PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zagan Yehudiah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grappler Striking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Yehudiah
vs
Striking

181 cm
21
165 lbs
7 - 0 - 1

174 cm
23
167 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Legal High's - 158+ Recovery And 159+ Stamina $40

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zagan Yehudiah!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Grappler Striking!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yehudiah tries to clinch but Striking moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Striking is defended easily by Yehudiah.
Striking fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Yehudiah clinches.
Striking jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yehudiah walks away with a smile on his face. Striking gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zagan Yehudiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grappler Striking.
A big left from Striking misses.
Striking misses with a wild body shot.
Yehudiah throws a low kick, looking for Striking's leg but Striking calmly moves out of range.
Striking takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Striking checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yehudiah pivots, looking for a leg kick but Striking is out of range and Yehudiah settles back down.
Yehudiah wants to clinch up but Striking keeps it at a distance.
Striking scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striking shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yehudiah defends it nicely.
Yehudiah goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Striking.
Striking lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Yehudiah tries to clinch up but Striking circles away and keeps his distance.
Striking fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yehudiah manages to avoid it.
Yehudiah thows a body kick. Striking tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Striking shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yehudiah napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Yehudiah is looking for a sweep.
Striking wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yehudiah keeps working.
Striking is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Yehudiah's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Striking wants to control for a moment but Yehudiah uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Striking wants to free his trapped foot but Yehudiah is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Striking stops Yehudiah from getting back to his feet.
Striking is thwarting Yehudiah's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Striking misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah doesn't manage to clinch there - Striking circles away.
Yehudiah throws a nice head kick!
Yehudiah stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yehudiah wants it to stay on the feet.
Yehudiah chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Striking fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yehudiah manages to avoid it.
Striking blocks a head kick by Yehudiah.
Striking throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yehudiah avoids the body shot from Striking.
Yehudiah feints and then cracks Striking's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Striking down.
Striking is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Yehudiah rather than just go for the knockout.
Striking looks to score with a jab to the body but Yehudiah is just out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striking throws a body kick the misses
and Yehudiah counters with a good low kick that Striking was not able to check.
Striking fails to land the takedown.
Yehudiah takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Striking misses with a body shot.
Striking sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Yehudiah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Striking loads up on a big right hand but Yehudiah slips the punch.
Yehudiah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Striking swings away with a body shot that misses
and Yehudiah counters with a body kick.
Striking looks gassed!
Yehudiah throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Striking takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yehudiah gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Striking counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zagan Yehudiah dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yehudiah feints and then cracks Striking's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Striking down.
Yehudiah pivots, looking for a leg kick but Striking is out of range and Yehudiah settles back down.
Striking scores with a jab to the body.
Yehudiah is looking to score with low kicks.
Yehudiah moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yehudiah tries to land a leg kick but Striking saw it coming and moves away.
Yehudiah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Striking swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Grappler Striking seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah is looking to land body kicks.
Yehudiah displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Striking.
Yehudiah looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Striking throws a hook but Yehudiah blocks it.
Striking on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yehudiah. Yehudiah obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striking throws a body punch but Yehudiah moves out of range.
Yehudiah goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Grappler Striking has been cut.
Striking swings for the body but Yehudiah moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Yehudiah.
Striking on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Yehudiah pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Striking throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Striking swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Striking swats away the attempt to clinch by Yehudiah.
Yehudiah misses with a head kick.
Yehudiah misses with a body kick.
Yehudiah scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Zagan Yehudiah is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striking ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yehudiah thuds his shin into the meat of Striking's side.
Striking is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Striking.
Striking has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah misses with an attempted mid kick.
Yehudiah wants to clinch.
Yehudiah throws a leg kick but Striking checks it.
Striking misses with a wild body shot.

Striking scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yehudiah is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yehudiah can't do much from the bottom here.
Yehudiah manages to get back to half guard.
Yehudiah wants to get back to full guard.
Striking is trying to control the action in half guard but Yehudiah is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yehudiah wants to get back to full guard.
Striking passes into side control, despite Yehudiah's attempt to control the position.
Striking wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yehudiah keeps working.

That's four 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.
Yehudiah manages to get back to half guard.
Yehudiah trying to control but Striking postures up.
Striking is just content to waste time from the top position. Yehudiah takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Yehudiah wants to get back to his feet but Striking is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Yehudiah has control of Striking's left arm, preventing Striking from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zagan Yehudiah dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Grappler Striking's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yehudiah cracks the inside of Striking's front leg.
Striking fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yehudiah avoids it really well and circles away.
Yehudiah scores with a nice body kick.
Yehudiah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Striking misses with a hook. Yehudiah ducked under it nicely.
The crowd cheers as Striking lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yehudiah doesn't seem phased though.
An inside leg kick from Yehudiah misses.
Yehudiah throws the kick towards the body but Striking avoids it.
Yehudiah slips a jab from Striking.
Yehudiah tries to land a leg kick but Striking saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striking pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yehudiah is out of range and Striking settles back down.
Yehudiah tries a head kick but it misses.
Striking with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yehudiah misses with a leg kick

and Striking counters with a shoot takedown. Yehudiah fights it but they end up in guard.
Striking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yehudiah is keeping the position for now.
Yehudiah is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Striking looking to pass the guard.
Yehudiah keeping moving, preventing Striking from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striking missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Striking trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Striking is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yehudiah holds on and takes a little breather.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yehudiah throws a leg kick but Striking sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yehudiah slips a straight right by Striking.
Yehudiah throws a leg kick
and Striking connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yehudiah feints and then cracks Striking's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Striking down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Striking.
Striking takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Striking takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Striking throws a body punch but Yehudiah moves out of range.
Striking dives in and grabs Yehudiah's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yehudiah pushes down on Striking's head and hops out.
Zagan Yehudiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grappler Striking.
Yehudiah throws a head kick but Striking moves out of range.
Striking scores with a nice strike.
Striking throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yehudiah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Striking.
Striking swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yehudiah throws a solid leg kick but Striking takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yehudiah.
Striking takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zagan Yehudiah is winning the standup battle so far.
Yehudiah throws a leg kick but Striking sees it coming and moves out of range.
Yehudiah throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striking misses with a body shot.
Striking fails with a takedown attempt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yehudiah.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yehudiah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yehudiah throws a leg kick
and Striking counters with a stiff right hand.
Striking fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yehudiah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Striking looks to throw the jab but Yehudiah is out of range.
Striking misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zagan Yehudiah clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Grappler Striking's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yehudiah throws a head kick that misses

and Striking counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Striking passes to full mount!
Yehudiah is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Striking throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Yehudiah is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Striking is working for a guillotine from mount but Yehudiah frees his head quite easily.
Striking is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Yehudiah can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yehudiah 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.

Striking 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.
Yehudiah trying to control here.

That's two 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.
Yehudiah is looking to escape.
Striking tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yehudiah knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yehudiah is staying active underneath Striking, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Striking is pressing down on Yehudiah's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yehudiah is holding on for now.
Striking throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yehudiah tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Striking's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Yehudiah moves away from the strike by Striking.
Striking checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A low kick from Yehudiah is predictable there
and Striking counters with a thumping low kick.
Striking misses with a hook.
Striking misses with a straight left.
Striking throws a sloppy body shot
and Yehudiah counters with a head kick. That will keep Striking thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Yehudiah doesn't manage to clinch there - Striking circles away.
Striking misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Striking throws a predictable looking body shot
and Yehudiah finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Yehudiah closes the distance and clinches.
Yehudiah creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Striking's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yehudiah is looking to break free of the clinch but Striking has double underhooks.
Striking blocks the elbow strike.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow strike.
Striking fails to pull guard.

Striking jumps into guard, dragging Yehudiah to the mat.
Yehudiah trying to control but Striking is working from the bottom.
Striking is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Yehudiah tries to free his leg and advance position but Striking is retaining full guard.
Striking being controlled here, momentarily.

Striking looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yehudiah passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Zagan Yehudiah will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Grappler Striking's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yehudiah explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Yehudiah throws a lazy head kick
and Striking counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A swing and a miss from Striking.
Yehudiah throws a sloppy head kick
and Striking counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Striking checks a low kick from Yehudiah.
Striking tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Striking shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yehudiah lands a nice looking body kick.
A head kick by Yehudiah misses
and Striking counters with a straight right hand.
Striking avoids a kick to the body.
Striking is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Striking.
Yehudiah darts in trying to clinch

and Striking counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Yehudiah looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Striking lands a nice short elbow.
Striking is trying to control. Yehudiah wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Yehudiah makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Striking throws a body punch but Yehudiah moves out of range.
Zagan Yehudiah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yehudiah slips under a jab from Striking.
Striking shoots in for a takedown but Yehudiah shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Yehudiah. No joy for Striking on that attempt.
Zagan Yehudiah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grappler Striking.
Yehudiah throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Striking avoids a kick to the body.

Striking shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yehudiah's guard.
Striking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yehudiah is keeping the position for now.
Yehudiah wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yehudiah wants to sweep here but Striking controlling him for the moment.
Yehudiah avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Striking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yehudiah is keeping the position for now.
Striking won't allow Yehudiah to sweep him here.
Yehudiah has control of Striking's left arm, preventing Striking from doing any damage.
Striking postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Striking landing with the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yehudiah is on top in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Striking is on top in guard.
Yehudiah wants to sweep but no luck.
Striking wants to control from the top but Yehudiah keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Grappler Striking.
I think Yehudiah 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 49:46
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 48:47
Judge George Francis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zagan Yehudiah!
Zagan Yehudiah retains his lightweight title!