PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Yang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hydro Sumo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hydro Sumo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Yang
vs
Sumo

220 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Virgil Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hydro Sumo!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yang moves into range and clinches up with Sumo.

Sumo has picked Yang up - he's going for a ride! Sumo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Yang is not content to let Sumo control the position.
Yang has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sumo is working away from the top position though.
Sumo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sumo trying to advance position but Yang counters by regaining guard.

Yang looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sumo passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sumo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yang has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sumo but great work by Yang.
Sumo is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sumo tries to buck Yang off but Yang is having none of it.
Sumo is looking to get back to his feet here but Yang is keeping cool and he's managed to take Sumo's back.
What can Sumo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sumo just trying to survive but Yang is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Yang working for the choke.
Sumo wants to control his opponent's hands but Yang gets his hands free.
Sumo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Yang's guard. Nice work there by Sumo.
Yang has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sumo wants to pass the guard but Yang is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sumo wanted to stand there but Yang had control of the position.
Yang trying to keep a closed guard but Sumo is proving a slippery customer.
Sumo wanted to stand there but Yang had control of the position.
Sumo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four 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.
Yang trying to control the position here.

Sumo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yang is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yang has escaped and now he's on top!

Sumo keeping moving, preventing Yang from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Virgil Yang will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sumo throws a head kick that misses.
Sumo looks to throw a body kick

and Yang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sumo won't be happy with that.
Yang advances to mount.
Yang sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sumo wants to control but Yang is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sumo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sumo is trying to stand up.
Sumo tries to lock up and control but Yang gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yang prevents Sumo from getting the reversal.
Yang connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Yang trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sumo is looking to get to half guard.
Virgil Yang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sumo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Yang.
Yang throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sumo because Yang loaded up on that one.
Sumo tries to reverse the position but Yang maintains control.
Sumo keeps trying to improve his position.
Sumo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sumo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sumo is squirming around, avoiding Yang's attempts to control the action.
Sumo is working to get back to half guard.
Sumo regains half guard.
Yang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sumo works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sumo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Yang puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Yang trying to control the action but Sumo is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sumo tries to get to full guard but Yang has control of the leg.
Sumo controlling the position for now.
Let's hope that Sumo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Sumo is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Yang dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Sumo.
Sumo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sumo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yang, pushing him back against the cage.
Yang blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

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

Sumo drives through and clinches with Yang against the cage.

Yang breaks from the clinch.
Yang has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sumo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yang tries to keep at a distance but Sumo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Yang breaks from the clinch.
Sumo lands with a slapping head kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sumo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sumo misses with a kick to the body.
Sumo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sumo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Yang backs up against the cage.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sumo, right into the meat.

Yang closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sumo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yang is working away from the top position though.
Sumo is looking for a sweep. Yang is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sumo is looking to get back to is feet but Yang passes into side control.
Sumo tries to bench press Yang off him but Yang keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sumo is not content to let Yang control the position.
Sumo wants to control but Yang postures up.
Sumo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sumo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yang wants to control but Sumo is keeping him busy.
Yang throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yang gets to mount! Sumo was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Sumo tries to lock up and control but Yang gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yang in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Yang lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sumo hang on?
Sumo wants to control but Yang is having none of it.
Sumo is working to get back to half guard.
Yang throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sumo because Yang loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sumo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yang controlling the pace for now.
Sumo tries to hold on but Yang pushes him away.
Sumo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hydro Sumo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Virgil Yang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hydro Sumo.
I think Yang 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgil Yang!