Ryōta Murata vs. Steven Butler & Kenshiro Teraji vs. Randy Formentera Petalcorin RBR

Round 6

Yaegashi carrying his arms low now, hopefully just bravado and not ill portent regarding his gas tank... Yaegashi jumps at Mthalane with an upward-slashing pair of left & right uppercuts, flashing in gracefully like cuts of a samurai sword and halting Mthalane in place for a moment, giving Yaegashi time to reset on the outside. Yaegashi manages to stay off the Mthalane jab, taking most of Mthalane's straight combos on the gloves even as he stays just inside the strike zone of their effective range. Yaegashi leaps in with a gazelle left hook, mostly blocked.

10-9 Yaegashi

60-54 Yaegashi

 

Hell of a performance from a guy that has been written off as 'finished' countless times..

 

Stats halfway:

Mthalane 115 of 407, 28% - 7 body shots
Yaegashi 109 of 377, 29% - 53 body shots

 

Round 7

Yaegashi seems to have "hit the wall", as runners say. He still blocks and counters, but is almost on auto-pilot now as Mthalane grinds his way in and pecks with jabs, setting up hard rights to body and head. Yaegashi getting hit more than in the previous six rounds, even though he's throwing less himself and investing most of his energies in defense. Yaegashi definitely tired, or at least 'taking the round off'. Mthalane sweeps out left and right hooks at the sides, only partially deflected on the backs of Yaegashi's arms as he twists and covers himself.

10-9 Mthalane

69-64 Yaegashi

 

Round 8

Yaegashi starting to wilt as Mthalane starts to chisel him with rights on the face, staggering Yaegashi and then murdering the body with both hands while he stands there immobilized with his gloves lifted up on instinct to protect his chin. Mthalane has Yaegashi on rubbery legs! Yaegashi trades jabs with Mthalane but gets zapped and made to blink as Mthalane's lands cleaner and harder at mid-range. Yaegashi just spoiling for time, swatting out fat hooks on the backfoot until his back hits the ropes. Yaegashi pumping out jabs and combos as he gets a second wind, all caught on the gloves of Mthalane.

10-9 Mthalane, dominant

78-74 Yaegashi

 

Not sure he can make it. Christmas miracle if so.