PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Watanabe Roro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake yi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Roro
vs
yi

169 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Watanabe Roro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake yi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roro fails with a takedown attempt.
yi throws a right and a left that Roro avoids nicely.
Roro wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
yi misses with an uppercut.
Roro fails to land the takedown.
yi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Roro. That did some damage!
yi looks to land a combination but Roro avoids it well.
yi misses with a straight left.
Jake yi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roro tries to close the distance and clinch up but yi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
yi thuds his shin into the meat of Roro's side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

yi is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Roro presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
yi misses with a punch to the body.
yi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roro is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but yi is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Watanabe Roro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
yi wants to break free but Roro has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yi lands a nice uppercut.
Roro wants to get back to striking at distance but yi won't allow it.
yi misses with a body punch.

yi manages to break the clinch.
Roro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but yi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
yi connects with a high kick.
yi looks to throw the jab but Roro is out of range.
Roro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but yi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Roro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Roro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around yi's waist but yi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roro off to one side.

yi forces Roro back against the cage and clinches.
Roro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Roro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A short body shot lands from yi as the two fighters clinch.
yi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
yi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
yi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
yi tries to circle away but Roro has him pinned against the cage.
yi effectively controlling the action here.
Roro can't get the takedown.
Roro is breathing heavily.
Roro is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but yi is defending well.
yi is trying to push Roro away but Roro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short body shot lands from yi as the two fighters clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, yi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roro has yi pressed against the cage, preventing yi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
yi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Roro has yi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. yi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Roro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Roro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite yi's efforts to push away.
Roro goes for a takedown in the clinch but yi prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
yi lands a nice shot to the body.

yi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jab, jab by yi - just one landing.
yi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Roro takes a head kick and keeps coming.
yi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A good leg kick by yi.
yi scoring well with a low kick there.
yi lands with a straight right. Roro didn't see that one coming.
yi thuds his shin into the meat of Roro's side.
yi lands with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from yi. Roro shrugs it off though.
yi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
yi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roro.
yi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
yi throws a leg kick which misses Roro's front leg but catches the back leg as Roro tries to avoid it.

Roro closes the distance and clinches.

yi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
yi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Roro will feel that in the morning.
yi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
yi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Roro.
A nice leg kick lands there from yi.
yi delivers a nice body kick.
Roro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Roro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A lazy left from yi finds it's target.
yi tests Roro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake yi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

yi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
yi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Roro's sensitive parts.
Roro tries to clinch but yi is having none of it.
yi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
yi lands an overhand right.
Roro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. yi defends it nicely.
yi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Roro has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
yi connects with a looping right hand.
Watanabe Roro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
yi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
yi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
yi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has yi pinned against the cage. yi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

yi moves into the clinch.
yi lands a body punch in the clinch.

Roro pulls yi into guard.

Roro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Roro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. yi manages to get himself to full guard.

yi 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
yi wants to stand and escape but Roro is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
yi wants to sweep but no luck.

yi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Roro off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
yi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
yi lands with a straight right. Roro didn't see that one coming.
Jake yi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
yi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A head kick from yi lands but Roro takes it in his stride.
yi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Roro eats them both and turns towards yi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
yi moves into range and connects with a jab.
Roro dives in and grabs yi's left leg, looking for a takedown. yi pushes down on Roro's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Watanabe Roro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
yi scores with a jab to the jaw.
yi goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
yi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Roro momentarily.
Roro will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
yi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Roro stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from yi.
Roro has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by yi.
yi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A slow jab from yi misses its intended target.
Roro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Roro takes a kick to the side of the head.
Roro shoots in but no luck this time.
Roro takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice cross by yi.
yi throws a head kick that Roro semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
yi scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
yi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Roro takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
yi cracks Roro with a good jab.
Roro takes one on the button.
yi thuds his shin into the meat of Roro's side.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from yi, right into the meat.
yi cracks Roro with a good jab.
yi cracks Roro with a right hand to the side of the head.
yi lands with a cross.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Roro is defended easily by yi.
Roro has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Roro there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake yi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

yi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Roro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around yi's waist but yi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Roro off to one side.
A good leg kick by yi.

Roro gets tackled into the cage by yi. yi maintains the clinch.

Roro breaks the clinch.
Roro moves in looking to clinch but yi pushes him off.

yi gets a clinch.
yi can't break the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
yi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
yi tries to work over Roro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Roro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite yi's efforts to push away.

yi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
yi throws a hook but Roro avoids it easily.
Roro changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
yi throws a series of punches but Roro avoids them all with ease.
It looked like Roro was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
yi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
yi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
yi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Roro closes the distance and clinches up with yi, looking for a takedown. Roro pushes yi against the cage but yi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Roro on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by yi as he connects with a hook.
Roro slips a straight right by yi.
Roro slips under a jab.
Roro darts in looking for a takedown but yi gets double underhooks and turns Roro into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Watanabe Roro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from yi. Roro shrugs it off though.
yi connects with a solid leg kick.
Jake yi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roro takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A head kick misses from Roro.
Jab from yi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roro shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has yi pinned against the cage. yi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

yi rushes Roro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
yi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Roro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite yi's efforts to push away.
Jake yi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

yi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roro goes for a double leg but yi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as yi continues to drive forward.
Roro closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Roro takes one on the chin but seems OK.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

yi manages to break the clinch.
A head kick from yi lands but Roro takes it in his stride.
Some wild striking there from yi.
Roro is looking for a counter combo.
yi thumps Roro with a low kick.
Roro shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says yi as he avoids it easily.
Crunch! yi slams his shin into Roro's torso.
Roro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by yi.
Roro blocks a head kick by yi.
Roro moves out of range of the strikes.
Roro tries to close the distance and clinch up but yi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jake yi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
yi scores with a sloppy right hand. Roro should have avoided that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from yi, right into the meat.
yi throws a head kick that Roro semi-blocks.
Nice cross by yi.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
yi keeps Roro at a distance using the push kick.
yi tries to bum rush Roro with a series of wild strikes but Roro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch lands to the side of Roro 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Roro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before yi can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Roro.
yi throws a counter combo.
Roro on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Roro misses with a right hand
and yi counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from yi misses.
Watanabe Roro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Roro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake yi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got yi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 25:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake yi!
During a confident post fight interview, Jake yi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.