PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between The Elder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyu Yakuba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Elder has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Elder
vs
Yakuba

175 cm
18
149 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

159 cm
18
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, The Elder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cyu Yakuba!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elder looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Elder walks into a left hand.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Elder checks a leg kick.
A punch combination from Yakuba misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Elder.
Yakuba is looking to regain half guard here but Elder keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakuba sneaks back into half guard.
Elder seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakuba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Elder is working away from the top position though.
Ground and pound from Elder.
Elder works his way into side control.
Elder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
You can see the frustration on Yakuba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Elder wants to stand but Yakuba has his arm trapped.
Yakuba is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Yakuba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Elder prevents Yakuba from escaping the position.
Elder moves into full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yakuba can do anything to dispel that myth.
Elder wants to control the pace but Yakuba is squirming around nicely.
Yakuba wants to hold on but Elder pushes him away.
Yakuba is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yakuba is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Elder is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yakuba has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Elder pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elder stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Elder definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Elder looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yakuba is fending him off so far but Elder persists. Nope, Yakuba circles away and we're back to standing.

Elder clinches up with Yakuba and pushes him back against the cage.
Elder is trying to break the clinch but Yakuba has him pressed against the cage.

Yakuba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yakuba fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Elder is out of range.
Elder shoots for a takedown but Yakuba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Elder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elder is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yakuba.
Cyu Yakuba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yakuba throws a right hand that Elder ducks under and follows up with a left that Elder also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Elder.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Yakuba's coach down at King Of Pain was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Yakuba's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakuba works over Elder's head and body with a nice combination.

Elder rushes Yakuba and presses him up against the cage.

Yakuba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yakuba fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Elder is out of range.
Elder closes the distance and clinches up with Yakuba, looking for a takedown. Elder pushes Yakuba against the cage but Yakuba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Elder misses with a takedown attempt
and Yakuba counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yakuba lands a nice hook to Elder's body. Elder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yakuba throws a nice looking combination but Elder bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little feinted left hand from Elder on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Yakuba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Elder.
Elder tries to counter with a takedown but Yakuba is quick to defend against it.
Elder takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yakuba jabs Elder to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Yakuba lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The Elder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Elder has taken the fight to the clinch.

Yakuba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Elder fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yakuba, pushing him back against the cage.
Elder missing with knees to the body.
Yakuba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Elder tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short body shot lands from Yakuba as the two fighters clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakuba has Elder pressed against the cage, preventing Elder from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yakuba gets underhooks to prevent Elder's takedown attempt.
Yakuba lands a body shot in the clinch.
Elder trying to control the position but instead, Yakuba has worked for underhooks and has pushed Elder into the cage.
Yakuba cracks Elder with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yakuba is keeping busy.

Yakuba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Elder forces Yakuba back against the cage and clinches.

Yakuba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A clash of legs there as Elder blocks the low kick.

Elder closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yakuba is leaning against Elder and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Yakuba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yakuba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Elder.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Elder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakuba lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Yakuba misses with a series of wild punches.
Yakuba throws a chopping leg kick but Elder manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Elder closes the distance and clinches up with Yakuba, looking for a takedown. Elder pushes Yakuba against the cage but Yakuba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yakuba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Elder.
Yakuba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Elder circles away quickly and effectively.

Elder tries to keep at a distance but Yakuba has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yakuba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elder jabs at Yakuba's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Yakuba.
Elder throws a series of punches but Yakuba moves out of range.
Yakuba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Elder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yakuba scores with a jab to the body.

Elder moves into the clinch.
Yakuba lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Elder or not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yakuba.
Elder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yakuba lands a shot to the body.

Yakuba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elder moves forwards but Yakuba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The Elder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elder takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yakuba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Yakuba lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakuba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Elder has closed the distance and engaged Yakuba in a clinch.
Elder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Elder throws a head punch that misses.
Yakuba pushes Elder back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Yakuba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yakuba throws a solid leg kick but Elder takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Yakuba.

Yakuba gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Elder to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yakuba working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyu Yakuba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yakuba lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Yakuba.

Elder has closed the distance and engaged Yakuba in a clinch.
Elder throws an elbow that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Yakuba is leaning against Elder and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yakuba presses Elder against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Yakuba manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elder gets a clinch.
Yakuba keeps control of Elder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Yakuba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Elder jumps guard but Yakuba turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elder goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yakuba prevents it.
Yakuba lands a hook to the side of the head.

Elder is rocked!

Yakuba manages to break the clinch.
Oh Elder is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yakuba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Elder seems to have got his legs back now.
Elder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yakuba as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Elder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yakuba throws a combination. Elder tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Yakuba avoids a kick to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Elder.
As Elder backs off Yakuba throws a huge counter combo but Elder manages to avoid it all.
Yakuba misses with a kick to the body.
Cyu Yakuba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elder fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yakuba avoids it really well and circles away.
Yakuba throws a counter combo.
Elder shoots in looking for a takedown. Yakuba tries to sprawl out of it but Elder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yakuba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yakuba's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Yakuba duly obliges.
Yakuba shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Cyu Yakuba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yakuba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yakuba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakuba lands with a good body shot.
Elder shoots in looking for a takedown. Yakuba tries to sprawl out of it but Elder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yakuba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yakuba lands a nice hook to Elder's body. Elder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Elder has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yakuba digs a right hand into Elder's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Elder's gas tank.
Elder has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yakuba is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The Elder has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Yakuba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakuba misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elder clinches with his opponent.
Elder fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Elder looking to stall.
Yakuba pushes Elder back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Yakuba manages to break the clinch.
Yakuba catches Elder with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Horrible takedown attempt by Elder or perhaps it was just good defense by Yakuba, which made it look bad.
Yakuba swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yakuba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Yakuba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The Elder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yakuba fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyu Yakuba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yakuba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyu Yakuba!