PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Riordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaz Yago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaz Yago will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Riordan
vs
Yago

182 cm
26
185 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

178 cm
34
181 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Riordan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaz Yago!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riordan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yago to the mat! Yago manages to get full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Riordan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riordan stopping the sweep attempt from Yago.
Riordan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riordan trying to control but Yago is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riordan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Yago looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riordan is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yago shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Riordan as he jumps to the side.
Nice jab there from Yago.

Riordan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Yago on his heels. He'll look to pass Yago's guard now, I'm sure.

Yago has an active guard here but Riordan has managed to pass into half guard.
Riordan is keen to just control but Yago is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yago won't allow Riordan to pass to mount.
Riordan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yago wants to improve his position but Riordan is controlling well.

Yago is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Riordan pulls his head out easily.
Yago makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yago.

Yago has his foot on Riordan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Riordan works his way back into a safe position though.

Yago is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Riordan defends well.

Riordan 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan looking to sit in guard and control but Yago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yago postures up.
Yago trying to control but Riordan is working from the bottom.
My spies in Montreal Elite Gym inform me that Yago has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Yago looking to pass the guard.
Riordan looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Riordan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yago defends it easily.
Yago engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riordan trying to keep a closed guard but Yago is proving a slippery customer.
Yago wants to stand but Riordan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Riordan drives through with a takedown into guard.

Yago escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riordan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Yago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Yago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Riordan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Riordan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Riordan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yago scores with a crisp jab that stopped Riordan in his tracks.
A swing and a miss from Yago.

Yago gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Yago has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riordan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riordan throws a big right hand that misses.
Riordan trying to control the position from guard on top but Yago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riordan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yago is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Riordan looking to pass the guard.
Yago has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Yago is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Riordan defends well.

Yago looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yago keeping moving, preventing Riordan from controlling successfully.
Yago trying to keep a closed guard but Riordan is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Yago looking for a sweep. Not yet Yago, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yago thuds his right hand into Riordan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Riordan doesn't manage to clinch there - Yago circles away.
Yago misses with a two punch combination.
Riordan doesn't manage to clinch there - Yago circles away.
Yago cracks Riordan with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kaz Yago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yago goes for a double leg but Riordan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Riordan continues to drive forward.
Yago scores with a jab to the body.
Riordan looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Yago gets tackled into the cage by Riordan. Riordan maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan lands an elbow inside.
Riordan lands a nice elbow.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Yago jumps guard but Riordan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Riordan is stalling here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Riordan throws an elbow but misses.
Yago fails to pull guard.
Tommy Riordan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaz Yago.
The referee calls for Riordan to work.
The referee is keeping an eye on Riordan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riordan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yago's elbow.
Riordan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Riordan pushes off an throws an elbow but Yago leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Riordan lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riordan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Riordan is stalling here.
Yago takes an elbow to the forehead.
Riordan effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tommy Riordan.
Yago scores with a nice strike.
A swing and a miss from Riordan.
Yago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yago is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Yago dives in for a single leg takedown but Riordan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yago fails to land with a series of punches.

Riordan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Yago actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Riordan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yago jabs Riordan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yago scores with a body shot.

Yago tries to sprawl but Riordan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tommy Riordan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riordan wants to take a breather but Yago is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yago manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yago manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riordan manages to get himself to full guard.

Yago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riordan is keeping the position for now.
Yago stopping the sweep attempt from Riordan.
Riordan trying to control the position.
Yago works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yago is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Riordan is trying to control but can't.
Riordan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Riordan continues to stall.
Riordan trying to hold on to Yago's head to control him but Yago postures up.
Yago wants to take a breather but Riordan is having none of it.
Riordan is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Riordan trying to control here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Riordan tries to close the distance and clinch but Yago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yago misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yago. Riordan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kaz Yago seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Riordan gets a clinch.
Riordan lands a nice elbow.

Yago pulls Riordan into guard.
Yago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riordan.

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

Riordan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riordan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yago is trying to keep Riordan in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Yago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Riordan defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riordan wants to control from the top but Yago keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Riordan pushing down on Yago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yago moves into full guard.
Kaz Yago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tommy Riordan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riordan trying to control the position from guard on top but Yago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riordan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yago can't keep his opponent in guard - Riordan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kaz Yago.
I think Riordan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Riordan!