PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akbar Shah (ranked 20407 p4p, 523 weight class) and Daddy Yo-Yo (ranked 6892 p4p, 493 weight class). Daddy Yo-Yo told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shah
vs
Yo-Yo

190 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

187 cm
33
198 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akbar Shah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Daddy Yo-Yo!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Shah misses.
As Shah backs off Yo-Yo throws a huge counter combo but Shah manages to avoid it all.
Yo-Yo lands a jab to the nose.
Shah tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yo-Yo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yo-Yo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shah misses the jab.
Shah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yo-Yo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yo-Yo connects with a body shot.
Shah scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shah scores with a hook.
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!
Yo-Yo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shah.
Shah fails to land with a series of punches.
Yo-Yo throws a big counter head kick but Shah avoids it with no problem.
Yo-Yo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shah doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Shah lands a left and a right that send Yo-Yo crashing to the mat, dazed. Shah thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Yo-Yo is rocked!

Shah clinches with his opponent.

Shah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yo-Yo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shah.
Shah takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shah fails to land with a series of punches.
Yo-Yo feints a counter leg kick.
Shah bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yo-Yo's head backwards.
Shah takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shah blocks a jab.
Sloppy strikes from Shah. Those never looked like landing.
Yo-Yo is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shah with a body shot.
Yo-Yo lands with an overhand left.
Shah misses with a wild body shot.
Shah closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shah misses with a body shot
and Yo-Yo counters with a straight right hand.
Nice body kick from Yo-Yo.
Yo-Yo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Shah throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shah's knee momentarily.
Yo-Yo slips a jab and a cross from Shah.
Shah misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shah looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yo-Yo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yo-Yo is looking for the big counter here.
Yo-Yo throws the kick towards the body but Shah avoids it.
Shah throws a combination that misses
and Yo-Yo counters with a left and a right that stings Shah.
Shah lands a slapping body shot.
Shah looks to land a combination but Yo-Yo avoids it well.
A slow jab from Shah misses its intended target.
Shah tries to bum rush Yo-Yo with a series of wild strikes but Yo-Yo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yo-Yo manages to avoid it.
Yo-Yo slips under a jab.
A jab from Shah misses.
Shah throws a combination. Yo-Yo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yo-Yo throws a head kick that misses.
Yo-Yo dodges the punch combination from Shah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shah misses with a two punch combination.
Yo-Yo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shah misses with the combination.
Shah tries to clinch up
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice uppercut.
Yo-Yo slips under a jab.
Yo-Yo avoids a punch combination nicely.
It seemed like Yo-Yo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shah scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akbar Shah dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shah throws an off balance right hand
and Yo-Yo counters with a leg kick.
Shah tries to bum rush Yo-Yo with a series of wild strikes but Yo-Yo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shah misses with a double jab.
Shah moves in looking to clinch but Yo-Yo pushes him off.
Yo-Yo wants to land a leg kick but Shah is out of range.
Akbar Shah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Shah does no damage.
Shah misses with a looping left.
Shah with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shah misses with an uppercut
and Yo-Yo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shah is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yo-Yo can do to turn this around?
Yo-Yo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Shah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shah lands a nice hook to Yo-Yo's body. Yo-Yo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Yo-Yo throws a body kick that misses.
Shah tries to clinch up but Yo-Yo circles away and keeps his distance.
Shah misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yo-Yo takes a swing at Shah's ribcage but misses.
Yo-Yo tries a low kick but Shah avoids it.
Yo-Yo misses with a body kick.
Shah throws a right and a left that Yo-Yo avoids nicely.
Yo-Yo replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Shah blocks it well.
Shah lands a jab-cross combination.
Shah misses with a two punch combination.
Akbar Shah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shah wants to clinch.
Yo-Yo counters with a body kick.
Shah moves out of range of the body kick.
Shah will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yo-Yo appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shah moves into the clinch.

Yo-Yo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice defenses there by Yo-Yo.
Despite the aggression on Yo-Yo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Shah swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shah throws a series of punches but Yo-Yo moves out of range.
Shah tries to clinch there but Yo-Yo circles away.
Akbar Shah is winning the standup battle so far.
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!
Shah misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sloppy strikes from Shah. Those never looked like landing.
Yo-Yo replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Shah blocks it well.
Some wild striking there from Yo-Yo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yo-Yo slips a jab and a cross from Shah.
Shah takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shah connects with a single shot there.
Shah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yo-Yo avoids the body shot from Shah.
Yo-Yo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sloppy strikes from Shah. Those never looked like landing.
Yo-Yo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Shah on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Shah throws a right hand that Yo-Yo ducks under and follows up with a left that Yo-Yo also avoids with ease.
Shah just misses with a punch to the body.
Yo-Yo throws a counter combo.
Shah tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yo-Yo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yo-Yo unleashes a big counter combination but Shah bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Shah takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shah darts in trying to clinch
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice body shot.
Yo-Yo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shah eats them both and turns towards Yo-Yo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shah misses with a two punch combination.
Shah throws a right hand that Yo-Yo ducks under and follows up with a left that Yo-Yo also avoids with ease.
Yo-Yo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Yo-Yo moves away from the strike by Shah.
Yo-Yo is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Shah with a body shot.
Shah throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice uppercut.
Shah fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shah tries to clinch but Yo-Yo moves away
and Yo-Yo counters with a series of strikes. Shah will be more careful next time no doubt.

It looks like Akbar Shah has been cut.
Yo-Yo scores with a spinning back kick!
Shah fails to land with a series of punches.
Yo-Yo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shah throws a poor cross that misses
and Yo-Yo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Akbar Shah will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Akbar Shah's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yo-Yo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yo-Yo lands a nice looking body shot.
A shot to the liver by Yo-Yo. Beautiful body shot.
Shah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yo-Yo.
Shah throws a series of punches but Yo-Yo avoids them all with ease.
Shah takes a swing at Yo-Yo's ribcage but misses.
Shah misses with a hook. Yo-Yo ducked under it nicely.
Yo-Yo throws a counter combo.
Yo-Yo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shah lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yo-Yo jabs at Shah's body.
Shah throws a combination that misses
and Yo-Yo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shah throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yo-Yo steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yo-Yo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yo-Yo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Yo-Yo misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Shah wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Shah fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shah looks to land a combination but Yo-Yo avoids it well.
Yo-Yo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Yo-Yo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Shah looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shah looks to land a combination but Yo-Yo avoids it well.
Shah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yo-Yo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yo-Yo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shah darts in trying to clinch
and Yo-Yo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shah closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yo-Yo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yo-Yo.
A combination from Shah does no damage.
Yo-Yo throws out a counter right but Shah avoids it with no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shah misses with a double jab
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice uppercut.
Yo-Yo punishes Shah's body with a nice straight punch.
Shah is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Yo-Yo avoids the body shot from Shah.
Yo-Yo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Yo-Yo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Shah has managed to clinch.

Shah breaks from the clinch.
Shah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Yo-Yo counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shah bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Yo-Yo's head.
A slow jab from Shah misses its intended target.
Yo-Yo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shah.
Shah goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shah misses with the combination.
Yo-Yo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Yo-Yo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Akbar Shah is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shah scores with a jab.
Shah throws a combination that misses
and Shah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shah takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shah. Yo-Yo does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Shah misses the target.
Yo-Yo slips a jab and a cross from Shah.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shah fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shah misses with a combination
and Yo-Yo counters with a nice uppercut.
Yo-Yo stuns Shah with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Yo-Yo defending well as Shah loads up on a big left hand.
Shah scores with a jab to the jaw.
Yo-Yo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Shah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yo-Yo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yo-Yo unleashes a big counter combination but Shah bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Shah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yo-Yo.
Shah pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Shah misses.
Daddy Yo-Yo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shah looks to land a combination but Yo-Yo avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akbar Shah.
Well Shah 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akbar Shah!
During a confident post fight interview, Akbar Shah thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.