PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thai Striker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Yabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Striker's entrance music is Rage Against The Machine - Killing in The Name. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Yabal's choice of entrance music: New Divide, Linkin Park. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Hannu Yabal enters the cage!

Striker
vs
Yabal

170 cm
27
147 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

170 cm
28
141 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Thai Striker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannu Yabal!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Striker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yabal misses with a few strikes there.
Striker cracks Yabal with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A head kick misses from Striker.
Yabal tries to close the distance and clinch but Striker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yabal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yabal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Striker was well out of range. Poor timing from Yabal.
Striker lands a leg kick that knocks Yabal off balance momentarily.
Yabal looks to land a combination but Striker avoids it well.
Yabal takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yabal checks a leg kick nicely.
Yabal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Striker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yabal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yabal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Yabal wants to clinch.
Striker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Striker drops Yabal with a nice combination! Striker dives into Yabal's guard, looking to finish!

Yabal is rocked!
Striker trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yabal 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.
Yabal has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Striker has passed into side control.
Striker is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Yabal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Yabal is looking to take a break and control but Striker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yabal passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Striker!
Yabal throwing strikes here but Striker is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striker wants to try and get back to his feet.

Yabal goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Striker turns into him and now he's in Yabal's guard.
Striker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yabal is keeping the position for now.
Striker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yabal wants to sweep here but Striker controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yabal has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Striker off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Yabal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Striker.
Striker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Striker thumps Yabal with a low kick.
Striker misses with a looping left.
Striker will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Striker throws the left hand but Yabal avoids the punch easily.
Striker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Striker closes the distance looking to clinch

and Yabal counters by moving into the clinch.
Yabal scores with a shot to the side of Striker's head.
Striker lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Striker leaning against his opponent.
Striker connects with a knee to the head.
Striker is breathing heavily.
Striker with a knee to the head.
Yabal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Striker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Striker tries a knee to the head but Yabal blocks it.
Striker landing knees to the body.
Yabal works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Striker trying to land knees to the body.
Striker with a knee to the head.
Yabal stalling in the clinch but Striker improves position.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yabal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Striker.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but Yabal blocks with his arms.
Striker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yabal.
Striker managing to block the knees to the body from Yabal.
Striker tries to land knees in the clinch but Yabal avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Striker pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yabal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Striker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker managing to block the knees to the body from Yabal.
Yabal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yabal throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thai Striker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yabal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Striker, pushing him back against the cage.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Yabal is blocking nicely.
Yabal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Striker.

Yabal gets control of Striker's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yabal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Striker wants to control from the top but Yabal keeps moving.
Yabal 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.
Yabal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Striker wants to control from the top but Yabal keeps moving.

Striker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yabal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Striker has managed to get both his arms back between Yabal's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Striker trying to control but Yabal is working from the bottom.
Yabal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Striker trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thai Striker just wasn't active enough.
Yabal scores with a decent looking hook.
Striker looks to land a body kick but Yabal moved away.
Striker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yabal.
Yabal misses with a body kick.
Striker lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thai Striker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Striker.
Striker slips a jab from Yabal.
A head kick by Striker misses

and Yabal counters with a takedown into side control.
Yabal trying to control the action but Striker is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yabal looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Striker tries to buck Yabal off but Yabal is having none of it.

Yabal wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Striker, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Striker is pushing Yabal's head away, looking to escape. Yabal manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Striker prevents Yabal from improving position.
Yabal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Striker keeps working.
Yabal might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Striker kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Striker sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yabal is looking to take a break and control but Striker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Striker wants to get back to full guard.
Yabal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Striker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Yabal wants to free his trapped foot but Striker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yabal is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Striker reverses the position - he's now on top in Yabal's guard.

Striker stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Striker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Yabal takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Yabal 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!

Striker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yabal blocks the body kick.

Yabal takes the fight into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Yabal just misses with a elbow thrown towards Striker's brow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Striker as Yabal tries to tie him up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Striker obliges.
Striker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yabal avoids it.
Striker misses with a knee strike.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yabal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Striker is defending well for now.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yabal blocks it with crossed arms.
Yabal lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yabal.
Striker misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yabal lands a hook that snaps the head of Striker backwards.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yabal blocks it with crossed arms.
Yabal tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
Yabal tries to score a body lock takedown but Striker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Striker with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yabal lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Striker or not.
Yabal misses with a knee strike.
Yabal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Striker is defending well for now.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Striker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yabal tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
Yabal with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Striker tries a knee to the head but Yabal blocks it.
Yabal with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yabal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Striker avoids it.
Yabal blocks the elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Striker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yabal is defending well for now.
Striker tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yabal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Striker is defending well for now.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yabal blocks it with crossed arms.
Yabal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Striker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two 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.
Striker is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Yabal trying to land knees to the body.
Yabal trying to control the position but instead, Striker has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yabal into the cage.
Striker lands an elbow just above Yabal 's eye.
Striker pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yabal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Striker.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Striker looking to throw knees to the head but Yabal is blocking nicely.
Striker utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Yabal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Striker.
Striker misses with a knee to the head.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yabal blocks it with crossed arms.
Yabal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Striker throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yabal blocks it with crossed arms.
Striker lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Striker as Yabal tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal tries to land knees in the clinch but Striker avoids the damage to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Yabal.
Striker blocks the elbow strike.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yabal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Striker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker scores a nice knee to the body.
Striker dodges an elbow strike from Yabal.
Yabal missing with knees to the body.
Striker dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Yabal wants to stall.
Striker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Striker.
Yabal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Striker connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yabal's face.
Striker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yabal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Striker prevents the takedown attempt.
Yabal misses with a shot to the kidneys.

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.
Striker working Yabal over with knees to the body.
Striker unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Yabal avoiding damage as Striker throws knees to the body.
Yabal has Striker pushed against the cage.
Striker working Yabal over with knees to the body.
Yabal missing with knees to the body.
Striker is struggling to control the position.
Yabal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thai Striker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Yabal.
Striker lands an elbow inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Striker obliges.
Striker managing to block the knees to the body from Yabal.
Striker using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Yabal takes a knee right on the jaw!
Striker connects with a knee to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yabal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Striker is defending well for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Striker obliges.
Striker lands a good knee to the midsection. Yabal won't want to take too many of those.
Striker trying to stall but Yabal improves his position.
Striker tries to land knees in the clinch but Yabal avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thai Striker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Striker 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thai Striker!