PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hywel Ap Hywel (ranked 5827 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Yarnell (ranked 3884 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ap Hywel
vs
Yarnell

194 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hywel Ap Hywel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Yarnell!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ap Hywel lands a front kick.
Ap Hywel moves out of range of the leg kick from Yarnell.
Yarnell throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Ap Hywel counters with a shoot takedown. Yarnell fights it but they end up in guard.

Yarnell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ap Hywel defends well.
Ap Hywel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ap Hywel lands a couple of digs.

Ap Hywel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ap Hywel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yarnell is keeping the position for now.
Ap Hywel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ap Hywel decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yarnell looks for a takedown but Ap Hywel sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yarnell listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Ap Hywel pushes Yarnell up against the cage in a clinch.

Ap Hywel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yarnell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Ap Hywel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Check out the look on Ap Hywel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Yarnell wants to control but Ap Hywel postures up.
Yarnell manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ap Hywel's best efforts.
Ap Hywel tries to pass to full mount but Yarnell defends it.
Ap Hywel working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Ap Hywel is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Yarnell tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ap Hywel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ap Hywel is nestled in close to Yarnell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nice strikes from Ap Hywel there.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yarnell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ap Hywel connects with a nice short shot to Yarnell's temple.
Ap Hywel trying to mount his opponent but Yarnell defends it.
Ap Hywel slows the pace down in half guard.
Ap Hywel stops Yarnell from getting back to his feet.
Yarnell moves into full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ap Hywel 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.
Ap Hywel landing some decent shots from guard.

Yarnell looking for a guillotine here but Ap Hywel defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ap Hywel trying to control the position from guard on top but Yarnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ap Hywel feints and then cracks Yarnell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yarnell down.

Ap Hywel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ap Hywel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ap Hywel working away.

Ap Hywel decides to stand up, so the ref orders Yarnell to his feet.
Yarnell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ap Hywel's waist but Ap Hywel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yarnell off to one side.
Yarnell tries to clinch up.

Ap Hywel pushes Yarnell up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ap Hywel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hywel Ap Hywel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ap Hywel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Ap Hywel decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ap Hywel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yarnell.

Ap Hywel has Yarnell up against the cage in a clinch.

Ap Hywel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ap Hywel moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yarnell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yarnell is breathing heavily.
Ap Hywel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Yarnell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ap Hywel closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yarnell did well to prevent Ap Hywel getting side control.
Ap Hywel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ap Hywel is looking to advance position but Yarnell won't allow it.
Hywel Ap Hywel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ap Hywel content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarnell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ap Hywel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ap Hywel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yarnell is keeping the position for now.
Yarnell trying to control the position.

Yarnell is working an open guard so Ap Hywel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ap Hywel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yarnell, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ap Hywel gets control of Yarnell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ap Hywel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ap Hywel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ap Hywel keeping moving, preventing Yarnell from controlling successfully.
Yarnell postures up in Ap Hywel's guard and throws a big left but Ap Hywel blocks it.
Ap Hywel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ap Hywel keeping moving, preventing Yarnell from controlling successfully.

Yarnell gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four 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.
Yarnell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ap Hywel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hywel Ap Hywel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Yarnell.

Ap Hywel decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Ap Hywel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yarnell to the ground. Ap Hywel is now in Yarnell's guard.
Ap Hywel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Yarnell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ap Hywel gets to his feet - Yarnell follows without any prompting.
Ap Hywel lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hywel Ap Hywel dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick from Ap Hywel lands but Yarnell takes it in his stride.
Ap Hywel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Ap Hywel has Yarnell up against the cage in a clinch.
Ap Hywel lands a nice elbow.

Ap Hywel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ap Hywel keeping moving, preventing Yarnell from controlling successfully.
Yarnell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yarnell seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ap Hywel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yarnell can do to turn this around?
Ap Hywel looking for a sweep. Not yet Ap Hywel, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ap Hywel is looking to sweep but instead, Yarnell has passed into half guard.
Ap Hywel pushes Yarnell off looking to stand but Yarnell dives back in and keeps control.
Ap Hywel controlling the position well.
Yarnell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ap Hywel keeps working.
Ap Hywel tries to kick Yarnell off but Yarnell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yarnell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ap Hywel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ap Hywel has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ap Hywel jumps into guard, dragging Yarnell to the mat.
Ap Hywel is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yarnell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ap Hywel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Ap Hywel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yarnell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yarnell postures up in Ap Hywel's guard and throws a big left but Ap Hywel blocks it.

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yarnell misses with a takedown
and Ap Hywel counters with a three punch combo that has Yarnell backing up. Yarnell nods at Ap Hywel to acknowledge the strikes.
Ap Hywel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ap Hywel scores with a spinning back kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yarnell is defended easily by Ap Hywel.
Yarnell throws a lazy head kick
and Ap Hywel counters with a two punch combo.
Yarnell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ap Hywel throws a nice head kick!

Ap Hywel instigates a clinch.
Yarnell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ap Hywel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hywel Ap Hywel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hywel Ap Hywel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Yarnell.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ap Hywel.
Ap Hywel stalling the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hywel Ap Hywel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ap Hywel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hywel Ap Hywel!