PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Yup (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Mayhew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Mayhew is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yup
vs
Mayhew

187 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
183 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Yup!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Mayhew!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayhew throws a poor cross that misses
and Yup counters with an inside leg kick.
Mayhew walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mayhew keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mayhew tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yup misses with a left hand
and Mayhew counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from Yup.
Mayhew looks to land a body kick but Yup moved away.
Mayhew closes the distance and clinches up with Yup, looking for a takedown. Mayhew pushes Yup against the cage but Yup circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mayhew lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yup circles away quickly and effectively.
Yup connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mayhew momentarily.
Yup avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mayhew misses with a wild combination.
Mayhew misses with a low kick.
Yup chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mayhew misses with a looping right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yup jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Despite the aggression on Mayhew's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Both fighters circling a little - Yup finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Yup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayhew takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mayhew swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Yup counters with a leg kick.
Yup slips a jab and a cross from Mayhew.
Yup lands with a nice body punch.

Mayhew pushes Yup up against the cage in a clinch.

Yup breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yup throws a body shot but no joy.
Yup lands a jab to the nose.
Alexander Mayhew seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mayhew slips under a jab.
Mayhew gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yup misses with a lunging right hand

and Mayhew counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mayhew.
Yup trying to control the position but instead, Mayhew has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yup into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yup struggles to land a body shot inside as Mayhew controls his hands.
Yup pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mayhew wants to break free but Yup has control.
Yup has Mayhew pressed against the cage, preventing Mayhew from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mayhew blocks the elbow strike.
Yup tries a body shot but Mayhew blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Mayhew jumps guard and drags Yup to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yup postures up in Mayhew's guard and throws a big left but Mayhew blocks it.

Yup stands up from Mayhew's guard - Yup perhaps looking for a knockout.
Yup connects with a body shot.
Mayhew throws a wild body kick that Yup sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yup lands a body shot.

Mayhew has closed the distance and engaged Yup in a clinch.
Mayhew is trying to break the clinch but Yup has him pressed against the cage.
Mayhew stops a takedown attempt from Yup.
Yup is breathing heavily.
Yup is trying to maintain a safe position but Mayhew gets an underhook and turns Yup into the cage.

Mayhew jumps guard.

Mayhew has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Yup has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Mayhew wants to get back to striking at distance but Yup won't allow it.
Yup has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mayhew avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mayhew tries for a takedown but Yup manages to get underhooks.
Mayhew stops a takedown attempt from Yup.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Yup. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mayhew scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yup is stalling here.

Mayhew has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yup uses from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayhew pushes Yup off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mayhew throws a series of punches but Yup moves out of range.
Mayhew scores with a hook to the body. Yup takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Mayhew rushes Yup and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mayhew jumps guard and drags Yup to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Mayhew has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yup is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Mayhew manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A right handed body shot lands from Mayhew.
Mayhew lands a left hand.
Mayhew wants to break free but Yup has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mayhew scores with a punch to the head.
Mayhew moves out of range of the strikes.
Mayhew moves in looking to clinch but Yup pushes him off.
Alexander Mayhew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mayhew tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yup manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mayhew fails to land the takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mayhew looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yup half committed to a counter leg kick.
Yup uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mayhew has time to react.
Mayhew fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yup is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yup dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mayhew. That did some damage!
Mayhew is breathing heavily.
Yup fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mayhew manages to avoid it.
Yup looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayhew misses with a looping left.
Yup feinted there with a counter leg kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Mayhew moves into the clinch.
Mayhew wants to get back to striking at distance but Yup won't allow it.
Yup misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Mayhew successfully pulls guard.

Yup stands up and waves to Mayhew to follow him.
Yup tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mayhew was well out of range. Poor timing from Yup.
Yup throws a head kick that half lands.
Yup lands with an uppercut that bounces Mayhew off the cage and back into range.

Mayhew instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Come on Mayhew - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mayhew has Yup pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yup manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
James Yup has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Mayhew.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yup is trying to drag Mayhew to the mat but Mayhew just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Mayhew decides to pull guard.
Mayhew is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mayhew throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Yup got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mayhew has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yup has managed to get both his arms back between Mayhew's legs - danger averted.
Mayhew controls Yup momentarily but Yup frees himself.
Yup knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mayhew on the ground.

Mayhew pushes Yup off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayhew misses with a double jab
and Yup counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice defenses there by Mayhew.
Mayhew stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yup.

Mayhew closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Mayhew's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Mayhew manages to pull guard.
Mayhew looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yup is one step ahead there.

Yup stands and steps away. Mayhew gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayhew throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yup counters with a left to the body.
Yup throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yup throws a leg kick which misses Mayhew's front leg but catches the back leg as Mayhew tries to avoid it.
Mayhew tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yup swivels and escapes.
Yup changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mayhew goes for a double leg but Yup avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yup continues to drive forward.
Mayhew takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yup stuffs the takedown attempt from Mayhew. Mayhew gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yup staying out of range there.
A punch combination from Mayhew misses.
Yup lands with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Yup dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Yup throws a series of strikes that have Mayhew backpedaling.
Yup misses the shot to the body.
Yup lands with an overhand left.
Yup scores with a head kick. Mayhew tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

Mayhew has closed the distance and engaged Yup in a clinch.

Mayhew pulls guard successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mayhew trying to keep a closed guard but Yup is proving a slippery customer.
Mayhew is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mayhew is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mayhew not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayhew thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yup's head.
Mayhew throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yup keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mayhew missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mayhew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Yup is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mayhew moves nicely into side control.

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.
Mayhew throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Mayhew is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yup is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Yup parries the strikes from Mayhew easily there. Mayhew is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yup to escape.
Mayhew throws a strike aimed at the side of Yup's head but Yup avoids it well.
Mayhew throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayhew lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yup down.

Mayhew decides to stand back up.

Mayhew moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Mayhew.
Mayhew is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mayhew prevents Yup from breaking the clinch.
Mayhew lands an uppercut.

Mayhew decides to pull guard.
Mayhew trying to strike off his back.

Mayhew working for a triangle but Yup defends it easily.
Mayhew lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayhew trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mayhew sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yup's guard.
Mayhew is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yup!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayhew punching from mount but Yup doing a good job of avoiding damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poor strikes thrown by Mayhew there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Mayhew comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mayhew 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Mayhew!