PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tank Yu (ranked 3695 p4p, 294 weight class) and Donatello Giovanni (ranked 4876 p4p, 351 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Yu
vs
Giovanni

173 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big right hand

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tank Yu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donatello Giovanni!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Giovanni.
A quick step to the side and Yu tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Giovanni connects with the punch.

It looks like Tank Yu has been cut.
Giovanni throws a body punch but Yu moves out of range.
Giovanni scores with a body shot.

Yu closes the distance and clinches.
Yu prevents Giovanni from breaking the clinch.
Yu lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yu.
Yu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yu has Giovanni pushed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Yu fails to land.
Yu swings wildly with an uppercut but Giovanni uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Yu.
Yu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Giovanni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yu lands a shot to the body.
Yu is struggling to control the position.
Yu misses with a punch on the inside.
Giovanni looking for a takedown.
Yu will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Giovanni up against the cage.
The referee calls for Yu to work.
Yu seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Yu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Giovannis head.
A short right from Yu.
A short uppercut from Yu.
Giovanni tries to score a body lock takedown but Yu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Giovanni gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Yu regains guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Giovanni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yu 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.
Giovanni is in close to Yu's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yu is pulling down on Giovanni's head to control his posture.

Yu has his foot on Giovanni's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Giovanni works his way back into a safe position though.

Yu looking for subs off his back but Giovanni has passed one foot through into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yu tries to roll over but Giovanni keeps him under control.
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. Giovanni connects with a nice short shot to Yu's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni slips a nice elbow through Yu's hands, connecting with Yu's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Giovanni takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Yu looking for submissions off his back.

Yu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Giovanni is trying to work for a kimura but Yu is defending well.
Yu wants to control but Giovanni is keeping busy.
Yu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Yu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni winds up and cracks Yu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Giovanni scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Yu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Giovanni wants to work for an arm triangle but Yu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Giovanni landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Giovanni tries to stand and escape but Yu actually recovers to full guard.
Giovanni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Giovanni is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Yu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Giovanni doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Giovanni manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Yu has a closed guard, preventing Giovanni from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donatello Giovanni will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tank Yu's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Giovanni shoots in for a double leg but Yu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Giovanni throws a right and a left that Yu avoids nicely.
Giovanni misses with a few strikes there.
Yu is looking for a counter combo.

Yu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Giovanni tries to pull guard but Yu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Giovanni has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Yu after a bit of a struggle.
Tank Yu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donatello Giovanni.
Yu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Giovannis head.
Yu stalling in the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yu takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Yu for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Yu gets underhooks to prevent Giovanni's takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The referee calls for Yu to work.
Giovanni can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Yu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Yu stalls.
Yu lands an uppercut.
Yu lands a shot to the body.
Yu is stalling here.
Giovanni wants to take the fight to the mat but Yu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Giovanni is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Yu scores with a shot to the side of Giovanni's head.
Giovanni jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yu walks away with a smile on his face. Giovanni gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Yu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giovanni wants to take the fight to the mat but Yu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yu lands with a light punch inside.
Yu lands a nice uppercut.
Giovanni takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Giovanni tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Giovanni is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yu is defending well.
Yu stalling.
Giovanni fails to pull guard.
Giovanni is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Giovanni is breathing heavily.
Giovanni wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Giovanni tries for a takedown but Yu manages to get underhooks.
A right hook to the body lands for Yu.
Yu leaning his opponent against the cage.
Yu scores with a shot to the side of Giovanni's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu lands a right hand.
The referee calls for Yu to work.
Yu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Giovanni can do to turn this around?
Yu pushes Giovanni back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yu slowing the pace effectively.
Yu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yu is pressed up against the cage. Giovanni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yu down to the mat. Yu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Giovanni gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Yu darts in and clinches Giovanni up against the cage.
Giovanni wants to break free but Yu has control.
Giovanni takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yu lands a body shot.
Yu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Giovanni backwards.
Yu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Giovanni has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short body shot lands from Yu as the two fighters clinch.
Yu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tank Yu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Yu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Giovanni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yu digs a right hand underneath Giovanni's ribcage. Giovanni let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Yu pushes Giovanni back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yu lands with a left to the head.
Giovanni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yu smiles and moves away.

Yu rushes Giovanni and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Yu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tank Yu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yu drives through and clinches with Giovanni against the cage.
Yu lands a body shot in the clinch.
Yu tries to work over Giovanni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Giovanni has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yu is pushing Giovanni up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Giovanni is trying to pull guard but Yu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Yu lands a nice shot to the body.
Yu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yu tries to throw a body punch but Giovanni avoids it by throwing Yu back against the cage.
Yu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Giovanni is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Yu scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Giovanni is trying to break the clinch but Yu is controlling him.
Yu has Giovanni pushed against the cage.
Yu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Giovanni manages to break the clinch.

Yu rushes Giovanni and presses him up against the cage.
Yu gets underhooks to prevent Giovanni's takedown attempt.
Tank Yu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donatello Giovanni.
Yu is leaning against Giovanni and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Yu misses with an elbow strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Yu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Giovanni tries for a takedown but Yu manages to get underhooks.
Yu lands a left hand.
Yu content to slow the pace in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yu.
Yu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Yu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yu lands a body shot.
Yu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Yu throws an elbow but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Giovanni backwards.
Yu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Yu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu lands a nice uppercut.
Yu gets through Giovanni's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yu just leaning against Giovanni, taking a breather.
A short left from Yu.
Yu lands an elbow just above Giovanni 's eye.
A nice left hand lands by Yu.
Yu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Giovanni has had enough of the clinch but Yu keeps him there for the moment.
Yu lands a nice uppercut.
Yu lands a right hand.
Giovanni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yu pulls his leg out and moves away.

Yu instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Yu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Yu misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yu taking a breather.
Yu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Giovanni's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Yu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yu gets through Giovanni's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Giovanni backwards.
Yu effectively controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tank Yu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yu 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tank Yu!
During a confident post fight interview, Tank Yu thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
In defeat, Donatello Giovanni stepped up to the mic, saying 'Really?'.