PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sambulo Yeboah (ranked 477 p4p, 206 weight class) and Gaia Ky Jr (ranked 28 p4p, 11 weight class). Yeboah comes to the cage accompanied by Lionel Richie - All Night Long. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Yeboah
vs
Ky Jr

172 cm
39
147
34 - 30 - 1

180 cm
38
145
18 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Urban Fighter

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 30 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sambulo Yeboah!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gaia Ky Jr!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yeboah.
Ky Jr missing with a left hand there. Yeboah was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Ky Jr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Yeboah preventing the sweep.
Ky Jr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yeboah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ky Jr is one step ahead there.
Yeboah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ky Jr in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yeboah looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yeboah seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Yeboah being controlled here, momentarily.
Ky Jr content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yeboah looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ky Jr is one step ahead there.
Yeboah is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ky Jr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Yeboah looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ky Jr advances to half guard.

Yeboah actively working from the bottom here.
Ky Jr looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yeboah with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ky Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Yeboah is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ky Jr works his foot free and advances to mount.
Yeboah is looking to improve his position but Ky Jr isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah is working hard here to advance position.
Ky Jr dominating with strikes here.
Yeboah can't escape the position.
Ky Jr unloading with bombs!
Ky Jr is in the full mount, landing strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ky Jr jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Yeboah manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ky Jr tries to advance to mount but Yeboah denies him.
Ky Jr working the body and head with strikes.
Ky Jr trying to control the position but Yeboah is working away.
Yeboah is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ky Jr looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yeboah is trying to escape the mount.
Ky Jr is stalling here but it's allowed Yeboah to get half guard.
Ky Jr working Yeboah over with strikes.

Ky Jr is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ky Jr is trying to control. Yeboah wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ky Jr with a nice head shot there.
Ky Jr chips away with some ground and pound.
Ky Jr lands a couple of elbows.
Yeboah is trying to keep Ky Jr in close.
Ky Jr pushing down on Yeboah's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ky Jr is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Yeboah looking for submissions off his back.
Ky Jr is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yeboah on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Yeboah is looking for a sweep. Ky Jr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ky Jr lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaia Ky Jr dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ky Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sambulo Yeboah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yeboah scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Yeboah is looking to take a break and control but Ky Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ky Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
Yeboah trying to control the action but Ky Jr is working from the bottom.

Yeboah tries for a kimura but Ky Jr is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yeboah wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ky Jr, who protects the arm well.
Ky Jr is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr is trying to escape the position but Yeboah is controlling the position.
Ky Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yeboah tries to move to mount but Ky Jr blocks the move with his legs.
Ky Jr tries to buck Yeboah off but Yeboah is having none of it.
Ky Jr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ky Jr manages to get back to half guard.
Yeboah is trying to control. Ky Jr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Yeboah wants to work for an arm triangle but Ky Jr is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ky Jr is trying to control but can't.
Ky Jr moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr keeping moving, preventing Yeboah from controlling successfully.
Yeboah sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ky Jr trying to control the position.
Yeboah is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Yeboah stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ky Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yeboah won't allow Ky Jr to sweep him here.
Yeboah wants to control from the top but Ky Jr keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ky Jr is looking to clinch.
Yeboah feinted with a counter takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yeboah.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr tries to clinch but Yeboah moves out of range.
Yeboah fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ky Jr avoids it really well and circles away.

Ky Jr shoots in and gets a takedown into Yeboah's guard.
Ky Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yeboah swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yeboah tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Yeboah is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ky Jr is aware though and is defending well.
Ky Jr lands a couple of digs.
Ky Jr is in close to Yeboah's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yeboah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yeboah not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ky Jr scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr landing some decent shots from guard.
Yeboah looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ky Jr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Yeboah tries to buck Ky Jr off but Ky Jr is having none of it.
Yeboah takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Yeboah tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ky Jr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ky Jr just content to control the position.
Ky Jr trying to control the action but Yeboah is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yeboah is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaia Ky Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Yeboah has a takedown stuffed.
And Ky Jr tries to counter it with a takedown but Yeboah pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Ky Jr decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ky Jr trying to mount his opponent but Yeboah defends it.
Ground and pound from Ky Jr.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ky Jr lands a nice short elbow.
Gaia Ky Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ky Jr is looking to advance position but Yeboah won't allow it.
Yeboah regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yeboah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ky Jr defends it easily.
Ky Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yeboah is pulling down on Ky Jr's head to control his posture.
Ky Jr trying to control but Yeboah is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr content to stall in guard here.
Yeboah looking to control.
Ky Jr trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Yeboah manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Ky Jr had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yeboah defends it easily.

Ky Jr working for a triangle but Yeboah defends it easily.
Ky Jr keeping moving, preventing Yeboah from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yeboah not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yeboah keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Ky Jr is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ky Jr preventing the sweep.
Ky Jr keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yeboah's head.
Ky Jr passes into half guard.

Ky Jr is looking for a kimura but Yeboah is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ky Jr to get the leverage.
Yeboah manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr wants to control from the top but Yeboah keeps moving.

Yeboah is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ky Jr looking to pass the guard.
Ky Jr trying to control but Yeboah is working from the bottom.
Ky Jr is working Yeboah over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yeboah keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Ky Jr makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yeboah keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Yeboah is trying to control the position but Ky Jr postures up.
Ky Jr throws a big elbow that misses.
Ky Jr being controlled here momentarily.
Ky Jr advances position into side control!
Ky Jr lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yeboah down.
Ky Jr in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ky Jr looks up at the clock and then as Yeboah takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ky Jr smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Ky Jr tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ky Jr has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Yeboah manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaia Ky Jr really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yeboah decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Yeboah wants to pass to mount but Ky Jr is defending the position.
Ky Jr wants to improve his position but Yeboah is controlling well.

Ky Jr looking for submissions off his back.

Ky Jr actively working from the bottom here.
Ky Jr wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ky Jr wants to control but Yeboah is keeping busy.
Yeboah seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ky Jr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ky Jr wants to control but Yeboah is keeping busy.

Ky Jr actively working from the bottom here.

Yeboah is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Yeboah trying to mount his opponent but Ky Jr defends it.
Yeboah is looking to take a break and control but Ky Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ky Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yeboah is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Yeboah is working for a kimura but Ky Jr is defending it quite comfortably.

Yeboah is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ky Jr defends it well.
Ky Jr tries to get to full guard but Yeboah has control of the leg.
Yeboah stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Yeboah shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ky Jr is on top in guard.

Ky Jr is in close to Yeboah's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ky Jr engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Yeboah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yeboah keeping moving, preventing Ky Jr from controlling successfully.
Yeboah can't keep his opponent in guard - Ky Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Yeboah slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yeboah looking for a sweep. Not yet Yeboah, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah controls Ky Jr momentarily but Ky Jr frees himself.
Yeboah wants to sweep but no luck.
Ky Jr not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yeboah working a defensive guard here.
Ky Jr is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ky Jr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ky Jr lands a couple of digs.
Ky Jr lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Yeboah wants to sweep here but Ky Jr controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sambulo Yeboah had his way with Gaia Ky Jr in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ky Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yeboah defends well and Ky Jr ends up having to push Yeboah into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Yeboah throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ky Jr was covering up waiting for the punch and Yeboah finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ky Jr looking to control.
Yeboah wants to control from the top but Ky Jr keeps moving.
Yeboah won't allow Ky Jr to sweep him here.

Ky Jr is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yeboah trying to control but Ky Jr is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ky Jr wants to hit a sweep here but Yeboah passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ky Jr there!
Yeboah trying to control but Ky Jr is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yeboah content just to control the position here.
Yeboah looking to control but Ky Jr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ky Jr can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ky Jr sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Yeboah seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ky Jr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Yeboah is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ky Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yeboah pulls his head out easily.
Ky Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Ky Jr trying to get back to full guard but Yeboah takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ky Jr stops Yeboah from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Ky Jr is working to get back to half guard.
Yeboah tries to control but Ky Jr wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ky Jr looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Yeboah tries to keep control of the position but Ky Jr is staying busy.
Ky Jr tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Yeboah fails to move to back control.
Sambulo Yeboah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yeboah moves to the back.
Ky Jr rolls, trying to escape but Yeboah keeps control of the position.
Ky Jr breaks Yeboah's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ky Jr wants to pass the guard but Yeboah is keeping the position.
Ky Jr wants to control from the top but Yeboah keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yeboah wants to sweep but no luck.
Ky Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Yeboah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yeboah has his hands on Ky Jr's head, controlling the position.
Ky Jr stopping the sweep attempt from Yeboah.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yeboah is on top in guard.

Yeboah wants to control from the top but Ky Jr keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ky Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yeboah throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sambulo Yeboah showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ky Jr 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 47:48
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 47:48
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gaia Ky Jr!
Gaia Ky Jr is the new bantamweight champion!
After the fight, Gaia Ky Jr was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.