PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kev Yama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyson Bender has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bender
vs
Yama

180 cm
19
174 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
28
175 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyson Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kev Yama!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Bender. Those never looked like landing.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch but Yama swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bender tries to clinch but Yama moves away

and Yama counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bender's guard now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Yama drops back looking for a leg! Bender is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bender manages to kick Yama off! Yama jumps back into Bender's guard.
Yama looking to pass the guard.

Yama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Yama drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yama jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Yama is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bender is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bender has escaped and now he's on top!
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!
Yama bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bender's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yama passes Bender's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yama is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bender has managed to free his arm - good work.

Yama wants to work for an arm triangle but Bender is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Yama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bender is just riding it out for now. Yama eventually gives up the hold.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yama 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.

Yama seems to be looking for submissions.
Yama looks gassed!

Yama seems to be looking for submissions.

Yama is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bender is just riding it out for now. Yama eventually gives up the hold.
Bender is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yama is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Yama is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bender sees it coming and defends easily.
Bender trying to control but Yama postures up.

Yama is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Yama is working for a kimura here but Bender manages to reverse the position and he's now in Yama's guard.
Bender throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender wants to control from the top but Yama keeps moving.
Bender has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bender fails with an attempt to clinch.

Yama shoots in and bounces Bender off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yama gets back to full guard.
Bender wants to control from the top but Yama keeps moving.
Yama keeping full guard, as Bender tries to pass.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Yama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bender is looking to stand up but Yama won't let him.

Yama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yama wants to stand and escape but Bender is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tyson Bender.
Bender shoots in for a double leg but Yama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bender.
Bender feints and then cracks Yama's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yama down.
Yama is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bender lands a big head kick that sends Yama tumbling to the mat! Bender takes a step backwards and waves Yama back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bender misses with a lunging right hand

and Yama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yama.

Yama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bender dives on top into guard.
Yama looking for a sweep. Not yet Yama, not yet.
Bender tries to free his leg and advance position but Yama is retaining full guard.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Yama 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Yama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tyson Bender wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bender throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yama.
Bender misses with a wild body shot.
Tyson Bender is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bender shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yama defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bender tries to clinch but Yama moves away

and Yama counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tyson Bender will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Yama slaps away a takedown attempt from Bender, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yama tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bender swivels and escapes.
Bender looks to land a right hand but Yama moved out of range.
Tyson Bender seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender closes the distance looking to clinch

and Yama counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Yama.
Bender controls Yama momentarily but Yama frees himself.
Yama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kev Yama has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bender swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bender striking off his back but it's not causing Yama any problems.

Yama drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bender manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Yama has Bender in his guard.
Bender tries to free his leg and advance position but Yama is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tyson Bender.
Bender tries to clinch

and Yama counters with a shoot takedown. Bender fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bender is trying to control the position but Yama postures up.

Yama is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Yama has gone for a leg lock! Bender slips out almost immediately though and dives into Yama's guard.
Bender trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yama's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bender trying to control but Yama is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bender accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bender trying to control but Yama is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tyson Bender.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bender.
Bender with a poor takedown

so Yama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yama thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Yama drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bender looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bender looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bender!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bender working the ground and pound but Yama is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kev Yama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yama 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kev Yama!