PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kabala Magaluff (ranked 1552 p4p, 193 weight class) and Lyoto Yoshida (ranked 3925 p4p, 405 weight class). Magaluff comes into the arena with Shalom blaring out of the sound system. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Magaluff
vs
Yoshida

185 cm
26
194 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

196 cm
26
189 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kabala Magaluff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Hirohito Nitta and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magaluff pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yoshida needs to keep his hands up - Magaluff had a free shot at his head there.

Yoshida shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Magaluff manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yoshida stops Magaluff from standing up.
Yoshida forces his way into half guard.
Magaluff avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yoshida.
Yoshida keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magaluff tries to get to full guard but Yoshida has control of the leg.
Yoshida stalling.
Magaluff tries to kick Yoshida off but Yoshida keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control the pace.
Magaluff is controlling Yoshida's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Magaluff slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Magaluff wants to sweep but no luck.
Yoshida's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Magaluff is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Magaluff manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yoshida manages to get himself to full guard.

Yoshida wants to sweep here but Magaluff controlling him for the moment.
Magaluff might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magaluff with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yoshida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Magaluff is one step ahead there.
Magaluff knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yoshida on the ground.
Magaluff looking to sit in guard and control but Yoshida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yoshida postures up and lands a big shot to Magaluff's brow.
Yoshida sitting in guard here, content to control.
Magaluff wants to get back to his feet but Yoshida is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Magaluff holds on and takes a little breather.
Magaluff being controlled here, momentarily.
Yoshida tries to free his leg and advance position but Magaluff is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Magaluff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magaluff controls Yoshida momentarily but Yoshida frees himself.
Yoshida makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Magaluff 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.
Magaluff trying to control the position.
Magaluff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yoshida is controlling him.

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.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Magaluff holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Magaluff can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yoshida controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Magaluff gets tackled into the ropes by Yoshida. Yoshida maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yoshida.
Yoshida looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Yoshida works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Magaluff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Magaluff wants to improve his position but instead Yoshida has moved into half guard.
Yoshida trying to pass the guard but Magaluff defending well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Magaluff tries to roll over but Yoshida keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Yoshida dominated that round.
That's time! Magaluff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yoshida takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yoshida takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Magaluff bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Magaluff tries to counter with a takedown but Yoshida is quick to defend against it.
Yoshida looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Magaluff dives in and scores a takedown into Yoshida's guard.
Magaluff distracts Yoshida with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Magaluff lands a couple of digs.
Magaluff throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magaluff wants to control from the top but Yoshida keeps moving.
Magaluff is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yoshida is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Yoshida wants to sweep here but Magaluff controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magaluff pushing down on Yoshida's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yoshida regains full guard. Nicely done.
Magaluff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yoshida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Magaluff stands up over Yoshida, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yoshida looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Magaluff throwing strikes but missing.
Magaluff cracks Yoshida with a solid left hand.
Magaluff is looking to work some ground and pound but Yoshida has wrist control.
Magaluff postures up.
Magaluff preventing the sweep.
Magaluff with a nice head shot there.
Magaluff postures up in Yoshida's guard and throws a big left but Yoshida blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida looking to control.
Magaluff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yoshida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Magaluff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yoshida pulls Magaluff in to control the position.
Magaluff throws a big right hand that misses.
Magaluff throwing strikes but missing.
Magaluff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yoshida is on top in guard.

Magaluff pulls Yoshida in to control the position.
Magaluff wants to sweep but no luck.
Yoshida throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Magaluff looking for a sweep. Not yet Magaluff, not yet.
Yoshida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magaluff is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yoshida trying to control but Magaluff is working from the bottom.
Magaluff looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Magaluff is controlling Yoshida's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yoshida throws a right hand that misses

and Magaluff decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yoshida's guard.
Yoshida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magaluff's guard.

Yoshida controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Yoshida wants to control from the top but Magaluff keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida stopping the sweep attempt from Magaluff.
Magaluff is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Magaluff is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yoshida works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yoshida pulls Magaluff in close to his closed guard and prevents Magaluff from doing any damage or advancing position.
Magaluff preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yoshida bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Magaluff's guard.

Yoshida controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yoshida trying to control but Magaluff is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kabala Magaluff dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Yoshida.

Yoshida tries to sprawl but Magaluff drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Yoshida is looking to improve his position.
Yoshida is trying to control but can't.
Magaluff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magaluff stalling away here and it's allowed Yoshida to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Magaluff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yoshida is keeping the position for now.
Yoshida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida not doing much here.
Yoshida is continuing to stall.
Magaluff is trying to control but can't.
Magaluff slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Magaluff has Yoshida pulled in close to control his posture.
Yoshida trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yoshida stopping the sweep attempt from Magaluff.
Magaluff can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yoshida controls the pace.

That's two 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.
Magaluff looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Yoshida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Yoshida looking to pass the guard.
Lyoto Yoshida has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magaluff is looking to stand up but Yoshida isn't so interested in that idea.
Yoshida trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magaluff looking for a sweep. Not yet Magaluff, not yet.
Magaluff is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Yoshida darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida controlling the action here.
Magaluff is positioning himself well to prevent Yoshida advancing to mount.
Magaluff wants to control the action here but instead Yoshida manages to pass to full mount!
Yoshida sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Yoshida prevents Magaluff from getting the reversal.
Yoshida controlling the pace for now.
Yoshida postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Magaluff looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magaluff is trying to reverse the position but instead Yoshida has taken his back - oops!
Yoshida is punishing Magaluff with strikes - can he finish him?!
Magaluff is trying to stand back up.
Magaluff looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Yoshida tries to keep control of the position but Magaluff is staying busy.
Magaluff trying to get back to his feet but Yoshida is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yoshida is riding his opponent, not letting Magaluff buck him off.
Magaluff trying to get back to his feet but Yoshida is in full control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Yoshida comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yoshida has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Yoshida!