PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Cave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rio Yaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Cave
vs
Yaj

184 cm
38
190 lbs
24 - 20 - 0

192 cm
26
215 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Cave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rio Yaj!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yaj moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Nick Cave has been cut.
Yaj thuds his right hand into Cave's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cave stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cave wants it to stay on the feet.
Cave went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Yaj lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cave circles away quickly and effectively.
Yaj misses with an uppercut.
Yaj lands a glancing blow to the side of Cave's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Yaj misses the target.

Yaj shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cave's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cave wants to stand up but Yaj is controlling him.
Yaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Yaj drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cave dives on top into guard.

Cave stopping the sweep attempt from Yaj.
Yaj has control of Cave's left arm, preventing Cave from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cave wanted to stand there but Yaj had control of the position.
Cave being controlled here momentarily.
Yaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Yaj, not yet.

That's two 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.
Yaj is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Cave got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yaj has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cave has managed to get both his arms back between Yaj's legs - danger averted.
Yaj is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Cave stopping the sweep attempt from Yaj.

Yaj has his foot on Cave's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cave works his way back into a safe position though.
Cave wants to stand and escape but instead Yaj has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cave preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Cave is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj stands and throws Cave's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cave dodges the ground and pound from Yaj.
Cave tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Yaj sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yaj trying to control but Cave is having none of it.
Yaj landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Yaj tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Yaj unloading with bombs!
Yaj with good strikes from the mount here!
Cave is breathing heavily.
Cave is bucking up trying to escape but Yaj cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Cave is rocked!
Yaj lands a heavy shot. That's hurt Cave! Yaj sees the opportunity and turns up the heat - strike after strike land to the defenseless Cave and the ref dives in to save him! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Rio Yaj!
A victorious Rio Yaj thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated Nick Cave had this to say: 'im not gonna retire yet, but i started considering retirement'.