PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Milad Yakubi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonas Valanciunas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakubi comes to the cage accompanied by Panjabi MC Feat. Jay Z - Beware. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Yakubi
vs
Valanciunas

177 cm
22
221 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
215 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Insanely flexible

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Knockout power

Ducksfoot Clothing - SALE!! All Items $10

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Milad Yakubi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonas Valanciunas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yakubi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valanciunas swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Yakubi has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yakubi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Valanciunas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Yakubi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valanciunas looks for the body kick but Yakubi saw that one coming.
Valanciunas throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Valanciunas. Yakubi shrugs it off though.
Valanciunas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Yakubi moves in looking to clinch but Valanciunas pushes him off.
Valanciunas tries to clinch there but Yakubi circles away.
Yakubi misses with a low kick.
Valanciunas pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Valanciunas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakubi doesn't manage to clinch there - Valanciunas circles away.
Yakubi defending well as Valanciunas loads up on a big left hand.
Valanciunas misses with a two punch combination.
Yakubi tries to clinch up.
Valanciunas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yakubi manages to avoid it.
Valanciunas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yakubi.
Valanciunas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valanciunas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Valanciunas counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Valanciunas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas throws a nice looking combination but Yakubi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valanciunas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yakubi wants to clinch but Valanciunas slips to the side
and Valanciunas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Valanciunas thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakubi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yakubi moves in looking to clinch but Valanciunas pushes him off.

Yakubi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yakubi lands with a light punch inside.
Valanciunas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valanciunas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yakubi's efforts to push away.
Yakubi struggles to land a body shot inside as Valanciunas controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakubi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yakubi effectively controlling the action here.
Valanciunas swings wildly with an uppercut but Yakubi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yakubi tries to throw a body punch but Valanciunas avoids it by throwing Yakubi back against the cage.
Valanciunas lands a right hand.
Valanciunas lands a hook that snaps the head of Yakubi backwards.

Yakubi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A left lands for Valanciunas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valanciunas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yakubi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yakubi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valanciunas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yakubi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Valanciunas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Yakubi. Those never looked like landing.
Valanciunas misses with a straight right.
Valanciunas throws a shot from downtown. Yakubi moves away and avoids it.
A low kick from Yakubi misses
and Valanciunas counters with a nice kick to the body.
Yakubi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valanciunas lands a nice looking body kick.
Yakubi moves in looking to clinch but Valanciunas pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valanciunas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Valanciunas tries to clinch up but Yakubi circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakubi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valanciunas throws a right hand that Yakubi ducks under and follows up with a left that Yakubi also avoids with ease.
Valanciunas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yakubi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Valanciunas.
Yakubi tries to clinch
and Valanciunas counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yakubi's knee momentarily.

Yakubi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Valanciunas, pushing him back against the cage.
Valanciunas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Valanciunas misses with a punch to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Yakubi.
Valanciunas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yakubi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yakubi wants to break free but Valanciunas has control.
Yakubi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Yakubi lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Yakubi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakubi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valanciunas.
Yakubi moves in looking to clinch but Valanciunas pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valanciunas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Valanciunas doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakubi circles away.
Valanciunas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Valanciunas tries to clinch up.
Yakubi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yakubi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Valanciunas.
Yakubi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yakubi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valanciunas swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas misses with a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakubi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valanciunas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yakubi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A clash of legs there as Valanciunas blocks the low kick.
Valanciunas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Yakubi has time to react.
Valanciunas keeps the fight on the outside.
Yakubi is looking to clinch.
Valanciunas misses with a hook
and Yakubi counters with a nice body shot.
Jonas Valanciunas seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas tried to score with a low kick but Yakubi checks it.
Jonas Valanciunas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valanciunas throws the kick towards the body but Yakubi avoids it.
Yakubi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valanciunas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yakubi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valanciunas keeps the fight on the outside.
Valanciunas pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yakubi is out of range and Valanciunas settles back down.
Yakubi tries to clinch up but Valanciunas circles away and keeps his distance.
Yakubi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valanciunas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Valanciunas throws a leg kick but Yakubi moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Valanciunas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Yakubi.
Yakubi can't break the clinch.
Yakubi wants to break free but Valanciunas has control.
Yakubi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yakubi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yakubi wants to break free but Valanciunas has control.
Valanciunas tries a body shot but Yakubi blocks it.
A short right from Yakubi on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Valanciunas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Yakubi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakubi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Yakubi forces Valanciunas back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valanciunas throws a sloppy head kick
and Yakubi counters with a nice body shot.
Valanciunas lands a head shot.
Valanciunas throws a leg kick but Yakubi checks it.
Yakubi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Valanciunas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Yakubi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yakubi.
Good body shot from Yakubi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakubi throws an elbow that misses.
Valanciunas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yakubi scores with a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Yakubi.

Yakubi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Valanciunas gets tackled into the cage by Yakubi. Yakubi maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yakubi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yakubi throws a body punch but Valanciunas moves out of range.
Yakubi is looking to clinch but Valanciunas is avoiding it.
Yakubi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valanciunas.
Yakubi tries to bum rush Valanciunas with a series of wild strikes but Valanciunas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yakubi tries to clinch up.
Valanciunas throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Yakubi counters by clinching up.
Milad Yakubi has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Yakubi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yakubi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Valanciunas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakubi wants to clinch up but Valanciunas keeps it at a distance.
Yakubi tries to clinch up.
Valanciunas jabs Yakubi right on the nose. Yakubi blinks but takes it well.
Valanciunas tries a head kick but it misses.
Yakubi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Yakubi closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Yakubi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valanciunas can't find room to land a body shot as Yakubi controls the action.
Valanciunas can't find room to land a body shot as Yakubi controls the action.
Valanciunas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yakubi prevents a body shot from Valanciunas.
Yakubi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Valanciunas misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas has Yakubi pressed against the cage, preventing Yakubi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yakubi looking to slow down the pace here.
Yakubi lands a right hand.
Valanciunas tries a body shot but Yakubi blocks it.
Yakubi has Valanciunas pushed against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yakubi.
Valanciunas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Valanciunas works on Yakubi's body with a couple of short punches.
Valanciunas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Valanciunas struggles to land a body shot inside as Yakubi controls his hands.
Yakubi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yakubi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakubi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valanciunas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Yakubi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheers as Valanciunas lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yakubi doesn't seem phased though.

Yakubi clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Valanciunas misses with a body punch.
Yakubi prevents a body shot from Valanciunas.
Yakubi lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yakubi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Valanciunas is rocked!
Yakubi stalling against the cage.
Valanciunas is still on wobbly legs! Can Yakubi finish him?
Valanciunas tries to work over Yakubi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yakubi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valanciunas seems to have recovered his senses.
Yakubi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Valanciunas misses with a body punch.
Valanciunas misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Yakubi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakubi doesn't manage to clinch there - Valanciunas circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yakubi thows a body shot but no joy.
Valanciunas swats away the attempt to clinch by Yakubi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milad Yakubi clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Valanciunas dodges the punch combination from Yakubi.
Yakubi looks to land a right hand but Valanciunas moved out of range.
Yakubi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

Valanciunas rushes Yakubi and presses him up against the cage.
Valanciunas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valanciunas tries to throw a body punch but Yakubi avoids it by throwing Valanciunas back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yakubi.
Yakubi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Valanciunas is defending well for now.
Valanciunas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yakubi prevents a body shot from Valanciunas.
Yakubi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Valanciunas.
Yakubi throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakubi.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Yakubi.
Valanciunas is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Yakubi lands an uppercut.
Yakubi creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Valanciunas's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Valanciunas drops to his knees and Yakubi pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Milad Yakubi!
A relieved looking Milad Yakubi thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.