PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kato Yoshiaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Parantainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoshiaki comes to the cage accompanied by Tokyo Drift. Kato Yoshiaki had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Yoshiaki
vs
Parantainen

185 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kato Yoshiaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jaakko Parantainen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Parantainen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Parantainen is looking to work some ground and pound but Yoshiaki has wrist control.
Parantainen won't allow Yoshiaki to get back to his feet.
Parantainen wants to control from the top but Yoshiaki keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Parantainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yoshiaki wants to stand and escape but Parantainen is having none of it.

Parantainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Parantainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yoshiaki on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Yoshiaki tries to get out of the position.
Parantainen wants to control from the top but Yoshiaki keeps moving.
Parantainen is stalling in the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yoshiaki wants to clinch.
Yoshiaki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Parantainen as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiaki tries to clinch but Parantainen is having none of it.
Parantainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Yoshiaki.

Parantainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Yoshiaki is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Parantainen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Parantainen looking to finish Yoshiaki with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yoshiaki!
Parantainen looking to ground and pound but Yoshiaki is blocking nicely.
Yoshiaki holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Parantainen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Yoshiaki is squirming around, avoiding Parantainen's attempts to control the action.
Yoshiaki wants to get back to his feet.
Yoshiaki is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Parantainen there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Parantainen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Parantainen throwing strikes here but Yoshiaki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Parantainen with good strikes from the mount here!
Parantainen is trying to take his opponent's back.
Parantainen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Parantainen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yoshiaki manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Yoshiaki dodges the ground and pound from Parantainen.
Parantainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yoshiaki is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parantainen trying to control the action but Yoshiaki is working from the bottom.
Parantainen throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Parantainen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Parantainen rushes Yoshiaki and presses him up against the cage.
Parantainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Parantainen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yoshiaki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Parantainen pulls guard.
Yoshiaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Parantainen on the ground.
Parantainen working a defensive guard here.
Parantainen 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.

Parantainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiaki preventing the sweep.

Parantainen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Parantainen is on top in guard.

Parantainen drops back looking for a leg! Yoshiaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yoshiaki manages to kick Parantainen off! Parantainen jumps back into Yoshiaki's guard.
Yoshiaki wants to stand up but Parantainen is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Parantainen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Parantainen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yoshiaki is pushing Parantainen's head away, looking to escape. Parantainen manages to hold on to the position though.
Parantainen trying to control the position but Yoshiaki is working away.

Parantainen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Parantainen prevents Yoshiaki from escaping the position.

Parantainen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yoshiaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Parantainen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Parantainen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshiaki is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Parantainen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yoshiaki, who protects the arm well.
Yoshiaki tries to escape but Parantainen is in control.
Yoshiaki gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Parantainen trying to control but Yoshiaki is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Parantainen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Yoshiaki is trying to stand.
Parantainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yoshiaki is looking to escape.
Parantainen won't let Yoshiaki get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Yoshiaki is in a horrible position here. Parantainen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Parantainen raining down shots from the mount!

Parantainen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yoshiaki can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Parantainen goes for an armbar but Yoshiaki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Yoshiaki.
Yoshiaki won't allow Parantainen to sweep him here.
Yoshiaki is looking to stand up but Parantainen won't let him.

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.
Yoshiaki trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Yoshiaki won't allow Parantainen to sweep him here.
Parantainen trying to control the position.
Yoshiaki stopping the sweep attempt from Parantainen.

Parantainen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Parantainen lands with a kick to the temple. Yoshiaki shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Parantainen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Parantainen lands in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Parantainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yoshiaki darts in trying to clinch

and Parantainen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Parantainen wants to control but Yoshiaki is keeping him busy.

Parantainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Yoshiaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Parantainen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yoshiaki is trying to stand.
Yoshiaki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Parantainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Yoshiaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Parantainen trying to mount his opponent but Yoshiaki defends it.
Parantainen controlling the pace.
Yoshiaki wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Parantainen seems to be working for a kimura but Yoshiaki defends the submission attempt.
Parantainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yoshiaki tries to clinch
and Parantainen counters with a leg kick.
Yoshiaki throws a head kick but Parantainen moves out of range.
Yoshiaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Parantainen circles away from the clinch attempt

so Parantainen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Parantainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Parantainen trying to control but Yoshiaki is working from the bottom.
Parantainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshiaki is retaining full guard.
Jaakko Parantainen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yoshiaki wriggles free and stands up.
Parantainen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kato Yoshiaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Parantainen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Parantainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Yoshiaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Parantainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Parantainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yoshiaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yoshiaki keeping full guard, as Parantainen tries to pass.
Yoshiaki has a closed guard, preventing Parantainen from standing up.
Parantainen looking to pass the guard.
Yoshiaki is looking to stand up but Parantainen isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Parantainen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yoshiaki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yoshiaki has escaped and now he's on top!

Parantainen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Yoshiaki is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Parantainen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Yoshiaki's back instead.

Yoshiaki manages to escape to his feet.
Parantainen fails with a takedown attempt.
Parantainen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kato Yoshiaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaakko Parantainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshiaki closes the distance looking to clinch

and Parantainen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Parantainen looking to sit in guard and control but Yoshiaki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Parantainen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yoshiaki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kato Yoshiaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoshiaki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Yoshiaki decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Parantainen, up you get!
Yoshiaki tries to clinch up

and Parantainen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Parantainen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Parantainen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yoshiaki can't keep his opponent in guard - Parantainen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Parantainen is looking to take a break and control but Yoshiaki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Parantainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Parantainen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 for Jaakko Parantainen!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Jaakko Parantainen!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Jaakko Parantainen!

Jaakko Parantainen wins by unanimous decision!