PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julian Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kane Yamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Kane Yamada enters the cage!

Knight
vs
Yamada

190 cm
27
211 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

190 cm
37
197 lbs
39 - 15 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Knight!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 15 - 1, fighting out of London, Kane Yamada!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamada thuds a left hand into Knight's body.
Knight looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kane Yamada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yamada has Knight up against the cage in a clinch.
Knight lands with a left to the head.
Knight blocking some punches.
Yamada tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knight's elbow.
Yamada misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Knight fails to land.
Yamada wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knight has a couple of punches blocked by Yamada.
Yamada scores with a hook to the body.
Knight is working for takedown but Yamada is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knight drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yamada displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knight up against the cage.
Yamada lands a hook that snaps the head of Knight backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Yamada on the inside.
Knight tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamada's elbow.
Yamada working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Yamada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Yamada lands with a short shot to the head.
Yamada pushes Knight back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yamada lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamada blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knight.
Yamada goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamada lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knight lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamada backwards.
Yamada misses with a punch on the inside.
Knight 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.
Yamada misses with a punch to the body.
Knight doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamada prevents a body shot from Knight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Yamada.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knight.
Yamada has a couple of punches blocked by Knight.
Yamada scores with a shoulder strike.
Knight swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Yamada.
Knight tries a body shot but Yamada blocks it.
Knight being controlled against the cage.
Yamada throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Knights head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yamada.
Yamada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Yamada blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamada misses with some punches.
Yamada doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knight swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knight working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Yamada fails to land.
Yamada tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Yamada back against the cage.
Yamada misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Knight.
Yamada goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yamada working aggressively here.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight prevents a body shot from Yamada.
Yamada blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamada.
The referee calls for Yamada to work.
Knight lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knight tries to throw a body punch but Yamada avoids it by throwing Knight back against the cage.
Knight misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamada misses with the head strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight scores with a shot to the side of Yamada's head.
Knight prevents a body shot from Yamada.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knight creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Yamada prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamada works on Knight's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Yamada on the inside.
Yamada is stalling here.
Knight throws a head punch that misses.
Knight is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yamada gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yamada struggles to land a body shot inside as Knight controls his hands.
Knight misses with the head strike.
Knight misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamada slows down the pace here.
Knight misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Yamada dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yamada scoring well with a low kick there.
Yamada connects with the punch.
Knight throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yamada misses with a straight right.
A head kick misses from Yamada.
Knight tests Yamada's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Yamada. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Knight takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yamada doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Knight takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yamada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamada just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamada throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knight sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight lands with a kick to the temple. Yamada shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Yamada on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yamada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knight.
Yamada misses with an uppercut.
Yamada tries to land a front kick but Knight steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big right from Yamada misses.
Knight scores with a body shot.
Yamada throws a body kick that misses.
Yamada misses with a body kick.
Knight connects with a crisp jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Knight blocks the leg kick.
Yamada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight thumps Yamada with a low kick.
Knight keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Knight takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
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!

Knight gets tackled into the cage by Yamada. Yamada maintains the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Yamada.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yamada.
Yamada can't find room to land a body shot as Knight controls the action.
Yamada tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yamada tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knight's elbow.
Yamada stalling against the cage.
Kane Yamada seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Yamada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight throws a push kick but Yamada slaps the foot to one side.
Yamada's corner calls for a 1-2. Yamada obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Knight lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yamada's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada misses with a double jab

and Knight counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Yamada's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Yamada preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knight is fighting to break Yamada's control of his arms but Yamada is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Knight has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Knight trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yamada working a defensive guard here.
Knight slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yamada's head.
Knight lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamada trying to get back to full guard but Knight takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Knight looking to control but Yamada is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamada gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julian Knight will probably get the nod.
That's time! Knight's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Knight gets tackled into the cage by Yamada. Yamada maintains the clinch.
Yamada tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Yamada back against the cage.
Knight lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knight fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamada.
Yamada throws a punch but it's blocked by Knight.
Knight gets through Yamada's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yamada swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knight misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knight.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knight creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Knight lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamada.
Knight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knight misses with the head strike.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamada.
Knight struggles to land a body shot inside as Yamada controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamada can't find room to land a body shot as Knight controls the action.
Yamada slowing the pace effectively.
Knight lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knight tries to throw a body punch but Yamada avoids it by throwing Knight back against the cage.
Yamada makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Yamada fails to land.

Knight gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Knight is trying to control the action in half guard but Yamada is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yamada avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Knight.
Yamada keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Knight with the ground and pound but Yamada uses the opportunity to regain guard.
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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knight trying to control but Yamada is working from the bottom.
Knight pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yamada is keeping the position for now.
Yamada is trying to keep Knight in close.
Yamada wants to sweep here but Knight controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight throwing strikes but missing.
Knight is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Yamada pulls Knight in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Yamada.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight misses with a body shot.
Yamada moves forwards but Knight connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yamada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knight moves away.
Knight fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Knight lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Knight.
Yamada misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Yamada misses

and Knight counters with a shoot takedown. Yamada fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamada pulls Knight in close to his closed guard and prevents Knight from doing any damage or advancing position.
Yamada looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Knight clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yamada looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Yamada throws a low kick, looking for Knight's leg but Knight calmly moves out of range.
Yamada avoids the head kick by Knight.
Yamada misses with a body shot.
Crunch! Knight slams his shin into Yamada's torso.
Knight takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yamada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Knight.
Julian Knight is winning the standup battle so far.
Yamada has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Knight.

Yamada instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Knight.
Knight fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yamada.
Yamada misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Knight.
Yamada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamada is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Knight blocks a body shot from Yamada.
Knight blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yamada misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamada's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Knight lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yamada backwards.
Yamada misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knight lands a body punch.
Yamada tries to throw a body punch but Knight avoids it by throwing Yamada back against the cage.
Knight changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Yamada fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knight tries to land a body kick
and Yamada counters with a right hand to the body.
Kane Yamada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Knight walks into a straight right hand from Yamada.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight misses with a looping left.

Yamada clinches with his opponent.
Knight misses with some punches.
Yamada swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamada.
Knight misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yamada misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yamada lands with a light punch inside.

Knight is trying to trip Yamada. He has hold of a leg but Yamada is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Knight persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Knight is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Julian Knight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yamada is pulling down on Knight's head. It's preventing any offense from Knight, at least for the moment.
Knight postures up in Yamada's guard and throws a big left but Yamada blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamada is adopting a defensive guard.
Yamada controls Knight momentarily but Knight frees himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kane Yamada wasn't active enough on the ground.
Yamada throws a sloppy head kick and Knight moves out of range easily.
Yamada avoids a kick to the body.

That's four 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.
Knight takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Knight displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yamada throws out the jab.
Yamada throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yamada lands a body shot.
Knight chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yamada can pounce on him.
Knight shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Yamada throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Knight's head.
Knight uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yamada.
Yamada throws a right hand that misses

and Knight counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Knight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knight accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Kane Yamada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Knight fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yamada manages to avoid it.
Yamada just misses with a punch to the body.
Knight moves out of range of the body kick.
Yamada lands a leg kick that knocks Knight off balance momentarily.
Knight takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Yamada misses with a few strikes there.
Knight looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yamada is fending him off so far but Knight persists. Nope, Yamada circles away and we're back to standing.
Knight scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamada should have avoided that one.
Yamada digs a good body shot into Knight's ribs.
Yamada throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Knight on the side of the head.
Knight lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Knight smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Knight moves out of range of the body kick.

Yamada has closed the distance and engaged Knight in a clinch.
Knight blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yamada misses with a body punch.
Knight misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Knight scores with a nice short uppercut.
Knight misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knight tries to throw a body punch but Yamada avoids it by throwing Knight back against the cage.
Knight can't find room to land a body shot as Yamada controls the action.
Yamada takes a shot to the head.
Yamada goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knight misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamada lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knight goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yamada prevents it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yamada.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamada misses with a punch on the inside.
Yamada throws a head punch that misses.
Yamada lands a left hand that snaps the head of Knight backwards.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Yamada.
Knight throws a head punch that misses.

Yamada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Knight.

Knight scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Knight thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yamada's head.
Knight throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight drops an elbow to the side of Yamada's head.
Knight wants to control but Yamada is keeping him busy.
Yamada is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Knight in particular looking to stall.
Yamada works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yamada is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight throws a strike but Yamada rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Yamada got a little sloppy there for a moment and Knight has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yamada has managed to get both his arms back between Knight's legs - danger averted.
Yamada is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Knight looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Julian Knight.
I think Knight has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Kane Yamada!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Kane Yamada!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Kane Yamada!

Kane Yamada wins by unanimous decision! Kane Yamada retains his light heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Kane Yamada thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.