PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richard Nixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gota Yo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Pass Out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nixon
vs
Yo

225 cm
27
153 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

178 cm
24
150 lbs
5 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Nixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gota Yo!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nixon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nixon's guard.

Nixon is working an open guard so Yo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nixon tries to land a front kick but Yo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Yo shoots in and gets a takedown into Nixon's guard.
Nixon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nixon wants to sweep but no luck.
Nixon trying to control the position.

Yo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nixon lands a nice looking body shot.
Nixon shoots and misses

and Yo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Yo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Nixon tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Yo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nixon has a closed guard, preventing Yo from standing up.
Yo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Yo stands up and waves to Nixon to follow him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nixon tries a head kick but it misses.

Yo forces Nixon back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yo has picked Nixon up - he's going for a ride! Yo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Yo looks gassed!
Nixon trying to control but Yo postures up.

Yo postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Nixon to stand up.

Yo feints and as Nixon raises his hands in defense, Yo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nixon thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Nixon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nixon looking to control.
Nixon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yo manages to get himself to full guard.
Nixon passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yo is trying to stand back up but Nixon is controlling him
Yo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nixon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yo won't allow Nixon to pass to mount.
Yo is trying to stand.
Nixon wants to control but Yo is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yo tries to kick Nixon off but Nixon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Nixon is working for a kimura but Yo is defending it quite comfortably.
Nixon trying to control the action but Yo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gota Yo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch combination from Nixon misses.

Yo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Yo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nixon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Yo counters with a takedown into side control.

Yo has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Yo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nixon was covering up waiting for the punch and Yo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Yo is breathing heavily.
Nixon has a closed guard, preventing Yo from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yo won't allow Nixon to sweep him here.

Yo gets to his feet - Nixon follows without any prompting.
Richard Nixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nixon has his takedown stuffed

and Yo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Nixon is looking for a sweep. Yo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nixon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nixon trying to control but Yo postures up.

Yo decides to stand up.
Nixon throws a low kick but Yo avoids it.
Nixon takes a swing at Yo's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nixon tries to clinch

and Yo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yo.
Nixon is trying to break free.
Yo crunches a lovely knee into Nixon's ribcage.
Nixon looking to stall.
Nixon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nixon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nixon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yo pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Nixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nixon misses with a takedown attempt

and Yo counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nixon tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Yo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nixon to his feet.
Yo throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nixon tries to clinch

and Yo counters with a shoot takedown. Nixon fights it but they end up in guard.
Nixon is trying to keep Yo in close.
Yo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nixon looking for a sweep. Not yet Nixon, not yet.
Nixon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Yo gets to his feet - Nixon follows without any prompting.
Nixon tries to clinch

and Yo counters with a takedown into side control.

Yo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nixon to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Yo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nixon is trying to control the position but Yo postures up.

Yo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nixon lands a two punch combo.
Nixon misses with a takedown attempt

and Yo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yo.
Nixon throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gota Yo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nixon throws a left and a right that both miss

and Yo counters with a shoot takedown. Nixon fights it but they end up in guard.
Yo wants to stand but Nixon is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nixon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yo is one step ahead there.
Nixon wants to stand up but Yo is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yo stands up from Nixon's guard - Yo perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nixon with a lazy takedown attempt

and Yo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nixon's guard.
Yo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Nixon is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Yo stands and steps away. Nixon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Yo moves into range and clinches up with Nixon.
Yo tries for a takedown but Nixon manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Yo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nixon tries to throw a body punch but Yo avoids it by throwing Nixon back against the cage.
Yo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Nixon.
Nixon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yo trying to land knees to the body.

Nixon pulls guard successfully.
Nixon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yo is looking to stand up but Nixon won't let him.
Nixon is trying to keep Yo in close.

Nixon is working an open guard so Yo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nixon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Yo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nixon!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nixon is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yo avoids the attempt from Nixon to control.
Yo controlling his opponent.
Gota Yo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nixon tries to hold on but Yo postures up.
Nixon is looking to get to half guard.

Yo is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Yo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Yo rushes Nixon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Nixon avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Yo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gota Yo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nixon tries to break free but Yo pushes him back against the cage.
Nixon wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nixon.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Nixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nixon drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yo tightens his grip and picks Nixon up, before dumping him to the ground. Nixon manages to land in guard.
Richard Nixon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yo is looking to stand up but Nixon won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gota Yo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 26:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gota Yo!