PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raymond Yacht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rush
vs
Yacht

183 cm
26
140 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
141 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Black Skull Clothing
Black Skull Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raymond Yacht!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yacht.

It looks like Xavier Rush has been cut.
Yacht throws a right hand that Rush ducks under and follows up with a left that Rush also avoids with ease.
Rush really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rush feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rush throws a strike but Yacht rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Yacht won't allow Rush to get back to his feet.
Yacht looking to pass the guard.
Yacht slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yacht trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rush manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yacht's guard.
Yacht is looking to stand back up but Rush counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Yacht.
Rush wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yacht keeps working.
Rush controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yacht is looking to improve his position.
Rush missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rush drops an elbow to the side of Yacht's head.
Yacht is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Rush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yacht's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yacht is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rush seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rush is keen to just control but Yacht is a slippery customer.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rush in particular looking to stall.
Rush is looking to take a break and control but Yacht is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yacht sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rush somewhat.

Rush drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yacht works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rush trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yacht wants to sweep but no luck.
Yacht manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Yacht goes for an armbar but Rush turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Rush dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Rush's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yacht tries to score with a low kick but Rush moves his leg out of the way.
Yacht keeps the fight on the outside.
Rush displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Yacht misses with a hook.
Yacht throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Yacht closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rush to the mat! Rush manages to get full guard.
Yacht trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yacht has gone for a leg lock! Rush slips out almost immediately though and dives into Yacht's guard.
Yacht is trying to control the position but Rush postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yacht works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rush wants to control from the top but Yacht keeps moving.
Rush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rush won't allow Yacht to sweep him here.
Rush looking to pass the guard.
Rush cracks Yacht with a solid left hand.

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.
Rush trying to control but Yacht is working from the bottom.
Rush has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yacht swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rush connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Yacht gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rush to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yacht is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rush is stalling in the full guard.
Yacht manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yacht goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rush is on top in guard.
Rush throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rush wants to control from the top but Yacht keeps moving.
Rush is really struggling to control Yacht but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Yacht keeping full guard, as Rush tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yacht is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Rush dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Rush's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yacht falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rush counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rush moves in looking to clinch but Yacht pushes him off.
Yacht avoids a punch combination nicely.
Raymond Yacht seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush checks a leg kick.
Yacht circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rush drives through and clinches with Yacht against the cage.
Yacht wants to get back to striking at distance but Rush won't allow it.
Yacht is trying to break the clinch but Rush is controlling him.
Yacht missing with knees to the body.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Yacht backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Yacht's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rush misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rush breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yacht misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rush avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rush showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yacht.
Yacht shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yacht throws a predictable looking body shot

and Rush counters by clinching up.
Yacht is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rush gets through Yacht's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yacht is trying to break the clinch but Rush is controlling him.
Rush gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Yacht.
Xavier Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raymond Yacht.

Rush breaks the clinch.
Yacht throws a body punch but Rush moves out of range.
Yacht tests Rush's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yacht misses with a wild combination.
Rush is looking to clinch.
Yacht avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yacht misses with a series of wild punches.
Yacht misses with the combination.
Yacht displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rush.

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

Yacht tries to keep at a distance but Rush has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yacht blocking some punches.
Rush misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rush lands with a left to the head.
Yacht tries to break the clinch but Rush is controlling the position.
Rush scores with a shoulder strike.

Yacht escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yacht keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yacht misses with a wild combination.
Yacht throws a combination that misses

and Rush counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Yacht wants to break free but Rush has control.

Rush breaks the clinch.
Rush wants to clinch up but Yacht keeps it at a distance.

Rush clinches up with Yacht and pushes him back against the cage.
Rush prevents the takedown attempt.
Rush pushes Yacht back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is pushing Yacht up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yacht is trying to break free.

Rush breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rush tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rush looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rush tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yacht paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yacht swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rush counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rush breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yacht throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rush counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rush.
Yacht goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rush prevents it.
Yacht takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rush pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yacht shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rush defends it nicely.

Rush darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yacht's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rush content to control rather than advance.
Rush's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Raymond Yacht has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xavier Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yacht trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rush, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Rush!