PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ranganathan Iyer (ranked 3448 p4p, 5083 weight class) and Darth Vader Lord (ranked 440 p4p, 512 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Darth Vader Lord enters the cage!

Iyer
vs
Lord

195 cm
25
216
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
210
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Cobra Kai Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ranganathan Iyer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darth Vader Lord!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Iyer throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lord was covering up waiting for the punch and Iyer finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lord looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Iyer distracts Lord with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Lord looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Lord is looking for a triangle but Iyer pushes his legs off easily.

Lord looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Iyer has picked Lord up and slammed him! Lord can't keep hold of the triangle and Iyer manages to pass to side control!
Iyer tries to move into full mount but can't pass Lord's legs.

Iyer is trying to get an arm triangle but Lord is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lord is looking for a sweep.
Iyer trying to control the position but Lord is working away.
Lord is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iyer controls the position.
Lord tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Iyer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lord looking for a sweep but Iyer has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Lord is wriggling around trying to escape.
Iyer scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lord?
Iyer wants to control the pace but Lord is squirming around nicely.
Lord is in all sorts of trouble here.

Iyer wants to finish this one by submission but Lord is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Iyer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iyer raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lord working to try and regain half guard.
Iyer wants to control the pace but Lord is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lord tries to reverse the position but Iyer maintains control.
Lord keeps trying to improve his position.
The referee warns Lord that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Iyer.
Iyer is landing with some decent strikes but Lord is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Iyer raining down hammerfists from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Iyer lands a heavy elbow.

Lord is rocked!
Lord working to try and regain half guard.
Lord is still in real trouble! Can Iyer finish him?
Lord in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iyer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lord is looking to escape.

Iyer is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lord has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Iyer in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Iyer prevents Lord from getting the reversal.
Iyer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lord is looking to escape.
Lord gets back to half guard.
Lord seems to have recovered his senses.
Iyer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Lord looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iyer wants to get back to his feet.
Iyer wants to free his trapped foot but Lord is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Iyer is working for a kimura but Lord is defending it quite comfortably.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.
Iyer wants to take a breather but Lord is having none of it.
Iyer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lord on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ranganathan Iyer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lord shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Iyer but Iyer pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Iyer rushes Lord and presses him up against the cage.
Lord goes for a takedown in the clinch but Iyer prevents it.
Iyer taking a breather.
Lord tries for a takedown but Iyer manages to get underhooks.
Ranganathan Iyer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darth Vader Lord.

Iyer pulls guard successfully.
Iyer trying to keep a closed guard but Lord is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lord is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Iyer is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Iyer has escaped and now he's on top!

Lord looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iyer chips away with some ground and pound.
Lord keeping moving, preventing Iyer from controlling successfully.

Lord throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Iyer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lord shoots in looking for a takedown. Iyer tries to sprawl out of it but Lord keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Iyer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Iyer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Iyer there.

Lord actively working from the bottom here.
Lord has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cobra Kai Dojo. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Iyer lands a nice short elbow.

Lord looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Iyer trying to control from half guard but Lord is working away.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.
Iyer is nestled in close to Lord, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Iyer is looking for a kimura here.

Lord with the active half guard here but Iyer passes nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iyer landing a few strikes.
Lord tries to bench press Iyer off him but Iyer keeps the position.
Iyer trying to control the position but Lord is working away.

Iyer stands up and beckons Lord to his feet.
Lord shoots in looking for a takedown but Iyer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lord's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lord is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Iyer lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Iyer.
Lord closes the distance and clinches up with Iyer, looking for a takedown. Lord pushes Iyer against the cage but Iyer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iyer drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lord tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Iyer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Iyer trying to control the action but Lord is working from the bottom.
Iyer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lord is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lord is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Iyer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Iyer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ranganathan Iyer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Iyer wants to take a breather but Lord is having none of it.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lord looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ranganathan Iyer dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lord shoots in for a takedown but Iyer shows good takedown defense.
Lord with a lazy takedown attempt
and Iyer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Iyer throws a combination. Lord tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Iyer shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lord is trying to defend but Iyer finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Lord looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Iyer scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lord looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Iyer trying to mount his opponent but Lord defends it.

Lord looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.
Iyer wants to take a breather but Lord is having none of it.

Lord actively working from the bottom here.
Iyer wants to pass to mount but Lord is defending the position.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.

Lord looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Lord looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lord looking for submissions off his back.

Lord is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Iyer pulls his head out easily.
Iyer drops an elbow to the side of Lord's head.
Lord has hold of Iyer's hands but Iyer slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Lord looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lord actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lord looking for submissions off his back.
Iyer works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lord is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Iyer putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Iyer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lord is looking to escape.

Iyer is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Lord to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lord shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lord can't escape the position.
Lord is still trying to improve position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Iyer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lord is looking to escape.
Darth Vader Lord has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ranganathan Iyer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Iyer breaks from Lord's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ranganathan Iyer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Iyer has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ranganathan Iyer!
A determined Ranganathan Iyer didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!