PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rani Yahya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zsolt Erdei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Erdei's choice of entrance music: Funktasztikus feat Animal Cannibals - PMLB 2008. Zsolt Erdei is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yahya
vs
Erdei

167 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
134 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rani Yahya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zsolt Erdei!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Erdei as Yahya shoots in.
Yahya shoots in for a takedown but Erdei shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yahya.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rani Yahya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yahya.
Erdei keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice takedown defense from Erdei. No joy for Yahya on that attempt.
Erdei stuffs the takedown attempt from Yahya. Yahya gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erdei stuffs the takedown attempt from Yahya. Yahya gets slowly back to his feet.
Yahya shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Erdei but Erdei pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yahya is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yahya shoots in but Erdei avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yahya shoots in looking for a takedown. Erdei tries to sprawl out of it but Yahya keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Erdei manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Erdei scores with a leg kick.
Rani Yahya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yahya blocks a head kick by Erdei.

Erdei closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Erdei breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Erdei keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Erdei darts in and clinches Yahya up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erdei with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Erdei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Erdei closes the distance and clinches.

Erdei has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Yahya is trying to keep an underhook but Erdei manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Erdei seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Erdei is pressing down on Yahya's thigh, looking to free his foot. Yahya is holding on for now.
Erdei controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yahya looking for submissions off his back.
Erdei is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Erdei is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Yahya looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yahya is in trouble now - Erdei has advanced to mount!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Erdei lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Erdei.
Yahya is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yahya taking shots to the head.
Erdei takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Despite being in the dominant position, Zsolt Erdei just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yahya misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Erdei closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yahya shoots in and drives through. Erdei sprawls well.
Yahya misses with a takedown attempt - Erdei sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yahya shoots in and drives through. Erdei sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rani Yahya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Yahya with that takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yahya.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Erdei closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yahya to the mat! Yahya manages to get full guard.
Erdei is pushing down on Yahya's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yahya is fighting to maintain full guard but Erdei has managed to sneak the leg through.

Erdei is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Erdei not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erdei has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Erdei controlling his opponent.
Erdei scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Erdei controlling his opponent.
Erdei tries to control but Yahya wriggling away.
Erdei controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Erdei cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yahya is trying to escape the mount.
Yahya is squirming around, avoiding Erdei's attempts to control the action.

Erdei working for a submission but Yahya is keeping him at bay.
Erdei looking to control but Yahya is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Yahya manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Erdei trying to control the action but Yahya is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erdei tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yahya knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yahya gets back to full guard.
Erdei throwing strikes from guard but Yahya blocks nicely.

Yahya looking for a guillotine here but Erdei defends easily.
Erdei stands and throws Yahya's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Yahya tries to buck Erdei off but Erdei is having none of it.
Erdei passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Yahya!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Erdei is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Yahya is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Yahya flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Erdei anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Yahya and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Erdei slips an arm under Yahya chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Erdei has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Erdei is squeezing on Yahya like an anaconda would it's prey. Yahya fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Zsolt Erdei!