PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Yergin (ranked 4446 p4p, 4449 weight class) and Billy Dee Dee (ranked 471 p4p, 472 weight class). Billy Dee Dee has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yergin
vs
Dee Dee

194 cm
18
280
1 - 0 - 0

215 cm
18
255
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Yergin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Dee Dee!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yergin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dee Dee tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Yergin lands a jab to Dee Dee's midsection.
Yergin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dee Dee tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Yergin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dee Dee to the ground. Yergin is now in Dee Dee's guard.
Yergin pushing down on Dee Dee's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yergin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Dee Dee manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Yergin keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Dee Dee is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yergin is defending well.
Yergin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yergin has Dee Dee pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dee Dee manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Yergin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
I was talking to Yergin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Dee Dee tries for a takedown but Yergin manages to get underhooks.
Daniel Yergin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Dee Dee.
Yergin can't find room to land a body shot as Dee Dee controls the action.
Yergin tries to circle away but Dee Dee has him pinned against the cage.
Dee Dee tries to score a body lock takedown but Yergin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dee Dee has Yergin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Yergin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dee Dee tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yergin tries to pull guard but Dee Dee forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dee Dee drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yergin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dee Dee drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yergin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dee Dee looks winded!
Yergin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Yergin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Yergin slips a nice elbow through Dee Dee's hands, connecting with Dee Dee's forehead.
Dee Dee keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yergin wants to pass the guard but Dee Dee is defending well.

Yergin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dee Dee defends it well.

Yergin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dee Dee avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yergin.
Yergin prevents Dee Dee from standing back up.

Yergin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dee Dee sees it coming and defends easily.

Yergin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yergin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dee Dee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Yergin is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Dee Dee still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Dee Dee has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yergin tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dee Dee working away.
Yergin tries to improve position but can't.
Yergin is working hard here to advance position.
Dee Dee working away.
Yergin manages to get back to half guard.
Yergin wants to improve his position but Dee Dee is controlling well.

Yergin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dee Dee pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Yergin is trying to maintain the position but Dee Dee is very close to passing his half guard.

Yergin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yergin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Yergin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Dee Dee stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yergin dives in and grabs Dee Dee's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dee Dee pushes down on Yergin's head and hops out.
And Dee Dee tries to counter it with a takedown but Yergin pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Yergin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dee Dee's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Yergin dominated that round.
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.

Yergin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Dee Dee tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Yergin is in Dee Dee's guard.

Dee Dee has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Yergin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Yergin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Yergin wants to get back to striking at distance but Dee Dee won't allow it.
Dee Dee drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yergin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yergin throws a head kick but Dee Dee moves out of range.
Dee Dee drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yergin defends it well.
Daniel Yergin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Dee Dee as Yergin shoots in.
Yergin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dee Dee circles away.
And Dee Dee tries to counter it with a takedown but Yergin pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Yergin scores with a takedown into Dee Dee's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yergin tries to free his leg and advance position but Dee Dee is retaining full guard.
Yergin throws a big right hand that misses.
Yergin throws a strike but Dee Dee rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dee Dee gets to his feet - Yergin follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dee Dee with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Yergin to score with a decent uppercut.

Yergin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dee Dee to the ground. Yergin is now in Dee Dee's guard.

Dee Dee pushes Yergin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Dee Dee keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dee Dee changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yergin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Yergin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yergin looking to score a takedown here. Dee Dee is defending well but Yergin drives through and ends up in Dee Dee's guard.

Dee Dee kicks Yergin off and gets to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yergin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yergin shoots in looking for a takedown. Dee Dee tries to sprawl out of it but Yergin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dee Dee manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Yergin is working for an americana but Dee Dee has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Yergin was thinking about the submission.
Dee Dee wants to stand up but Yergin is controlling him.
Billy Dee Dee has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yergin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dee Dee is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Yergin, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yergin looking for subs off his back but Dee Dee has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dee Dee tries to stand and escape but Yergin is controlling the position.
Yergin trying to control from the bottom.
Dee Dee tries to stand but can't do so whilst Yergin controls his leg.

Yergin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yergin is controlling Dee Dee's trapped leg to prevent Dee Dee from advancing to side control.
Yergin trying to get back to full guard but Dee Dee takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Yergin tries to hold on but Dee Dee postures up.
My spies in Banzai Combat Academy LA inform me that Dee Dee has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Yergin is looking to get to half guard.
Yergin flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Dee Dee is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Dee Dee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yergin misses with a head kick.

Yergin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Dee Dee kicks off Yergin and gets to his feet.

Yergin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Dee Dee pushes Yergin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daniel Yergin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yergin throws a body shot but no joy.

Yergin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dee Dee is trying to buck Yergin off.

Yergin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yergin with the ground and pound but Dee Dee regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dee Dee looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yergin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Yergin is working for a submission of some sort.

Yergin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dee Dee is just riding it out for now. Yergin eventually gives up the hold.
Yergin drops an elbow to the side of Dee Dee's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Dee Dee manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Yergin misses with a wild combination.
Dee Dee feints the counter takedown.
Yergin misses with a takedown attempt - Dee Dee sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Dee Dee tries to sprawl but Yergin drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Yergin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Yergin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yergin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dee Dee defending well though.
Dee Dee is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yergin scores with a couple of nice shots.

Yergin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Yergin looking for a submission but Dee Dee manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Yergin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dee Dee swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dee Dee. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Yergin won't allow Dee Dee to get back to his feet.

Yergin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dee Dee looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dee Dee looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dee Dee!

Yergin tries to buck Dee Dee off but Dee Dee is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yergin holds on to Dee Dee's head and controls the position momentarily.
Yergin is looking for a sweep.
Yergin wants to control but Dee Dee postures up.
Yergin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Dee Dee is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Yergin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Dee Dee stands up from mount. Strange move.
Dee Dee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yergin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dee Dee to the mat! Dee Dee manages to get full guard.
Yergin throws a strike but Dee Dee rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dee Dee tries to stand but Yergin is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Dee Dee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dee Dee 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Dee Dee!