PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between AJ Monty (ranked 7234 p4p, 25313 weight class) and Paul Yreka (ranked 629 p4p, 671 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Monty
vs
Yreka

195 cm
23
187
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
190
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, AJ Monty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Yreka!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monty gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Yreka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Monty swinging wildly here.
Monty tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yreka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Monty somewhat.
Monty misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Monty.
Yreka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Monty circles away quickly and effectively.
Monty throws a one two combo.
Monty tries to clinch up
and Yreka counters with a two punch combo.
AJ Monty seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monty tries to clinch up but Yreka circles away and keeps his distance.
Yreka lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Monty tries a head kick but it misses.
Yreka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Monty.
Monty tries to clinch up
and Yreka counters with a three punch combo that has Monty backing up. Monty nods at Yreka to acknowledge the strikes.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Monty - that will leave a mark!
Yreka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Monty is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Yreka.

Monty moves into range and clinches up with Yreka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monty tries to pull guard but Yreka won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Monty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monty looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Yreka manages to break the clinch.
Paul Yreka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Monty closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Yreka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Monty looks to clinch
and Yreka counters with a series of strikes. Monty will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monty changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yreka tries to avoid it but Monty manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yreka to the ground. Yreka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Monty tries to clinch up but Yreka circles away and keeps his distance.
Yreka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Monty throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yreka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Monty.
Yreka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Monty is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monty tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yreka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Yreka has closed the distance and engaged Monty in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Yreka.
Monty tries to pull guard but Yreka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yreka stops a takedown attempt from Monty.

Yreka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Yreka both land. Nice combination.
Yreka lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Yreka tries to bum rush Monty with a series of wild strikes but Monty uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yreka cracks Monty with a right hand to the side of the head.
Yreka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Monty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monty falls off balance throwing a combination
and Yreka counters with a one-two to the body.
Monty is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monty with a poor takedown
and Yreka counters with a nice body shot.
Monty with a poor takedown
and Yreka counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Yreka moves out of range of the strikes.

Yreka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Monty, pushing him back against the cage.

Monty breaks from the clinch.

Yreka instigates a clinch.

Yreka manages to break the clinch.
Monty has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Monty misses with a right hand
and Yreka counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Yreka dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Monty throws a head kick but Yreka moves out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yreka!
AJ Monty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Monty tries to clinch
and Yreka counters with a left and a right that stings Monty.
Yreka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Monty misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yreka connects with a body shot.
Yreka misses with a double jab.
Monty misses with a few strikes there.
Yreka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monty fails with an attempt to clinch.

Monty forces Yreka back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yreka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Yreka slips under a jab from Monty.
Yreka fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Monty fails to land the takedown.
Yreka is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Monty with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Yreka clinches up against the cage.
Yreka lands with a right to the head.

Yreka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Monty with a poor takedown
and Yreka counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Monty. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Monty.

Yreka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Monty throws an elbow that misses.
Monty is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yreka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Monty misses with the head strike.

Yreka breaks from the clinch.
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!
Yreka fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Monty looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Yreka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Monty throws a leg kick
and Yreka counters with a one-two to the body.

Yreka has Monty up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monty is trying to pull guard but Yreka has him pressed against the cage.
Monty has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yreka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Monty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yreka scores with a three punch combo!
Yreka thuds a left hand into Monty's body.

Monty tries to keep at a distance but Yreka has taken the fight into the clinch.

Yreka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yreka stuffs the takedown attempt from Monty. Monty gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monty throws a combination that misses
and Yreka counters with a series of strikes. Monty will be more careful next time no doubt.
Yreka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Monty looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yreka is fending him off so far but Monty persists. Nope, Yreka circles away and we're back to standing.
Yreka throws a counter combo.

Yreka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yreka slows down the pace here.
Yreka pushes Monty back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yreka.
Monty has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yreka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Yreka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Yreka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Monty throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yreka counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Monty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yreka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Monty rather than just go for the knockout.
Yreka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yreka thumps Monty with a low kick.
Yreka circles away from the clinch attempt
and Yreka counters with a left and a right that stings Monty.
A combination from Monty does no damage.

Yreka rushes Monty and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monty is trying to pull guard but Yreka has him pressed against the cage.
Monty tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Yreka just leaning against Monty, taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yreka blocks the elbow strike.
Yreka tries to break the clinch but Monty is controlling the position.

Monty pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yreka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Monty shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yreka defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yreka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Monty circles away quickly and effectively.
Monty has his takedown stuffed
and Yreka counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Monty. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monty with a poor takedown
and Yreka counters with a right hand to the body.
Yreka defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Monty.
Monty has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yreka rushes Monty and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Monty. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Yreka stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Yreka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yreka throws a nice looking combination but Monty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Monty throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yreka counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yreka lands a lovely overhand right.
Yreka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Monty walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yreka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Monty on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Yreka moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monty fails to pull guard.

Yreka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Monty is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yreka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yreka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Yreka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Yreka. That snapped Monty's head back.
Monty takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Monty looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yreka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Monty is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yreka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Monty.
Oh Monty is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Yreka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Monty seems to have got his legs back now.
Monty tries to move into range but Yreka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Monty swinging wildly here.
Yreka stuns Monty with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
AJ Monty has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yreka connects with the punch.
Nice body punch from Yreka.

Yreka instigates a clinch.
Yreka lands a nice elbow.
Paul Yreka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Yreka breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Yreka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yreka 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Yreka!