PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Nicolosi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masamichi Yamaji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolosi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, A Fistful Of Dollars by Ennio Morricone. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Nicolosi
vs
Yamaji

192 cm
30
276 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

193 cm
34
262 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Nicolosi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Masamichi Yamaji!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaji's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Nicolosi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaji scrambles back to his feet.
Yamaji tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nicolosi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Nicolosi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nicolosi has a couple of punches blocked by Yamaji.
A right hook to the body lands for Yamaji.
Nicolosi swings wildly with an uppercut but Yamaji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nicolosi landing knees to the head.

It looks like Masamichi Yamaji has been cut.
Yamaji lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Yamaji's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Nicolosi has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Yamaji breaks from the clinch.
Nicolosi tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yamaji takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yamaji moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yamaji moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yamaji lands a nice looking body kick.
Nicolosi looks to land a combination. Yamaji sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick which misses Yamaji's front leg but catches the back leg as Yamaji tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolosi misses with a kick to the body.
Yamaji defending well as Nicolosi loads up on a big left hand.
Nicolosi tries to clinch up
and Yamaji counters with a left and a right that stings Nicolosi.
Yamaji goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Yamaji swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaji misses with an uppercut. Nicolosi saw that one coming.
Nice body kick there by Yamaji.
An inside leg kick lands from Nicolosi.
Yamaji slips a jab and a cross from Nicolosi.
Yamaji steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Yamaji scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Frank Nicolosi has been cut.
Yamaji fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nicolosi manages to avoid it.
Yamaji misses with a body shot.
As Yamaji tries to get set, Nicolosi tries to push him back and clinch up but Yamaji manages to avoid the attempt.
Nicolosi scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nicolosi misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yamaji throws a shot from downtown. Nicolosi moves away and avoids it.
Yamaji throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nicolosi avoids the head kick by Yamaji.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yamaji.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick but Yamaji sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nicolosi throws a body shot but no joy.
Nicolosi moves away from the strike by Yamaji.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nicolosi.
Yamaji 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.
Yamaji thuds a left hand into Nicolosi's body.
Yamaji misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Nicolosi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nicolosi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yamaji tries to land a body kick

and Nicolosi counters by clinching up.

Yamaji escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamaji throws a body punch but Nicolosi moves out of range.
Yamaji lands a head kick. Nicolosi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Yamaji lands a nice looking body shot.
Nicolosi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yamaji is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nicolosi rather than just go for the knockout.
Nicolosi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yamaji scoring well with a low kick there.
Nicolosi thuds his right hand into Yamaji's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Yamaji scores with a jab to the body.
Yamaji misses with a wild combination.
Nicolosi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nicolosi blocks the body kick.
Yamaji moves out of range of the leg kick from Nicolosi.
Nicolosi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yamaji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nicolosi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaji is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamaji tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nicolosi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nicolosi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaji.
Yamaji swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Nicolosi misses the target.
Nicolosi scores with a shot to the body.
Yamaji throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Yamaji turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Yamaji 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nicolosi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nicolosi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Nicolosi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Masamichi Yamaji will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yamaji misses with a wild body shot.
Nicolosi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yamaji has time to react.

Yamaji lands a big head kick that sends Nicolosi tumbling to the mat! Yamaji takes a step backwards and waves Nicolosi back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Nicolosi is rocked!
Yamaji misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamaji just misses with a punch to the body.
Yamaji avoids a kick to the body.
Yamaji takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
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!
Yamaji just misses with a punch to the body.
Masamichi Yamaji seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nicolosi avoids the body shot from Yamaji.
Yamaji rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Nicolosi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nicolosi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Yamaji lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nicolosi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nicolosi moves in looking to clinch but Yamaji pushes him off.
Nicolosi thumps Yamaji with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaji walks into a stiff left hand from Nicolosi.
Yamaji will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nicolosi scores with a hook.
Yamaji looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nicolosi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yamaji digs a good hook to Nicolosi's body.
Yamaji keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nicolosi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yamaji has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nicolosi gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Yamaji counters with a body kick.
Nicolosi swinging wildly here.
Yamaji tries to score with a low kick but Nicolosi moves his leg out of the way.
Yamaji throws a body punch but Nicolosi moves out of range.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick but Yamaji moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Yamaji, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nicolosi looks to land a left hand but Yamaji moved out of range nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nicolosi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamaji swings for the body but Nicolosi moves out of range.
Yamaji connects with a leg kick. Nicolosi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nicolosi misses with a lunging right hand
and Yamaji counters with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Nicolosi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nicolosi with a jab.
Yamaji lands with a shot to the body.
Nicolosi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamaji bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Yamaji misses with a wild body shot.
Yamaji swats away the attempt to clinch by Nicolosi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolosi avoids a kick to the body.
Nicolosi is looking to counter punch.
Nicolosi blocks a head kick by Yamaji.
A counter left hand to the body from Nicolosi misses its target.
Nicolosi blocks a low kick nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Nicolosi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nicolosi misses with a two punch combination.
Nicolosi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yamaji's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yamaji tries to work over Nicolosi's front leg with a kick but Nicolosi checks it.
Nicolosi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick but Yamaji moved away.

Oooooh!!! Yamaji has knocked Nicolosi down with a huge combo! Yamaji steps away and waves a wobbly Nicolosi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nicolosi throws a leg kick
and Yamaji counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nicolosi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A thudding body kick lands there by Yamaji!
Yamaji swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yamaji.
Nicolosi throws out a leg kick but Yamaji moves out of range and Nicolosi only half commits.
Yamaji checks a leg kick nicely.
Nicolosi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nicolosi swings for the body but Yamaji moves out of range.
Nicolosi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nicolosi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Yamaji fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nicolosi.
Yamaji throws a push kick but Nicolosi slaps the foot to one side.
Nicolosi lands with an uppercut that bounces Yamaji off the cage and back into range.
Yamaji throws a good cross that connects.

Frank Nicolosi's cut is getting worse.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yamaji misses with a hook.
Yamaji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nicolosi.
Nicolosi takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masamichi Yamaji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamaji throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Nicolosi forces Yamaji back against the cage and clinches.
Yamaji tries to throw a body punch but Nicolosi avoids it by throwing Yamaji back against the cage.
Yamaji avoiding damage as Nicolosi throws knees to the body.
Yamaji stalling against the cage.
Yamaji works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Nicolosi avoiding damage as Yamaji throws knees to the body.
Yamaji swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nicolosi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Yamaji lands a shot to the body.
Nicolosi struggles to land a body shot inside as Yamaji controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaji lands a body punch.

Yamaji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yamaji swats away the attempt to clinch by Nicolosi.
Nicolosi misses the body punch
and Yamaji counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nicolosi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yamaji.
Yamaji scores with a hook.

Yamaji sends Nicolosi crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Yamaji is motioning to the referee to let Nicolosi up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Oh Nicolosi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nicolosi.
Yamaji fakes the body blow, causing Nicolosi to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Nicolosi goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Masamichi Yamaji!
Masamichi Yamaji decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.