PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Yaj (ranked 969 p4p, 126 weight class) and Thomas Wid (ranked 748 p4p, 93 weight class). Wid has chosen YNW Melly - Murder On My MInd as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yaj
vs
Wid

170 cm
26
146 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

166 cm
26
150 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

ZZ POPS

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ilya Yaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Wid!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wid walks into a jab.
The fighters circling - Wid throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wid slips a straight right by Yaj.
Yaj lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A big left from Wid misses.
Wid misses with a hook
and Yaj connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yaj scores with a jab. Wid acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Thomas Wid has been cut.
Yaj definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Yaj throws a jab when Wid was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj connects with a body shot that sends Wid's belly button to the back.
Yaj lands a jab.
Yaj throws a lazy uppercut

and Wid counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wid distracts Yaj with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Wid drops back looking for a leg! Yaj is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yaj manages to kick Wid off! Wid jumps back into Yaj's guard.
Yaj can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wid controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wid postures up in Yaj's guard and throws a big left but Yaj blocks it.
Yaj on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Yaj tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wid advances to half guard.
Yaj wants to control but Wid is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wid content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yaj is trying to get back to full guard.
Wid working the head and body with strikes.
Yaj avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wid.
Wid tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yaj knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wid not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Yaj knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wid on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wid working the head and body with strikes.
Wid stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wid is keen to just control but Yaj is a slippery customer.
Wid is taking a breather. Yaj says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Wid thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Wid seems to be working for a kimura but Yaj defends the submission attempt.
Wid is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wid seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wid missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wid lands a nice short elbow.
Wid seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yaj does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wid wants to pass to mount but Yaj is defending the position.
Wid is trying to control the action in half guard but Yaj is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thomas Wid will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thomas Wid's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wid throws a poor cross that misses
and Yaj counters with a right hand to the body.
Wid rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yaj counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A left lands for Yaj.
Wid throws a jab but it's blocked by Yaj.
Wid on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yaj misses with an uppercut.
Wid avoids the body shot from Yaj.
Wid wants to counter the offense by Yaj and move into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wid rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Yaj counters with a nice uppercut.
Yaj lands with a right hand.
Ilya Yaj is winning the standup battle so far.
Yaj throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wid on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wid throws a looping overhand right but Yaj ducks down to avoid it.
Wid misses with an uppercut
and Yaj cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wid with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yaj to score with a decent uppercut.
Yaj misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wid.
Yaj ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Wid loads up on a big right hand but Yaj slips the punch.
Yaj scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yaj misses with a body shot.

Wid throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Yaj tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wid is in Yaj's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj controlling Wid's posture.
Wid is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wid content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wid working some strikes from top position.
Yaj keeping full guard, as Wid tries to pass.
Wid throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wid.
Wid is looking to work some ground and pound but Yaj has wrist control.
Wid sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thomas Wid has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wid throwing strikes from guard but Yaj blocks nicely.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yaj throws a body shot but no joy.
Wid throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Yaj was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wid takes one on the button.
Wid has his takedown stuffed
and Yaj counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A low kick from Wid is predictable there
and Yaj counters with a stiff right hand.
Wid looks to land a left hand but Yaj moved out of range nicely.
Yaj waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wid.
Yaj bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wid's head backwards.
Yaj takes a swing at Wid's ribcage but misses.
Yaj moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Yaj dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Wid's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Wid avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yaj misses with a straight left.
Yaj ducks under a wild hook from Wid.
Wid might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fighters circling - Yaj throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yaj with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yaj blocks a jab.
Ilya Yaj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wid throws a shot from downtown. Yaj moves away and avoids it.
Wid misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wid shoots for a takedown but Yaj saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It looked like Yaj was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Wid throws a looping overhand right but Yaj ducks down to avoid it.
Yaj was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice defenses there by Yaj.
Wid misses with a takedown attempt
and Wid takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yaj scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A clash of legs there as Yaj blocks the low kick.
Yaj blocks a jab.
Yaj lands a nice hook to Wid's body. Wid takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Wid uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yaj.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yaj. Wid does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yaj is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wid can do to turn this around?
Wid loads up on a big right hand but Yaj slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Yaj on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wid misses with a left hand
and Yaj counters with a straight right hand.
Wid throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yaj counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A looping hook to the body misses from Yaj. Wid does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wid misses with a hook
and Yaj cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Wid is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yaj defending well as Wid loads up on a big left hand.
Yaj misses with a wild body shot.
Wid keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wid was well out of range. Poor timing from Yaj.
Yaj lands with a straight right. Wid didn't see that one coming.
Wid has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Yaj throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wid steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Yaj.
Ilya Yaj is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yaj throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wid sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Wid throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A shot to the liver by Yaj. Beautiful body shot.
Wid throws an off balance right hand
and Yaj counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yaj loads up on a big right hand but Wid slips the punch.
And Wid tries to counter it with a takedown but Yaj pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Yaj slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj dips to his left and cracks Wid with an uppercut!
Wid gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Yaj jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yaj throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Wid counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Yaj!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wid wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yaj keeps working.
Yaj is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wid connects with a decent elbow.
Wid has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at ELITE Island Gym - 19 Elite Coaches. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Wid in side control lands a decent elbow.
Wid throws a strike aimed at the side of Yaj's head but Yaj avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Yaj showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yaj 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Yaj!
Our winner, Ilya Yaj, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.