PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryder Morningstar (ranked 24427 p4p, 24133 weight class) and Yawa Kiang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morningstar
vs
Kiang

175 cm
23
155
9 - 19 - 0

182 cm
23
160
26 - 37 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryder Morningstar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 37 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yawa Kiang!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Kiang.
Kiang is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Morningstar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kiang circles away quickly and effectively.
Morningstar throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kiang counters with a single leg into guard. Morningstar didn't expect that.
Kiang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Morningstar trying to control the position.
Morningstar wants to stand up but Kiang is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morningstar looking to control.
Kiang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kiang has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Morningstar trying to keep a closed guard but Kiang is proving a slippery customer.
Kiang scoring with punches to the head and body.
Morningstar wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Morningstar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kiang only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Morningstar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Morningstar throws a head kick that misses.
Morningstar throws a lazy head kick

and Kiang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morningstar won't be happy with that.
Morningstar is trying to improve his position.
Kiang controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morningstar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee asks Kiang politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kiang prefers to stall for the moment though.
Morningstar struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morningstar is trying to improve his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A big left from Morningstar misses.
Kiang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morningstar.
And Kiang responds with a good body kick, but Morningstar manages to step out the way in time.
The crowd cheers as Morningstar lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kiang doesn't seem phased though.
Morningstar connects with a single shot there.
Morningstar misses with a lunging right hand
and Kiang counters with a body kick that stops Morningstar in his tracks momentarily.
Morningstar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morningstar lands a head shot.
Morningstar throws an overhand right that lands on Kiang's shoulder, as Kiang tries to avoid the shot.
And Kiang responds with a good body kick, but Morningstar manages to step out the way in time.
Kiang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morningstar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Morningstar dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Morningstar throws a leg kick

and Kiang counters with a shoot takedown. Morningstar fights it but they end up in guard.
Morningstar wants to stand but Kiang is controlling the position.
Kiang controlling from the top position.
Kiang preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Morningstar looking for a sweep. Not yet Morningstar, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiang is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Morningstar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kiang sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kiang now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
The fighters circling - Morningstar throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kiang follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kiang checks the leg kick nicely there.
A nice side step and Kiang releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Morningstar lands a nice shot that snaps Kiang's head back.
Ryder Morningstar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morningstar throws a hook to the side of Kiang's head but Kiang sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kiang is trying to counter with his kicks.
Kiang on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Morningstar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kiang can do to turn this around?
Morningstar throws a right hand that misses
and Kiang counters with a body kick.
Morningstar misses with a hook
and Kiang finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morningstar misses with a left hand

and Kiang counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morningstar won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morningstar is trying to improve his position.
Kiang in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Morningstar wants to control but Kiang postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kiang working away.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Morningstar tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kiang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kiang moves out of range of the strikes.
Kiang replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Morningstar blocks it well.
Morningstar throws a lazy head kick

and Kiang counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Morningstar working a defensive guard but Kiang passes into half guard.
Kiang passes into side control, despite Morningstar's attempt to control the position.
Morningstar is letting Kiang control him for a moment.
Kiang wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morningstar keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Kiang stalls from top position.
Kiang cracks Morningstar with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kiang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morningstar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Morningstar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yawa Kiang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A big left from Morningstar misses.
Despite the aggression on Kiang's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kiang ducks under a wild hook from Morningstar.
A head kick misses from Morningstar.
Morningstar lands with a hook. Kiang tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Kiang feints and as Morningstar raises his hands in defense, Kiang changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kiang postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Morningstar trying to control the position.
Kiang prevents Morningstar from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morningstar is trying to control the position but Kiang postures up.
Morningstar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kiang is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morningstar is trying to keep Kiang in close.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Morningstar wants to improve his position but instead Kiang has moved into half guard.
Kiang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Morningstar is trying to maintain the position but Kiang is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morningstar misses the shot to the body.
And Kiang responds with a good body kick, but Morningstar manages to step out the way in time.
Morningstar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kiang only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Morningstar throws a head kick that misses

so Kiang counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Morningstar wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kiang manages to pass to side control.

Morningstar is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiang prevents Morningstar from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Morningstar wants to improve his position but Kiang is controlling well.
Kiang controlling the pace.
Morningstar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kiang is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kiang keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Yawa Kiang has got the better of the ground game so far.
Morningstar is looking to control Kiang's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morningstar avoid being mounted?
Morningstar tries to get to full guard but Kiang has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Yawa Kiang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kiang has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yawa Kiang!