PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Yang (ranked 24143 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Powers (ranked 5072 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Yang
vs
Powers

213 cm
23
278 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

215 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mathew Yang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kenny Powers!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers throws a head kick but Yang moves out of range.
Yang attempts a counter takedown but Powers avoids it well and moves away.
Powers throws a combination that misses

and Yang counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Powers kicks Yang off and gets to his feet.
Kenny Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powers shoots in for a double leg but Yang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice takedown defense from Powers. No joy for Yang on that attempt.
Powers drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yang defends it well.
Powers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yang as he avoids it easily.
Powers punishes Yang's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice sprawl there from Yang as Powers shoots in.
Mathew Yang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Powers.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yang shoots in for a takedown but Powers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Yang tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Powers defends well and Yang ends up having to push Powers into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

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

Powers kicks Yang off and gets back to his feet.
Yang fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Powers drives through and clinches with Yang against the cage.

Yang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Powers has closed the distance and engaged Yang in a clinch.
Powers has had enough of the clinch but Yang keeps him there for the moment.
Stalling in the clinch from Powers.
Powers is stalling here.

Yang pulls guard.
Powers content to stall in guard here.
Yang working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Powers won't allow Yang to sweep him here.
Powers trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Powers preventing the sweep.
Powers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to bum rush Yang with a series of wild strikes but Yang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Powers tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yang sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Powers somewhat.

Powers clinches.
Powers with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Powers throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Powers is defending well.
Powers working hard to break the clinch.
Yang tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yang gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Powers.
Powers tries to land knees in the clinch but Yang avoids the damage to the body.

Powers drags the fight down to the ground.
Powers has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Powers manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Powers. No joy for Yang on that attempt.

Powers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Powers dominated that round.
That's time! Yang's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Powers takes the fight into the clinch.
Yang just leaning against Powers, taking a breather.
Powers gets underhooks to prevent Yang's takedown attempt.
Yang drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Yang trying to control the position but instead, Powers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yang into the cage.

Yang manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers stands and throws Yang's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Powers stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Powers pushes Yang up against the cage in a clinch.
Yang has Powers pressed against the cage, preventing Powers from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Yang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Powers throws a chopping leg kick but Yang manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Yang feinted with a counter takedown.
Powers throws a lazy body kick

and Yang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Powers won't be happy with that.

Powers throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Powers looks for a takedown but Yang sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yang is defended easily by Powers.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Yang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yang doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Powers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Powers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Mathew Yang has been cut.

Powers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Powers wants to take the fight to the mat but Yang manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yang tries to pull guard but Powers holds him up against the cage and eventually Yang drops back down to his feet.
Powers controlling the action here for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers wants to take the fight to the mat but Yang manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yang is trying to break free.
Yang jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Powers walks away with a smile on his face. Yang gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Powers shoots for a double leg takedown but Yang sprawls well. He's pushed Powers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Powers fails with the takedown.
Yang half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Yang fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yang tries for a takedown but Powers circles away easily
and Powers counters with a series of strikes. Yang will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers shoots in but no luck this time.
Powers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck for Powers with that takedown attempt.
Yang has a takedown stuffed.
Yang leaves Powers with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Yang appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Yang shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.
Powers lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Powers fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Powers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mathew Yang's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Powers has managed to clinch.
Yang is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Powers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yang prevents Powers from breaking the clinch.
Powers is trying to break the clinch but Yang is controlling him.
Powers is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Yang is defending well.
Yang fails to pull guard.
Powers wants to get back to striking at distance but Yang won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yang fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Yang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Powers pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yang prevents Powers from breaking the clinch.
Powers is working for takedown but Yang is calmly controlling the position for now.

Powers jumps guard.
Yang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Powers controlling the position.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Yang from controlling successfully.
Powers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Powers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yang defends well.
Powers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yang trying to control but Powers is working from the bottom.
Yang wants to stand but Powers is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yang or perhaps it was just good defense by Powers, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers has managed to clinch.
Yang jumps guard but Powers stands there with Yang around his waist. Yang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yang tries to stall but Powers uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yang changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Powers fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Powers has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yang is trying hard to land a takedown here. Powers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Powers tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yang defends well and Powers ends up having to push Yang into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Powers clinches.

Powers ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Powers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Yang wants to stand and escape but instead Powers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Powers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers throwing strikes but missing.
Powers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Powers won't allow Yang to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Powers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Powers has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Powers!