PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Yoder (ranked 3052 p4p, 3295 weight class) and Zdravko Zdravkov (ranked 399 p4p, 423 weight class). 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!

Yoder
vs
Zdravkov

185 cm
28
176
7 - 10 - 0

185 cm
27
184
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Yoder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zdravko Zdravkov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zdravkov shoots in for a takedown but Yoder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zdravkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Yoder sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zdravkov with a poor takedown
and Yoder counters with a series of strikes. Zdravkov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ryan Yoder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zdravko Zdravkov.
Zdravkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zdravkov with a poor takedown
and Yoder counters with a right hand to the body.
Yoder lands a nice hook to Zdravkov's body. Zdravkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yoder stuns Zdravkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice body punch from Yoder.
Yoder displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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!
Yoder scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zdravkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yoder counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zdravkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Zdravkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zdravkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zdravkov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zdravkov is looking to take a break and control but Yoder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Zdravkov prevents Yoder from improving his position.
Zdravkov wants to take a breather but Yoder is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zdravkov is keen to just control but Yoder is a slippery customer.
Zdravkov prevents Yoder from standing back up.
Zdravkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Zdravkov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Zdravkov slips a nice elbow through Yoder's hands, connecting with Yoder's forehead.
Zdravkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zdravkov lands strikes from half guard.
Yoder tries to kick Zdravkov off but Zdravkov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zdravkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yoder is trying to control but can't.
Yoder is trying to stand back up but Zdravkov is controlling him
Yoder on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Yoder is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zdravkov thows a huge punch but Yoder dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov lands strikes from half guard.
Oh Yoder is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zdravkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yoder seems to have got his legs back now.
Yoder pushes Zdravkov off looking to stand but Zdravkov dives back in and keeps control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Zdravkov lands a nice short elbow.
Zdravkov is taking a breather. Yoder says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zdravkov connects with a nice short shot to Yoder's temple.
Zdravkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yoder blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zdravkov.
Zdravkov stops Yoder from getting back to his feet.
Zdravkov working Yoder over with strikes.
Zdravkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yoder wants to get back to his feet.
Yoder is looking to improve his position.
Zdravkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yoder with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoder is trying is best to control the position here.

Zdravkov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zdravkov controlling the action here.
Ground and pound from Zdravkov.
Zdravkov tries to pass to full mount but Yoder defends it.
Zdravkov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zdravko Zdravkov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zdravkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Zdravkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yoder as he jumps to the side.
Yoder appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Yoder misses with a wild body shot.
No joy there for Yoder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zdravkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ryan Yoder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zdravko Zdravkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zdravkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yoder.
Zdravkov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Yoder counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zdravkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Yoder manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zdravkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zdravkov shoots and misses

and Yoder counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zdravkov is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Yoder blocks Zdravkov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Yoder controlling the position easily from mount.
Zdravkov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Zdravkov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Yoder tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zdravkov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Zdravko Zdravkov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zdravkov tries to lock up and control but Yoder gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Zdravkov is working to get back to half guard.
Zdravkov is squirming around, avoiding Yoder's attempts to control the action.
Zdravkov wants to hold on but Yoder pushes him away.
Yoder sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zdravkov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zdravkov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yoder trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zdravkov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Zdravkov is trying desperately to improve position.
Yoder sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zdravkov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yoder controlling the position easily from mount.
Zdravkov is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov is still trying to improve position.
Yoder is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zdravkov can do to turn this around?
Yoder trying to control but Zdravkov is having none of it.
Zdravkov is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Yoder prevents Zdravkov from getting the reversal.
Yoder wants to control the pace but Zdravkov is squirming around nicely.
Yoder controlling the position easily from mount.
Zdravkov is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Yoder dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Zdravkov shoots in for a takedown but Yoder shows good takedown defense.
Zdravkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yoder swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zdravkov.
Ryan Yoder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zdravko Zdravkov.
Nice sprawl there from Yoder as Zdravkov shoots in.
Nice body punch from Yoder.
Ryan Yoder is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yoder throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zdravkov.
Zdravkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yoder's waist but Yoder gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zdravkov off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zdravkov.
Zdravkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoder throws a series of punches but Zdravkov moves out of range.
Yoder is looking to wear down Zdravkov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zdravkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yoder is fending him off so far but Zdravkov persists. Nope, Yoder circles away and we're back to standing.
Yoder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yoder seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Yoder cracks Zdravkov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zdravkov shoots in for a takedown but Yoder shows good takedown defense.
Yoder is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Zdravkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yoder circles away.
Zdravkov dives in and grabs Yoder's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yoder pushes down on Zdravkov's head and hops out.
Zdravkov checks a low kick from Yoder.
Zdravko Zdravkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zdravkov shoots for a takedown but Yoder saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zdravkov goes for a double leg but Yoder avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yoder continues to drive forward.
Ryan Yoder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zdravkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yoder swivels and escapes.
Zdravkov shoots in and drives through. Yoder sprawls well.
It looked like Yoder was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zdravkov.
No joy there for Yoder, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yoder misses with a series of wild punches.
Zdravkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yoder feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Yoder.

It looks like Zdravko Zdravkov has been cut.
Yoder lands the left hand.
Yoder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zdravkov darts in looking for a takedown but Yoder gets double underhooks and turns Zdravkov into the cage.
Yoder fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yoder lands with a shot to the body.
Yoder keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zdravkov has his takedown stuffed
and Yoder counters with a three punch combo that has Zdravkov backing up. Zdravkov nods at Yoder to acknowledge the strikes.
Yoder cracks a nice hook into Zdravkov's ribs.
Zdravkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A quick step to the side and Yoder tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yoder stuffs the takedown attempt from Zdravkov. Zdravkov gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zdravkov fails with the takedown.
Zdravkov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Yoder showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yoder has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Yoder!
Ryan Yoder managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, NEVERMIND, into his post fight interview.