PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yio Yaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Gore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yaj
vs
Gore

188 cm
25
216 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
20
213 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yio Yaj!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Gore!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Yaj.
Gore jabs at Yaj's body.

Gore closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gore lands in his opponent's guard.
Gore postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yaj is pulling down on Gore's head. It's preventing any offense from Gore, at least for the moment.
Yaj is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gore trying to control but Yaj is working from the bottom.
Yaj on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Yaj tries to get out of the position.
Yaj wants to sweep but no luck.
Yaj wants to hit a switch here but Gore passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yaj there!

Gore moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Yaj has worked his arm free - good work by Yaj!
Yaj is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj defending against the ground and pound.
Gore postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gore lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gore tries to score with some ground and pound. Yaj controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Yaj is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gore asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Yaj sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Yaj avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gore.
Yaj holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gore missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gore is working for a submission of some sort.
Yaj trying to control but Gore postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gore scores with a couple of nice shots.
Yaj slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yaj keeping moving, preventing Gore from controlling successfully.
Yaj wants to sweep here but Gore controlling him for the moment.
Gore stands up over Yaj, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gore working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yaj tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gore stands up over Yaj, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yaj controlling Gore's posture.
Gore postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj is looking to stand up but Gore isn't so interested in that idea.
Gore with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gore drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gore jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gore throwing strikes from guard but Yaj blocks nicely.
Gore sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yaj is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gore keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Gore trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yaj is pulling down on Gore's head to control his posture.
Yaj has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gore!
Gore tries to lock up and control but Yaj gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Yaj jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gore manages to avoid the submission attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yaj throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Gore works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Yaj misses with a head shot. Gore uses the momentum to regain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yaj wants to control from the top but Gore keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Gore dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yaj shoots and misses
and Gore counters with a straight right hand.
Yaj throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yaj looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gore is fending him off so far but Yaj persists. Nope, Gore circles away and we're back to standing.
A left lands for Yaj.
Gore with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gore with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yaj looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yio Yaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gore displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yaj.
Yaj wants to clinch up but Gore keeps it at a distance.
Gore throws a body punch but Yaj moves out of range.
Gore scores with a jab.
Yaj thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Gore does it's job there.
Gore uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yaj.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gore cracks Yaj with a right hand to the side of the head.

Gore throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Yaj was covering up waiting for the punch and Gore finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gore keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Gore looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yaj preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Frank Gore has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yaj lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gore!
Gore takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gore tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yaj lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gore slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yaj seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yaj with the ground and pound but Gore uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Yaj throws a big elbow that misses.
Yaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Gore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gore trying to control the position here.

Yaj drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gore dives on top into guard.
Yaj is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gore won't allow Yaj to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gore's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yaj trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gore trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gore trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gore wants to control from the top but Yaj keeps moving.
Yaj looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Yio Yaj wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Yaj walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Yaj misses with a body shot.
Yio Yaj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yaj feints a jab promting Gore to slip. Yaj then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gore slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gore misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gore bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gore motions for Yaj to come forward. Gore throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gore cracks Yaj with an open hand slap.
Gore ducks under a wild hook from Yaj.
Yaj tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gore manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yaj walks into a jab.
Yaj will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yaj swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gore moves away from the strike by Yaj.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gore rushes Yaj and presses him up against the cage.
Yaj is working for takedown but Gore is calmly controlling the position for now.

Yaj is fighting off a takedown attempt but Gore is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Yaj to the mat. Yaj regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Frank Gore will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gore cracks a nice hook into Yaj's ribs.
Yaj shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gore as he avoids it easily.
Yaj fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yaj tries to clinch but Gore is having none of it.
Yaj tries to bum rush Gore with a series of wild strikes but Gore uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gore lands a nice shot to the body.
Yaj shoots in but Gore avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yaj throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frank Gore seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gore scores with a hook to the body. Yaj takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Yaj takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yaj tries to clinch but Gore is having none of it.
Yaj walks into a jab.
Yaj shoots for a takedown but Gore saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yio Yaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yaj takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yaj is looking to wear down Gore with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Gore.
Yaj fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gore manages to avoid it.

Gore shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gore throwing strikes from guard but Yaj blocks nicely.
Gore looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yaj avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gore in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gore pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yaj is keeping the position for now.
Gore trying to control but Yaj is working from the bottom.
Yaj keeping full guard, as Gore tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gore lands a couple of elbows.
Yaj working a defensive guard here.
Gore throws a big elbow that misses.
Yaj is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gore postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gore throws a big elbow that misses.
Gore missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yaj is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gore trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gore wants to control from the top but Yaj keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gore accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yaj managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yio Yaj has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Yaj darts in trying to clinch

and Gore moves into the clinch.
Yaj is looking to take this one to the mat.
Yaj letting Gore take a breather here.
A frustrated look appears on Yaj's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yaj has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gore avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gore wants a takedown.
Gore lands a hook that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
Gore lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Gore takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gore scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yaj is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gore gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Gore.
Gore gets underhooks to prevent Yaj's takedown attempt.
Yaj wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gore tries to throw a body punch but Yaj avoids it by throwing Gore back against the cage.
Gore lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yaj tries to break free but Gore pushes him back against the cage.
Gore lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yaj.
Gore drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yaj pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yaj on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yaj misses with an uppercut. Gore saw that one coming.
Yaj takes a jab right on the kisser.
Yaj has a takedown stuffed.
Gore throws a leg kick but Yaj checks it.
Gore lands a nice shot to the body.
Gore connects with a looping right hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Gore.
Gore moves out of range as Yaj strikes.

Gore looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Yaj!
Yaj taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj is not content to let Gore control the position.
Yaj tries to improve position but can't.
Gore cracks Yaj with a big elbow.
Yaj is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Yaj is rocked!
Gore lands a strong strike to the head of Yaj. That's dazed him! Gore looking to finish here. Yaj is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Gore lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frank Gore!
Frank Gore is the new light heavyweight champion!
Frank Gore seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.