PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akmed Yalaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Lefort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lefort has chosen motorhead king of kings as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Yalaa
vs
Lefort

225 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

178 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akmed Yalaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Lefort!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lefort has managed to clinch.

Lefort escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lefort shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yalaa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Lefort has managed to clinch.
Yalaa tries to stall but Lefort uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lefort jumps guard but Yalaa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lefort is looking for a takedown.
Akmed Yalaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lefort.
Lefort jumps guard but Yalaa stands there with Lefort around his waist. Lefort gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lefort can't get the takedown.
Lefort wants a takedown.
Yalaa is trying to stall.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lefort has eaten all the pies!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yalaa takes a shot to the head.
Lefort wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lefort is trying to pull guard but Yalaa has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lefort jumps guard but Yalaa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lefort looks gassed!
Lefort tries for a takedown but Yalaa manages to get underhooks.
Lefort is trying to push Yalaa away but Yalaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lefort has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Yalaa after a bit of a struggle.
Lefort wants a takedown.
Lefort wants to take the fight to the mat but Yalaa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yalaa tries to stall but Lefort uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maybe Yalaa would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Yalaa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yalaa looking to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Akmed Yalaa.
Lefort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yalaa takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lefort wants to clinch.
Lefort throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yalaa throws a right and a left that Lefort avoids nicely.
Yalaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lefort tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Yalaa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yalaa fails to land with a series of punches.
Lefort shoots in but no luck this time.
Sloppy strikes from Lefort. Those never looked like landing.
Yalaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lefort circles away quickly and effectively.
Lefort fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yalaa throws a series of punches but Lefort avoids them all with ease.
Yalaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Lefort swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Yalaa does no damage.
Lefort is looking to clinch but Yalaa is avoiding it.
Yalaa stuffs the takedown.
Lefort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yalaa tries to clinch but Lefort moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloppy strikes from Yalaa. Those never looked like landing.
Lefort throws a head kick but Yalaa moves out of range.
Yalaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Lefort dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Yalaa.

Lefort clinches up with Yalaa and pushes him back against the cage.
Yalaa is trying to stall.
Lefort throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lefort has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yalaa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lefort drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The referee calls for Lefort to work.
Lefort is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lefort jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yalaa walks away with a smile on his face. Lefort gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Akmed Yalaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lefort.
Yalaa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lefort.
Yalaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Yalaa fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Yalaa. No joy for Lefort on that attempt.
Lefort misses with a double jab.
Lefort is looking to clinch.
Yalaa wants to clinch up but Lefort keeps it at a distance.
Lefort dodges the punch combination from Yalaa.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lefort looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lefort circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Yalaa as Lefort shoots in.
Yalaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yalaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lefort circles away quickly and effectively.
Yalaa wants to clinch.
Lefort throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lefort wants to clinch.
Yalaa fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yalaa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lefort tries to clinch but Yalaa moves out of range.
Lefort looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lefort pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lefort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lefort gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Yalaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yalaa looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lefort's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lefort is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yalaa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yalaa tries to clinch but Lefort moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Lefort.
Yalaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lefort circles away quickly and effectively.
Lefort avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lefort tries for a takedown but Yalaa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lefort pushes Yalaa up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Lefort will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lefort throws a sloppy head kick and Yalaa moves out of range easily.
Lefort shoots in but no luck this time.
Lefort is looking to clinch but Yalaa is avoiding it.
Lefort looks for a takedown but Yalaa sprawls well.
Yalaa throws a series of punches but Lefort moves out of range.
Lefort shoots and misses

and Yalaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yalaa.
Akmed Yalaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lefort.
Yalaa is looking to control Lefort's arms but Lefort gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yalaa has his back to the cage.
Lefort is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yalaa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lefort takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yalaa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yalaa can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Lefort wants to break free but Yalaa has control.
Yalaa is looking to control Lefort's arms but Lefort gets an underhook and turns him. Now Yalaa has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Akmed Yalaa.
Lefort misses with a takedown attempt

and Yalaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yalaa trying to control the position but instead, Lefort has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yalaa into the cage.
Yalaa keeps control of Lefort as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yalaa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lefort up against the cage.
Lefort holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lefort tries to circle away but Yalaa has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lefort's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lefort with a poor takedown

and Yalaa moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lefort as Yalaa tries to tie him up.
Lefort wants to get back to striking at distance but Yalaa won't allow it.
Yalaa trying to stall but Lefort improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Akmed Yalaa.
Lefort lands a body shot.
Yalaa stuffs the takedown.
Lefort fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Yalaa misses.
Akmed Yalaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lefort changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yalaa tries to avoid it but Lefort manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yalaa to the ground. Yalaa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lefort tries to clinch there but Yalaa circles away.
Steve Lefort is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yalaa throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akmed Yalaa.
I think Lefort 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Lefort!
A pretty intense looking Steve Lefort took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.