PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rio Yaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Stoker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rio Yaj is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Yaj
vs
Stoker

192 cm
25
215 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

199 cm
26
210 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Revolution Clothing

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rio Yaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Edward Stoker!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stoker throws a jab but it's blocked by Yaj.
Stoker takes a swing at Yaj's ribcage but misses.

Yaj closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Yaj working the ground and pound but Stoker is defending the strikes.
Stoker has one of Yaj's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Yaj landing a few strikes.
The strikes coming from Yaj are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Yaj misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stoker is looking for a sweep.
Yaj is working Stoker over with some ground and pound from side control.
Stoker tries to improve position but can't.
Yaj has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The strikes coming from Yaj are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stoker dodges the ground and pound from Yaj.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj trying to control the action but Stoker is working from the bottom.
Yaj misses with the ground and pound.
Yaj throwing strikes but Stoker manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Yaj is not content to let Stoker control the position.
Yaj is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Yaj is looking to escape.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stoker in particular looking to stall.
Yaj is looking to control Stoker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yaj avoid being mounted?
Yaj moves into full guard.
Yaj wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj keeping moving, preventing Stoker from controlling successfully.
Stoker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stoker is fighting to break Yaj's control of his arms but Yaj is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stoker tries a head kick but it misses.
Yaj tries to counter with a takedown but Stoker is quick to defend against it.
Yaj fails to land with a series of punches.
Yaj misses the shot to the body.
Stoker connects with a body shot that sends Yaj's belly button to the back.
Yaj misses with a two punch combination.
Stoker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yaj tries to bum rush Stoker with a series of wild strikes but Stoker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stoker throws a series of punches but Yaj moves out of range.
Stoker lands with a right hand.
Yaj tries to clinch but Stoker is having none of it.
Yaj moves forwards but Stoker connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yaj misses with a wild body shot.
Yaj walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Stoker ducks under a wild hook from Yaj.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yaj is looking to clinch.
Stoker connects with a leg kick. Yaj looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stoker throws a series of punches but Yaj moves out of range.

Yaj rushes Stoker and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stoker.
Yaj is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stoker stops a takedown attempt from Yaj.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yaj keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stoker's efforts to push away.
Stoker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yaj's elbow.
Yaj misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj is trying to drag Stoker to the mat but Stoker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Edward Stoker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yaj rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stoker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yaj misses with the combination.
Stoker stuffs the takedown.
Yaj feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Stokers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters circling - Yaj throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stoker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yaj.
Rio Yaj is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stoker misses with a body kick.
Yaj tries to counter with a takedown but Stoker is quick to defend against it.
Stoker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Yaj misses the target.
Stoker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yaj just misses with a punch to the body.
Stoker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Yaj looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj just misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj tries for a takedown but Stoker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Yaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yaj misses with a left hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Yaj takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Stoker avoids the body shot from Yaj.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yaj scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yaj doesn't manage to clinch there - Stoker circles away.
Stoker throws a wild body kick that Yaj sees coming a mile off.
Yaj darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stoker avoids a punch combination nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stoker.
Yaj just misses with a punch to the body.
Yaj throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stoker sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stoker, as that shot connected.
Yaj doesn't manage to clinch there - Stoker circles away.
Stoker with a jab.
Yaj throws a hook but Stoker avoids it easily.
Yaj throws out a loose jab but Stoker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stoker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Yaj tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Stoker scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stoker has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Stoker finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Stoker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yaj finds it's way round the side to connect with Stoker's head.
Stoker scores with a jab to the body.
Yaj misses with a hook. Stoker ducked under it nicely.
Yaj throws a jab but it's blocked by Stoker.
Yaj changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stoker tries to avoid it but Yaj manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stoker to the ground. Stoker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Stoker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Yaj throws a hook to the side of Stoker's head but Stoker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stoker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stoker lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stoker throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Stoker has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yaj tries to close the distance and clinch but Stoker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yaj misses with a two punch combination.
Stoker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yaj.
Stoker catches Yaj with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Yaj looks to land a left hand but Stoker moved out of range nicely.
Stoker lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Edward Stoker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stoker clobbers Yaj with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Stoker catches Yaj with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A shot to the liver by Stoker. Beautiful body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Yaj misses the target.
Stoker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yaj.
Yaj is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Stoker.
Stoker stuns Yaj with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stoker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stoker throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stoker dips to his left and cracks Yaj with an uppercut!
Stoker slaps away a takedown attempt from Yaj, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yaj misses with a hook. Stoker ducked under it nicely.
Stoker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yaj on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Stoker as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Yaj 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Stoker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yaj on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yaj takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stoker looks to land a body kick but Yaj moved away.
Yaj lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stoker circles away quickly and effectively.
Yaj misses the jab.
Yaj wants to clinch up but Stoker keeps it at a distance.
Stoker looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Edward Stoker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yaj misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stoker now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Stoker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stoker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Yaj ducks right into an uppercut from Stoker.
Stoker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stoker changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stoker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yaj doesn't seem bothered though.
An inside leg kick lands from Stoker.

Yaj closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Yaj throwing shots but Stoker is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Stoker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Stoker keeps the fight on the outside.
Stoker throws a low kick but Yaj avoids it.
Stoker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stoker misses with an uppercut. Yaj saw that one coming.
Yaj looks to score with a jab to the body but Stoker is just out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Yaj.
Stoker connects with the punch.
Stoker lands a body shot.
Yaj wants to clinch up but Stoker keeps it at a distance.
Yaj doesn't manage to clinch there - Stoker circles away.
Stoker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yaj.
Stoker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yaj manages to avoid it.
Yaj shoots in looking for a takedown. Stoker tries to sprawl out of it but Yaj keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stoker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stoker lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stoker lands with a cross.
Stoker throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stoker throws a head kick that Yaj semi-blocks.
Yaj takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stoker moves out of range of the strikes.

Yaj forces Stoker back against the cage and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Stoker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Stoker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yaj backwards.
Yaj throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stoker blocks it with crossed arms.
Stoker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stoker tries a body shot but Yaj blocks it.
Knees to the body from Yaj.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stoker can't find room to land a body shot as Yaj controls the action.
Yaj lands a body shot in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Stoker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yaj with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stoker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rio Yaj has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yaj is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj is trying to drag Stoker to the mat but Stoker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yaj lands a damaging elbow.
Yaj is working for takedown but Stoker is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rio Yaj. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stoker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stoker pushes Yaj back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yaj misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stoker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stoker scores with a shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Stoker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Yaj swings wildly with an uppercut but Stoker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stoker cracks Yaj with a nice body shot.
Good body shot from Stoker.
Stoker tries to work over Yaj's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stoker scores with a shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Stoker lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stoker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stoker moves into range and connects with a jab.
Yaj's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Stoker connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Yaj scrambles back to his feet.
Yaj moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Yaj is rocked!
Yaj tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stoker clobbers Yaj with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Oh Yaj is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yaj throws a left and a right that both miss
and Stoker counters with a stiff right hand.
Yaj gets hit by the mother of all head kicks and drops to the canvas in a crumpled heap! Woooow, the Internet is going to be talking about this one for weeks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Edward Stoker!
During a confident post fight interview, Edward Stoker thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.