PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rogers (ranked 2477 p4p, 24913 weight class) and Kyle Yike Ii (ranked 328 p4p, 655 weight class). Kyle Yike Ii has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rogers
vs
Yike Ii

182 cm
26
200
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
195
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Warrior's Way

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kyle Yike Ii!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sloppy strikes from Yike Ii. Those never looked like landing.
Yike Ii scores with a shot to the body.
Rogers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yike Ii defends well and Rogers ends up having to push Yike Ii into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Rogers gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Yike Ii makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Yike Ii throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rogers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yike Ii is looking to regain half guard here but Rogers keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Yike Ii's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers prevents Yike Ii from escaping the position.

Rogers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rogers remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've been hearing good reports from Rogers's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Yike Ii is looking to reverse the position.
Yike Ii can't do much from the bottom here.
Rogers staying calm.
Rogers's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rogers seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Yike Ii for as long as he can get away with.
Yike Ii regains half guard.
Rogers is looking to advance position but Yike Ii won't allow it.
Yike Ii is trying to stand.
Rogers trying to control the pace.
Yike Ii is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yike Ii keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rogers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Yike Ii connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Yike Ii takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Rogers forces Yike Ii back against the cage and clinches.
Yike Ii wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yike Ii looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rogers keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yike Ii's efforts to push away.
Yike Ii misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is looking for a takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Rogers works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rogers stays in close to Yike Ii's body and controls the position.
Yike Ii is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yike Ii keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.
Rogers is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yike Ii keeping full guard, as Rogers tries to pass.
Yike Ii looking for a sweep. Not yet Yike Ii, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyle Yike Ii will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yike Ii gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rogers to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yike Ii looking for a sweep. Not yet Yike Ii, not yet.
Rogers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Yike Ii is retaining full guard.
Rogers's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Yike Ii looking for a sweep. Not yet Yike Ii, not yet.
Rogers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yike Ii looking for a sweep. Not yet Yike Ii, not yet.
Yike Ii pulls Rogers in close to his closed guard and prevents Rogers from doing any damage or advancing position.
Yike Ii controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yike Ii can't keep his opponent in guard - Rogers advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Yike Ii wants to improve his position but Rogers is controlling well.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yike Ii won't allow Rogers to pass to mount.
Rogers passes to full mount!
Rogers sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Steve Rogers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yike Ii wants to control but Rogers is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers controlling from the full mount.
Rogers avoids the attempt from Yike Ii to control.
Rogers takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rogers is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Yike Ii is in real trouble.
Rogers throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Yike Ii!
Yike Ii tries to escape but Rogers has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Rogers really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Yike Ii.

Rogers is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Yike Ii knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Yike Ii for a finish.
Yike Ii trying to control the action but Rogers just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Yike Ii trying to get back to his feet but Rogers is in full control for now.
Rogers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yike Ii can do to turn this around?
Yike Ii wants to escape the position.
Yike Ii is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rogers.
Yike Ii is really stuck here.
Yike Ii trying to control the position but Rogers manages to sink in the hooks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Yike Ii right now.
Rogers slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Yike Ii is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Yike Ii lands with a nice combination. Rogers backs away looking to recover.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rogers scores with a takedown into Yike Ii's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rogers passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yike Ii trying to remain calm as Rogers controls from the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rogers gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yike Ii counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Rogers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rogers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yike Ii is not content to let Rogers control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Rogers.
Yike Ii tries to buck Rogers off but Rogers is having none of it.
Yike Ii is still trying to improve position.
Yike Ii trying to remain calm as Rogers controls from the top position.
Yike Ii wants to get back to his feet but Rogers drags him back down.
Rogers controlling the position.
Rogers continues to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Yike Ii is trying to improve his position.
Rogers just content to control the position.
Yike Ii tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rogers wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yike Ii being controlled for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Yike Ii darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Yike Ii as Rogers shoots in.

Rogers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rogers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rogers has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rogers is looking to advance position but Yike Ii won't allow it.
Rogers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yike Ii keeping hold of Rogers's head, controlling as best he can.
Rogers controlling the action here.
Yike Ii is trying to get back to full guard.
Rogers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yike Ii is looking to control Rogers's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yike Ii avoid being mounted?
Rogers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rogers 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Rogers!