PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Conford (ranked 1606 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwo Yaj (ranked 1153 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Conford has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Conford
vs
Yaj

190 cm
27
200 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

187 cm
27
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andrew Conford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Iwo Yaj!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Conford rushes Yaj and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yaj tries to work over Conford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yaj misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Conford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yaj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
I was talking to Conford's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Yaj misses with some punches.
Yaj misses with a body punch.
Yaj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yaj misses with the head strike.
Conford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Conford's elbow.
Yaj tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yaj working aggressively here.
Yaj misses with a hook to the ribs.
Conford misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conford swings wildly with an uppercut but Yaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conford blocks an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Conford.
Conford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yaj doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Yaj misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Conford - that landed with a thud.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yaj.
Conford swings wildly with an uppercut but Yaj uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conford cracks Yaj with a nice body shot.
A short right from Conford on the inside.
Conford lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
Yaj tries to throw a body punch but Conford avoids it by throwing Yaj back against the cage.
Conford blocks an uppercut.
Conford can't find room to land a body shot as Yaj controls the action.
Conford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yaj misses with a punch on the inside.
Conford misses with a body punch.
Conford prevents a body shot from Yaj.
Conford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Conford - that landed with a thud.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Conford lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Conford scores with a hook to the body.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yaj struggles to land a body shot inside as Conford controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conford throws a punch but it's blocked by Yaj.
Yaj misses with a body punch.
Yaj misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Conford.
Conford takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Yaj.
Conford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conford lands a body shot in the clinch.
Yaj can't find room to land a body shot as Conford controls the action.
Yaj lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Yaj on the inside.
Yaj lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yaj is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Yaj misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yaj misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Conford.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Conford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yaj.
Yaj tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Conford scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yaj has Conford pressed against the cage, preventing Conford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Conford misses with the head strike.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Conford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conford working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iwo Yaj will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yaj throws a big shot that misses.

Yaj gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Conford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Conford lands a shoulder strike.
Yaj misses with a punch on the inside.
Yaj misses with a hook from the clinch.
Conford working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Yaj cracks Conford with a nice body shot.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Conford uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yaj lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Conford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yaj blocking some punches.
Yaj takes a shot to the head.
Yaj throws a head punch that misses.
Conford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yaj misses with a short punch on the inside.
Conford blocks an uppercut.
Conford lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yaj.
Yaj fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yaj can't find room to land a body shot as Conford controls the action.
Conford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Conford blocks a body shot from Yaj.
Conford has a couple of punches blocked by Yaj.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Conford has a couple of punches blocked by Yaj.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conford prevents a body shot from Yaj.
Conford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Conford lands a right hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Conford.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yaj.
A right hand to the body from Conford.
Yaj misses with a punch to the body.
Iwo Yaj seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Yaj misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yaj prevents a body shot from Conford.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yaj working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yaj.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yaj.
Yaj misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yaj misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Yaj.
A right handed body shot lands from Conford.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Conford.
Conford blocks a body shot from Yaj.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Conford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Conford prevents a body shot from Yaj.
Conford swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yaj misses with the head strike.
Yaj tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Conford's elbow.
Conford struggles to land a body shot inside as Yaj controls his hands.
Conford blocking some punches.
Yaj is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj throws a punch but it's blocked by Conford.
Yaj misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Conford.
Yaj has a couple of punches blocked by Conford.
Yaj lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Conford backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yaj.
Yaj working aggressively here.
Yaj has a couple of punches blocked by Conford.

Conford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Conford scores with the left hand. Yaj knows he should have avoided that one.
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!

Yaj tries to keep at a distance but Conford has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yaj struggles to land a body shot inside as Conford controls his hands.
Yaj throws a punch but it's blocked by Conford.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwo Yaj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yaj tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Conford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yaj looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Conford gets tackled into the cage by Yaj. Yaj maintains the clinch.
Yaj throws a punch but it's blocked by Conford.
Conford cracks Yaj with a nice body shot.
Yaj is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Conford blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Conford scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Conford.
Yaj misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Conford tries to work over Yaj's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice right hand lands inside from Conford.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Conford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conford misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj tries to work over Conford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Conford.
The referee is keeping an eye on Conford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Yaj misses with a body punch.
Conford lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Conford has a couple of punches blocked by Yaj.
Conford misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Yaj fails to land.
Conford is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yaj lands a hook that snaps the head of Conford backwards.
A short right from Yaj.
Yaj fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Andrew Conford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Yaj fails to land.
Yaj doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Conford scores with a shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Yaj misses with a hook from the clinch.
Conford lands a left hand that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
Yaj tries to work over Conford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Yaj misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Yaj works on Conford's body with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yaj.
Conford lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Conford.
Yaj prevents a body shot from Conford.
Conford blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Conford blocks a body shot from Yaj.
Yaj misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Yaj fails to land.
Yaj lands a hook to the side of the head.
Conford scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Conford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Conford uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yaj has a couple of punches blocked by Conford.
Yaj tries to throw a body punch but Conford avoids it by throwing Yaj back against the cage.
Yaj lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yaj lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Conford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Conford lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conford blocks a body shot from Yaj.
Conford blocking some punches.
Yaj misses with a punch on the inside.
Conford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yaj misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Conford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Yaj doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Conford lands a hook that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Conford lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yaj tries a body shot but Conford blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Conford fails to land.
Yaj misses with a short punch on the inside.
Conford blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yaj lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Iwo Yaj.
I've got Yaj 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 for Iwo Yaj!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Iwo Yaj!
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Iwo Yaj!

Iwo Yaj wins by unanimous decision!
Iwo Yaj decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.