Akira Yaegashi vs. Roman Gonzalez & Naoya Inoue vs. Samartlek RBR

Well, power is the last to go and Rachman still had that but overall he wasn't a very good fighter anymore in his forties (and Sithmorseng was only his 2nd W in a 2-6 skid) - and Sithmorseng was the definition of a paper titlist.

...but yeah, moderately decent I guess.

 

Round 3

Yaegashi is circling to his right, putting his raised arms together and catching Gonzalez's 1-2, and reaching in with double jabs and right hands. Furious assault from Gonzalez, breathlessly firing machine gun 1-2 combos at Yaegashi and cutting the ring off as Yaegashi starts varying his movement and throwing counter jabs and long overhand rights, mixing in some hooks on the body. Yaegashi stands in and trades with Gonzalez a bit, when a BIG LEFT HOOK PUTS HIM DOWN. Not quite saved by the bell as there are twenty seconds or so when he gets up, but little enough time for him to flurry and stall without much difficulty. BIG knockdown, though.

10-8 Gonzalez

29-27 Gonzalez

 

Round 4

Yaegashi is throwing wide hooks at the hips of Gonzalez and dropping in hail-storm left-right combos from above, swarming in and then darting out. Gonzalez just keeps it tight and technical, guard up, forward-leaning, using dips and weaves and firing the 1-2 or iterations thereof. Left uppercuts by Gonzalez, cracking Yaegashi on the right flank and getting him to break formation and lower his gloves slightly. Gonzalez is picking him apart, surgically. Yaegashi is game but fading, on the back-foot, visibly labored and shuddering in his breathing, eyes both swollen and puffy. Gonzalez keeps the slow burn on him with constant pressure, wasting nothing, landing hard accurate 1-2s and defending against Yaegashi's spirited but increasingly wild counters. Yaegashi is spamming big hooks but can't buy any respect.

10-9 Gonzalez

39-36 Gonzalez

 

Round 5

Yaegashi is carrying both hands low on the outside, casting a long fishing-line right hand and pulling out before he can be touched. Yaegashi has found a second wind and is letting uppercuts go on the inside after bulldozing in behind a high guard. Gonzalez is content to lean in with him, shoulders locked together, exchanging uppercuts and each man seeking out weak spots with punches from other angles, point blank high speed chess. Yaegashi is confusing Gonzalez a little with his manic constant mind-changing, switching every few moments between hellish infighting and floating out for ranged attacks. Body shots by Yaegashi. Gonzalez is bothered. Right hand on the temple from outside by Yaegashi. Gonzalez charges in to close distance and respond with a 1-2 but actually looks - sloppy? and disjointed - for once as Yaegashi blocks and they clinch at the bell. :blood

10-9 Yaegashi

48-46 Gonzalez