PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mamaw Ako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kato Yamamoto (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.

Ako
vs
Yamamoto

183 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamaw Ako!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kato Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ako looks to clinch
and Yamamoto counters with a left and a right that stings Ako.
Yamamoto has his takedown stuffed
and Ako counters with a two punch combo.

Ako drives through and clinches with Yamamoto against the cage.
Yamamoto is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yamamoto has Ako pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ako manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ako is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ako tries for a takedown but Yamamoto manages to get underhooks.
Yamamoto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yamamoto looking for a takedown.
Mamaw Ako has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Yamamoto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yamamoto successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ako looking to sit in guard and control but Yamamoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yamamoto decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown but Ako shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yamamoto enables Ako to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yamamoto manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Yamamoto is looking to stand up but Ako isn't so interested in that idea.
Ako looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yamamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ako stops Yamamoto from standing up.
Yamamoto wants to sweep but no luck.
Yamamoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ako looking to sit in guard and control but Yamamoto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yamamoto stands and throws Ako's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ako is looking for a sweep.
Ako is breathing heavily.
Yamamoto just content to control the position.

Yamamoto decides to stand back up. Yamamoto steps back and let's Ako get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ako fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto avoids it really well and circles away.
Yamamoto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ako sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ako tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamamoto has a takedown stuffed.
Ako looks for the body kick but Yamamoto saw that one coming.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ako takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto shoots in but Ako avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto shoots in but no luck this time.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ako sprawls well. Ako wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yamamoto gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Ako manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yamamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kato Yamamoto will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Ako holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ako is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yamamoto is keeping busy.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yamamoto slows down the pace here.

Yamamoto jumps guard and drags Ako to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yamamoto is controlling Ako's posture.
Ako trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ako's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ako wants to get back to his feet but Yamamoto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ako works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ako is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Yamamoto decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ako keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yamamoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ako gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ako can't get the takedown.
Ako misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto wants a takedown.
Mamaw Ako has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Yamamoto.
Ako's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ako goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yamamoto prevents it.
Yamamoto throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Yamamoto jumps guard.
Ako will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ako trying to control the position from guard on top but Yamamoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yamamoto pulls Ako in close to prevent any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Ako can't handle though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamamoto scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Yamamoto fails with a takedown attempt.
Yamamoto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ako circles away.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Yamamoto clinches up against the cage.
Yamamoto tries to land knees in the clinch but Ako avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Yamamoto jumps guard.
Yamamoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ako manages to get himself to full guard.
Ako looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.
Yamamoto passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yamamoto stands up from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamamoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kato Yamamoto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ako but Ako pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mamaw Ako is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A clash of legs there as Yamamoto blocks the low kick.
Ako circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamamoto. Ako does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ako but Ako pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yamamoto tries to clinch but Ako moves out of range.
Yamamoto looks to land a body kick but Ako moved away.
Yamamoto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ako is fending him off so far but Yamamoto persists. Nope, Ako circles away and we're back to standing.
Mamaw Ako has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kato Yamamoto.
Ako shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yamamoto as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ako checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ako is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ako throws out a leg kick but Yamamoto moves out of range and Ako only half commits.
Ako shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kato Yamamoto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamamoto is looking to clinch.

Yamamoto clinches with his opponent.
Yamamoto is trying to break the clinch but Ako has him pressed against the cage.
Yamamoto is stalling here.
Yamamoto is working for takedown but Ako is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ako obliges.
Yamamoto is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ako is defending well.
Ako is trying to pull guard but Yamamoto has him pressed against the cage.
Ako wants a takedown.

Yamamoto jumps guard and drags Ako to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yamamoto pulls Ako in close to his closed guard and prevents Ako from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ako trying to control but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Yamamoto controlling the action here.
Ako really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kato Yamamoto.
Yamamoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ako tries to avoid it but Yamamoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ako to the ground. Ako escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamamoto throws a head kick that misses.
Yamamoto tries to score with a low kick but Ako moves his leg out of the way.
Ako shoots in for a takedown but Yamamoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a takedown but Ako manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yamamoto's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yamamoto cracks Ako with a good jab.
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Ako, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Ako against the cage but Ako circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamamoto works over Ako's head and body with a nice combination.
Ako wants to clinch.
Mamaw Ako has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kato Yamamoto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yamamoto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ako defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kato Yamamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamamoto 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kato Yamamoto!