PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Finlay Standifer (ranked 465 p4p, 1251 weight class) and Katsu Yamasaki (ranked 75 p4p, 181 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Standifer
vs
Yamasaki

172 cm
21
160
7 - 1 - 0

176 cm
24
157
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Champion Apparel

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finlay Standifer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Katsu Yamasaki!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamasaki throws the left hand but Standifer avoids the punch easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Yamasaki has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Yamasaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Standifer.
Standifer drops his hands momentarily and Yamasaki takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Standifer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Standifer misses with an uppercut

and Yamasaki counters with a shoot takedown. Standifer fights it but they end up in guard.
Yamasaki wants to control from the top but Standifer keeps moving.
Yamasaki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Standifer's coaches at Patskun tappelukoulu have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamasaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Standifer keeps working.
Yamasaki wants to free his trapped foot but Standifer is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yamasaki wants to take a breather but Standifer is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standifer wants to get back to his feet.

Yamasaki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Yamasaki wants to take a breather but Standifer is having none of it.
Standifer wants to control but Yamasaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Standifer is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Standifer is not content to let Yamasaki control the position.
Yamasaki wants to advance to full mount but Standifer doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Standifer looking to control.

Yamasaki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Standifer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Yamasaki trying to control but Standifer is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Standifer just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamasaki misses with a body punch
and Standifer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Yamasaki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Standifer closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Standifer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Standifer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Standifer scores with a nice hook to the head.
Standifer lands with a light punch inside.
Yamasaki tries to work over Standifer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yamasaki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Standifer is defending well.
Yamasaki has Standifer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Standifer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Finlay Standifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Yamasaki.
Standifer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Standifer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yamasakis head.
Standifer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yamasaki.
Standifer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Standifer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Standifer.
Standifer lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Yamasaki fails to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A short right from Standifer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Standifer.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Standifer.
Standifer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Standifer digs a right hand into Yamasaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamasaki's gas tank.
Yamasaki looking to stall.
Yamasaki tries to stall but Standifer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Standifer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yamasaki.
Standifer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yamasaki is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Standifer is keeping busy.
Standifer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Yamasaki looking for a takedown.
Standifer pushes Yamasaki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short left from Standifer.
Standifer lands with a left to the head.
Yamasaki has Standifer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Standifer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Standifer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Standifer clinches up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Standifer - that landed with a thud.
Yamasaki tries for a takedown but Standifer manages to get underhooks.
Yamasaki wants to stall.
Standifer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Standifer lands a right hand.
Yamasaki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamasaki is trying to pull guard but Standifer turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Finlay Standifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Yamasaki.
Standifer lands a right hand.
Yamasaki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Standifer.
Yamasaki tries to work over Standifer's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Yamasaki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Standifer tries to roll over but Yamasaki keeps him under control.
Standifer is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standifer trying to hold on to Yamasaki's head to control him but Yamasaki postures up.
Standifer keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Standifer actively working from the bottom here.

Standifer looking for submissions off his back.
Standifer is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Standifer trying to hold on to Yamasaki's head to control him but Yamasaki postures up.
Standifer wants to improve his position but Yamasaki is controlling well.
Yamasaki is trying to control. Standifer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Standifer wants to control but Yamasaki is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamasaki wants to pass to mount but Standifer is defending the position.
Yamasaki trying to control the action but Standifer is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Standifer misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Standifer. Yamasaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Katsu Yamasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamasaki cracks a nice hook into Standifer's ribs.
Finlay Standifer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Standifer tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamasaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Standifer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamasaki.
Standifer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Standifer instigates a clinch.

Yamasaki gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Yamasaki is taking a breather. Standifer says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Standifer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yamasaki is looking to take a break and control but Standifer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Standifer moves into full guard.
Yamasaki looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki wants to control from the top but Standifer keeps moving.
Yamasaki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Standifer controls Yamasaki momentarily but Yamasaki frees himself.
Standifer wants to stand but Yamasaki is controlling the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Standifer pulls Yamasaki in to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Yamasaki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Standifer wants to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Finlay Standifer will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamasaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Standifer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yamasaki was well out of range. Poor timing from Standifer.
Yamasaki tries for a takedown but Standifer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yamasaki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Standifer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamasaki.
Yamasaki staying out of range there.
Yamasaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Standifer.
A little feinted left hand from Standifer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Standifer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yamasaki.
Yamasaki throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yamasaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Standifer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Yamasaki scores with the left hand. Standifer knows he should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Standifer rushes Yamasaki and presses him up against the cage.
Yamasaki goes for a takedown attempt but Standifer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Finlay Standifer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Yamasaki.
Standifer ducks right into an uppercut from Yamasaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Standifer. No joy for Yamasaki on that attempt.
It looked like Standifer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Standifer throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamasaki with a nice cross.
Standifer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yamasaki can do to turn this around?

Standifer darts in and clinches Yamasaki up against the cage.
Yamasaki tries to score a body lock takedown but Standifer shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Standifer lands with a right to the head.
Standifer lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Standifer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Standifer lands with a short shot to the head.
Standifer lands an uppercut.
Standifer blocks a body shot from Yamasaki.
Standifer is leaning against Yamasaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yamasaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Standifer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Standifer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamasaki has Standifer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Standifer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Standifer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamasaki or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yamasaki lands a takedown into guard.
Standifer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Yamasaki stopping the sweep attempt from Standifer.
Standifer pulls Yamasaki in close to prevent any damage.
Yamasaki preventing the sweep.
Yamasaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Standifer swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki keeps trying to improve his position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Yamasaki wants to control from the top but Standifer keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yamasaki throws a poor cross that misses
and Standifer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yamasaki shoots in looking for a takedown. Standifer tries to sprawl out of it but Yamasaki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Standifer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Standifer throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamasaki misses with a right hand
and Standifer counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yamasaki thinking.
A big right from Yamasaki misses.
Yamasaki fails to land the takedown.
Standifer seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Standifer is looking to clinch but Yamasaki is avoiding it.
Standifer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Standifer clinches up with Yamasaki and pushes him back against the cage.
A short uppercut from Standifer.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Standifer.
Standifer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yamasaki.
Standifer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Standifer - that landed with a thud.
Yamasaki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Standifer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Standifer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Standifer.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Standifer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Standifer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yamasaki backwards.
Yamasaki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Standifer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Standifer is looking to wear down Yamasaki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Standifer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Standifer lands a jab to Yamasaki's midsection.
Standifer tries to clinch up but Yamasaki circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Yamasaki misses the target.
Standifer is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Yamasaki.
Standifer scores with a one two! Yamasaki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Yamasaki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Standifer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yamasaki jabs Standifer right on the nose. Standifer blinks but takes it well.
Standifer staying out of range there.
Standifer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Yamasaki thows a left - swing and a miss!

Standifer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Standifer lands a shoulder strike.

Yamasaki jumps guard and drags Standifer to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Standifer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Standifer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yamasaki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamasaki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Standifer defends it easily.
Katsu Yamasaki has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yamasaki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Standifer has picked Yamasaki up and slammed him! Yamasaki can't keep hold of the triangle and Standifer manages to pass to side control!
Yamasaki is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Standifer taking a breather here.
Yamasaki looks to move to half guard but instead Standifer has passed into mount! Damn!
Standifer content just to control the position here.
Yamasaki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamasaki sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Standifer slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like Standifer is going to stand back up.
Yamasaki wants to get back to full guard.
Standifer stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer is looking to stall here but Yamasaki recovers full guard.
Standifer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Yamasaki has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Standifer should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Yamasaki has tightened it up now! Standifer should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Katsu Yamasaki!
Katsu Yamasaki is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Katsu Yamasaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.