
Yang with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yang scores a nice knee to the body.
Haneul Yang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yang obliges.
Yang lands a good knee to the midsection. Duro won't want to take too many of those.
Duro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duro tries to pull guard but Yang forces him back to his feet, 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!
A knee to the head by Yang.
Yang tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yang landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Duro.
Yang unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Yang tries to land knees in the clinch but Duro avoids the damage to the body.
Duro is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Duro wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yang misses with a knee strike.
Yang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Duro takes a knee right on the jaw!
Duro tries to pull guard but Yang holds him up against the cage and eventually Duro drops back down to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Duro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haneul Yang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Yang, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haneul Yang!