PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cholo Van Gaal (ranked 254 p4p, 32 weight class) and Kai Yamaguchi (ranked 147 p4p, 18 weight class). Yamaguchi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Yama Yama. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kai Yamaguchi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Van Gaal
vs
Yamaguchi

177 cm
39
158 lbs
29 - 12 - 0

176 cm
31
160 lbs
26 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cholo Van Gaal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kai Yamaguchi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yamaguchi lands a nice shot to the body.
Yamaguchi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A big right from Yamaguchi misses.
Yamaguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Van Gaal momentarily.
Yamaguchi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Van Gaal throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Van Gaal punishes Yamaguchi's body with a nice straight punch.
A low kick from Yamaguchi misses
and Van Gaal counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Gaal misses with a kick to the body
and Yamaguchi counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Gaal throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yamaguchi scores with a shot to the body.
Van Gaal throws a push kick but Yamaguchi slaps the foot to one side.
A nice side step and Yamaguchi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Yamaguchi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Van Gaal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Van Gaal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Van Gaal can pounce on him.
Yamaguchi misses with a leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws an overhand right that lands on Van Gaal's shoulder, as Van Gaal tries to avoid the shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Van Gaal crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yamaguchi - the referee stops the clock and Van Gaal gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yamaguchi. Van Gaal manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Yamaguchi digs a good body shot into Van Gaal's ribs.
Nice body kick from Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal misses with a right hand
and Yamaguchi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Van Gaal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've been told by Van Gaal's head coaches at Shark Tank MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Yamaguchi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Yamaguchi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Van Gaal takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
That kick from Yamaguchi tenderised Van Gaal's leg. Van Gaal is trying to keep his angry face on.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Van Gaal moves out of range.
A jab from Yamaguchi misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Gaal thuds a left hand into Yamaguchi's body.
That kick from Yamaguchi tenderised Van Gaal's leg. Van Gaal is trying to keep his angry face on.
Yamaguchi has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Van Gaal staying out of range there.
Yamaguchi connects with a leg kick. Van Gaal looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Van Gaal just misses with a punch to the body.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamaguchi just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Gaal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yamaguchi finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Gaal's head.
Yamaguchi throws a wild body kick that Van Gaal sees coming a mile off.
Van Gaal lands the left hand.
Yamaguchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Van Gaal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Van Gaal lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Van Gaal throws a sloppy head kick
and Yamaguchi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yamaguchi. Van Gaal does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Van Gaal on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Yamaguchi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Van Gaals jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Gaal stuns Yamaguchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Gaal half committed to a counter leg kick.
Van Gaal throws a big shot that misses.
Yamaguchi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A jab from Yamaguchi misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Van Gaal misses its target.
Yamaguchi slips under a jab.
Van Gaal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yamaguchi lands with an overhand left.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice right hand.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook to the body
and Van Gaal counters with a stiff right hand.
A shot to the liver by Van Gaal. Beautiful body shot.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Gaal. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Yamaguchi - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Gaal connects with a right hand. Yamaguchi shakes it off.
Van Gaal takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Yamaguchi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Van Gaal had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Van Gaal misses the jab.
Van Gaal takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Van Gaal lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yamaguchi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Van Gaal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yamaguchi.
Nice uppercut lands for Yamaguchi. That snapped Van Gaal's head back.
Yamaguchi misses with a kick to the body
and Van Gaal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Gaal swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice shot lands for Yamaguchi.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yamaguchi, as that shot connected.
Yamaguchi throws a push kick but Van Gaal slaps the foot to one side.
Yamaguchi moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Van Gaal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
A good leg kick by Yamaguchi.
Kai Yamaguchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice body kick.
Van Gaal throws a good cross that connects.
Van Gaal misses with a body shot.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Van Gaal might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Van Gaal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamaguchi moves away.
Yamaguchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Yamaguchi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Gaal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Gaal lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Yamaguchi misses with a combination
and Van Gaal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamaguchi swings for the body but Van Gaal moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi cracks Van Gaal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yamaguchi looks to land a right hand but Van Gaal moved out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Gaal looks to score with a jab to the body but Yamaguchi is just out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Van Gaal moves out of range.
A jab from Yamaguchi does it's job there.
Van Gaal throws a poor cross that misses
and Yamaguchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Yamaguchi scores with a shot to the body.
Van Gaal swats away the attempt to clinch by Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Yamaguchi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Van Gaal is looking to counter punch.
Van Gaal throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A low kick from Yamaguchi is predictable there
and Van Gaal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yamaguchi thinking.
Van Gaal lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamaguchi scores with a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yamaguchi, right into the meat.
Van Gaal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yamaguchi lands with a straight right. Van Gaal didn't see that one coming.
Van Gaal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi lands a right hook to the body.
Van Gaal looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Van Gaal misses with a low kick.
Yamaguchi misses with the body kick
and Van Gaal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yamaguchi feints and then cracks Van Gaal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Van Gaal down.
Good exchange - Yamaguchi coming out on top.
A good leg kick by Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yamaguchi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal scores with a head kick. Yamaguchi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A big left from Yamaguchi misses.
Yamaguchi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Gaal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A head kick misses from Van Gaal.
Yamaguchi cracks Van Gaal with a good jab.
Van Gaal moves out of range of the body kick from Yamaguchi.
A quick step to the side and Van Gaal tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Van Gaal crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Yamaguchi - the referee stops the clock and Van Gaal gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Yamaguchi. Van Gaal manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Yamaguchi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Gaal.
Van Gaal throws a looping overhand right but Yamaguchi ducks down to avoid it.
Van Gaal moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Van Gaal moves out of range.
Yamaguchi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi connects with a body shot.
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!
Van Gaal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yamaguchi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yamaguchi connects with a right hand. Van Gaal shakes it off.
Van Gaal throws a head kick that Yamaguchi semi-blocks.
Van Gaal connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yamaguchi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Yamaguchi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van Gaal throws a quick inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Gaal. Yamaguchi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Van Gaal looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Yamaguchi moves out of range of the body kick.
Yamaguchi replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Van Gaal blocks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kai Yamaguchi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Van Gaal moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yamaguchi, as that shot connected.
Van Gaal looks to throw the jab but Yamaguchi is out of range.
Yamaguchi cracks Van Gaal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Van Gaal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Yamaguchi throws a front kick aimed at Van Gaal's knee but Van Gaal avoids it well.
Yamaguchi misses with a body kick.
Yamaguchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yamaguchi. That's going to slow Van Gaal down.
Van Gaal stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Yamaguchi throws a shot from downtown. Van Gaal moves away and avoids it.
As Yamaguchi backs away, Van Gaal returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamaguchi throws a big shot that misses.
Van Gaal throws a low kick, looking for Yamaguchi's leg but Yamaguchi calmly moves out of range.
Van Gaal lands a right hook to the body.
Yamaguchi lands with an overhand left.
Yamaguchi lands a lovely overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamaguchi misses with a hook.
Van Gaal throws a sloppy body shot
and Yamaguchi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Van Gaal lands an overhand right.
A big left from Van Gaal misses.
Yamaguchi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Van Gaal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Gaal slips under a jab.
Yamaguchi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Yamaguchi throws a body punch but Van Gaal moves out of range.
Yamaguchi scores with a nice head shot.
Yamaguchi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Gaal steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Yamaguchi. That one must have hurt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yamaguchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi throws a body shot but no joy.
Yamaguchi checks a leg kick.
Good leg kick by Yamaguchi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cholo Van Gaal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamaguchi tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Gaal throws a sloppy head kick and Yamaguchi moves out of range easily.
Van Gaal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Gaal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi obviously looking to wear him down.
Van Gaal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Van Gaal moves out of range as Yamaguchi strikes.
Van Gaal takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Van Gaal swings for the body but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Yamaguchi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Van Gaal walks into a stiff left hand from Yamaguchi.
Yamaguchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Gaal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi obviously looking to wear him down.
Yamaguchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice body kick there by Yamaguchi.
Van Gaal takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yamaguchi lands a right hook to the body.
Yamaguchi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Van Gaal throws a body punch but Yamaguchi moves out of range.
Yamaguchi throws a good cross that connects.
Yamaguchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Yamaguchi misses with a low kick as Van Gaal jumps back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamaguchi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Gaal on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yamaguchi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yamaguchi throws a leg kick which misses Van Gaal's front leg but catches the back leg as Van Gaal tries to avoid it.
Van Gaal will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A jab from Van Gaal finds it's way through Yamaguchi's defenses.
Yamaguchi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yamaguchi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Van Gaal connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yamaguchi scrambles back to his feet.
Van Gaal is looking to score with low kicks.
Van Gaal swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yamaguchi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Van Gaal momentarily.
Yamaguchi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Van Gaal blocks the low kick.
Kai Yamaguchi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yamaguchi tries to score with a low kick but Van Gaal moves his leg out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kai Yamaguchi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yamaguchi 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kai Yamaguchi!
A relieved looking Kai Yamaguchi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Cholo Van Gaal stepped up to the mic, saying 'I ain't no terminator but... ILL BE BACK!'.