PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Slater (ranked 1449 p4p, 1986 weight class) and Katsu Yamasaki (ranked 188 p4p, 254 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Slater
vs
Yamasaki

183 cm
28
161
9 - 4 - 0

176 cm
23
157
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Katsu Yamasaki!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Yamasaki counters with a single leg into guard. Slater didn't expect that.
Yamasaki wants to pass the guard but Slater is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slater keeping moving, preventing Yamasaki from controlling successfully.
Slater can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yamasaki controls the pace.
Yamasaki preventing the sweep.
Slater controlling Yamasaki's posture.
Yamasaki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater 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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamasaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Slater has closed the distance and engaged Yamasaki in a clinch.

Slater gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Slater wants to take a breather but Yamasaki is having none of it.
Yamasaki gets back to full guard.
Slater postures up.
Slater 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slater with a flurry of punches that miss.
Slater seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Yamasaki looking for a guillotine here but Slater defends easily.
Yamasaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slater trying to control but Yamasaki is working from the bottom.
Yamasaki looking to control.
Slater scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Slater lands a couple of digs.
Slater has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamasaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamasaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Slater got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yamasaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slater has managed to get both his arms back between Yamasaki's legs - danger averted.
Slater trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Slater keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yamasaki's head.
Slater controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yamasaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Slater trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yamasaki has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Slater doesn't defend quickly enough and Yamasaki has managed to lock this one up! Can Slater escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Yamasaki on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Katsu Yamasaki!
A relieved looking Katsu Yamasaki thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.