PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Yap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kallo Rattallan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Yap has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Yap
vs
Rattallan

190 cm
22
213 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
212 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Yap!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kallo Rattallan!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yap misses with a body shot.
Rattallan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yap counters with a series of strikes. Rattallan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Yap catches Rattallan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Rattallan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yap napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Yap dodges the ground and pound from Rattallan.
Rattallan working the ground and pound but Yap is defending the strikes.
Yap struggling a bit here.
Rattallan trying to control the action but Yap is working from the bottom.
Yap managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rattallan.
Rattallan working the ground and pound but Yap is defending the strikes.
Rattallan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Yap is looking for a sweep.
Rattallan prevents Yap from escaping the position.
Yap tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rattallan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yap is working hard here to advance position.
Rattallan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rattallan trying to control the action but Yap is working from the bottom.
Rattallan with the ground and pound but Yap regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Yap wants to get back to his feet.
Rattallan is thwarting Yap's attempts to control the position.
Rattallan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yap defending well though.
Rattallan thows a huge punch but Yap dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rattallan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rattallan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rattallan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yap keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rattallan thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Yap to regain full guard.
Rattallan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rattallan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yap works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yap keeping moving, preventing Rattallan from controlling successfully.
Rattallan is looking to work some ground and pound but Yap has wrist control.
Yap is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yap wants to stand and escape but Rattallan is having none of it.
Rattallan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yap looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rattallan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rattallan with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rattallan is looking to work some ground and pound but Yap has wrist control.
Rattallan trying to control the position from guard on top but Yap is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rattallan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yap's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yap keeping moving, preventing Rattallan from controlling successfully.
Yap wants to sweep but no luck.
Rattallan throws a strike but Yap rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rattallan pulls Yap in close to prevent any damage.
Rattallan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan working a defensive guard here.
Rattallan has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Yap has passed into side control.
Rattallan tries to improve position but can't.
Rattallan struggling a bit here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rattallan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rattallan is looking for a sweep.
Yap is looking to take a break and control but Rattallan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Rattallan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yap rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rattallan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rattallan drives through with a takedown into Yap's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rattallan stays in close to Yap's body and controls the position.
Yap is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yap controlling Rattallan's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rattallan throwing strikes but missing.
Yap controls Rattallan momentarily but Rattallan frees himself.

James Yap has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rattallan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rattallan wants to control from the top but Yap keeps moving.
Rattallan throws and elbow that misses. Yap uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rattallan's guard. Nice move by Yap!
Yap trying to control the position from guard on top but Rattallan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rattallan trying to control the position here.
Rattallan wants to control the position but Yap says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rattallan is refusing to be controlled, as Yap sits in half guard.
Rattallan trying to control but Yap postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rattallan tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rattallan wants to get back to full guard.
Rattallan trying to control here.
Rattallan tries to roll over but Yap keeps him under control.
Rattallan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rattallan wants to sweep but Yap has passed to side control!
Rattallan is trying to control Yap's posture but Yap avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan is letting Yap control him for a moment.

Yap decides to stand back up. Yap steps back and let's Rattallan get back to his feet.
Yap misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rattallan.
Rattallan misses the shot to the body.
Rattallan shoots and misses
and Yap counters with a one-two to the body.
Yap throws a series of punches but Rattallan avoids them all with ease.
Yap throws a body punch but Rattallan moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Rattallan or perhaps it was just good defense by Yap which made him look bad.
Yap misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yap swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Rattallan to counter with a crisp jab.
Rattallan is looking to clinch.
Rattallan tries to clinch there but Yap circles away.
Rattallan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yap swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rattallan takes a swing at Yap's ribcage but misses.
Yap lands with a good body shot.
Rattallan throws a series of punches but Yap avoids them all with ease.
Yap stuns Rattallan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
James Yap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yap stuffs the takedown attempt from Rattallan. Rattallan gets slowly back to his feet.
James Yap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kallo Rattallan.

Rattallan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Yap dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rattallan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No joy there for Rattallan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Yap circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yap throws a right hand that Rattallan ducks under and follows up with a left that Rattallan also avoids with ease.
Rattallan closes the distance and clinches up with Yap, looking for a takedown. Rattallan pushes Yap against the cage but Yap circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rattallan doesn't manage to clinch there - Yap circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Yap. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rattallan misses with a takedown attempt - Yap sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
James Yap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kallo Rattallan.
Yap throws a combination that misses
and Rattallan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Yap is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rattallan.
Yap throws a combination that misses

and Rattallan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rattallan scores with a hook to the body.
Good body shot from Rattallan.
Rattallan goes for a takedown attempt but Yap pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yap is looking to wear down Rattallan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Yap throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rattallan.
Rattallan tries to clinch up but Yap circles away and keeps his distance.

Yap gets caught flat footed, as Rattallan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rattallan thows a big elbow that misses.
Yap preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yap looking to control.
Rattallan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yap pulls Rattallan in close to prevent any damage.
Rattallan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yap looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rattallan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yap is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rattallan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yap works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rattallan landing some decent shots from guard.
Rattallan thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rattallan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rattallan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yap wants to stand but Rattallan is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rattallan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rattallan thows a big elbow that misses.
Rattallan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yap is trying to keep Rattallan in close.
Rattallan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rattallan trying to control the position from guard on top but Yap is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rattallan scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rattallan is in close to Yap's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rattallan postures up in Yap's guard and throws a big left but Yap blocks it.
Rattallan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kallo Rattallan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rattallan wants to control from the top but Yap keeps moving.
Rattallan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rattallan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rattallan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yap working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rattallan.
Yap keeping moving, preventing Rattallan from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rattallan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kallo Rattallan really dominated that round.
That's time! Yap's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A jab from Yap misses.
Yap takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yap swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yap stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yap wants it to stay on the feet.
Rattallan with a poor takedown
and Yap cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rattallan slips a jab and a cross from Yap.
Yap ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rattallan moves away.
A punch combination from Yap misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rattallan wants to clinch up but Yap keeps it at a distance.
Yap circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yap looks to score with a jab to the body but Rattallan is just out of range.
Rattallan tries to clinch up but Yap circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yap connects with a single shot there.
Rattallan dodges the punch combination from Yap.
Yap misses with a wild body shot.
Yap swings widly with a right hand

and Rattallan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rattallan.
Yap wants to sweep but no luck.
Rattallan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rattallan content to stall in guard here.
Yap 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.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rattallan throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rattallan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rattallan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rattallan postures up in Yap's guard and throws a big left but Yap blocks it.
Rattallan throwing strikes from guard but Yap blocks nicely.
Yap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rattallan wants to control from the top but Yap keeps moving.
Rattallan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rattallan lands a couple of digs.
Yap preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rattallan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yap swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rattallan landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan looking to pass the guard.
Rattallan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yap works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rattallan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rattallan pushes down on Yap's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rattallan tries to pass to full mount but Yap defends it.
Rattallan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yap is staying active underneath Rattallan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rattallan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rattallan looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rattallan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yap is refusing to be controlled, as Rattallan sits in half guard.

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.
Yap is trying to maintain the position but Rattallan is very close to passing his half guard.
Yap slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rattallan throws a big right hand that misses.
Rattallan cracks Yap with a solid left hand.
Rattallan trying to control but Yap is working from the bottom.
Rattallan distracts Yap with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rattallan throwing strikes from guard but Yap blocks nicely.
Rattallan preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kallo Rattallan dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yap throws a nice looking combination but Rattallan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Yap misses with a double jab.

Rattallan clinches with his opponent.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rattallan as Yap tries to tie him up.
Rattallan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yap prevents it.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rattallan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Yap can't fight it off and eventually Rattallan manages to take the fight to the floor. Yap looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rattallan throwing strikes but missing.
Rattallan trying to control but Yap is working from the bottom.
Yap is trying to keep Rattallan in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rattallan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rattallan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yap is keeping the position for now.
Yap is adopting a defensive guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rattallan won't allow Yap to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rattallan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rattallan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rattallan lands a couple of elbows.
Yap utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yap is on top in guard.
Rattallan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rattallan is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rattallan pulls Yap in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rattallan working a defensive guard here.
Rattallan has a closed guard, preventing Yap from standing up.
Yap trying to control the position from guard on top but Rattallan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because James Yap just wasn't active enough.
A cross from Yap lands.
No luck for Rattallan with that takedown attempt.
Rattallan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yap is fending him off so far but Rattallan persists. Nope, Yap circles away and we're back to standing.
James Yap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kallo Rattallan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rattallan misses with a kick to the body.
Yap throws a right and a left that Rattallan avoids nicely.
Rattallan shoots in and drives through. Yap sprawls well.
Yap throws a body punch but Rattallan moves out of range.
Rattallan misses with a takedown attempt - Yap sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yap looks to land a right hand but Rattallan moved out of range.
Kallo Rattallan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rattallan fails with the takedown
and Yap counters with a straight right hand.
James Yap has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rattallan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kallo Rattallan.
I think Rattallan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 47:49
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kallo Rattallan!
Kallo Rattallan is the new light heavyweight champion!