PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Yu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Die Antwoord - Enter The Ninja. Backstrom has chosen Girl I Love as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yu
vs
Backstrom

179 cm
27
184 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
186 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Yu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, David Backstrom!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yu closes the distance and clinches.
Yu can't break the clinch.
Backstrom looking for a takedown.

Yu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Backstrom on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Backstrom shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Yu is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Yu holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Backstrom tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Backstrom throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Backstrom throwing strikes here but Yu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Yu is squirming around, avoiding Backstrom's attempts to control the action.
Poor strikes thrown by Backstrom there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Backstrom cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backstrom trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Backstrom punching from mount but Yu doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Backstrom is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Yu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Backstrom throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Yu because Backstrom loaded up on that one.
Backstrom lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Backstrom throwing strikes here but Yu is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Yu wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Backstrom.
Backstrom throws some wild stikes that Yu manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom punching from mount but Yu doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Yu is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Backstrom with shots to the head and body - Yu looks very uncomfortable down there.
Yu is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Backstrom throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Backstrom throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Yu because Backstrom loaded up on that one.
Backstrom unloads with some shots from mount but Yu bucks and avoids them well.
Backstrom looking to ground and pound but Yu is blocking nicely.
Yu is breathing heavily.

Yu bucks up and throws Backstrom to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Yus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Backstrom misses with a head kick.

Yu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Yu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Backstrom has hold of Yu's hands but Yu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Backstrom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yu.
Backstrom is doing well to control the position and prevent Yu from advancing to side control.
Yu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Backstrom keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Yu is going to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Backstrom makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Yu moves into the clinch.
Yu changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Backstrom fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Yu moves into the clinch.
Backstrom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yu.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yu avoiding damage.
Yu has a couple of punches blocked by Backstrom.
Yu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Nice elbow from Yu.
Backstrom tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yu just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Backstrom dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Mike Yu has been cut.

Yu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Backstrom is trying to stall.
Yu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yu lands with a right to the head.

Backstrom breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Backstrom throws a right and a left that both miss.

Yu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yu is pressed up against the cage. Backstrom has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Yu down to the mat. Yu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mike Yu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Backstrom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yu moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Backstrom moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Yu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Backstrom tries to keep at a distance but Yu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Backstrom blocks an elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Backstrom misses with a hook to the ribs.
Yu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Backstrom gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Yu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Backstrom's efforts to push away.
Yu lands with a left to the head.
Backstrom utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backstrom wants to break free but Yu has control.
Yu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Yu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Yu is trying to stall.
Backstrom takes an elbow to the forehead.

Yu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yu has managed to clinch.
Yu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Backstrom is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Backstrom has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mike Yu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Backstrom.
Yu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Backstroms head.
Yu scores with a shot to the side of Backstrom's head.
Backstrom looking to slow down the pace here.
Yu throws an elbow but it misses.
Backstrom has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Backstrom goes for a takedown in the clinch but Yu prevents it.
A short right from Yu on the inside.
Backstrom prevents the takedown attempt.
Backstrom blocks the elbow strike.
Backstrom prevents a takedown attempt there.

Backstrom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom misses with a body kick.
Yu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Backstrom can pounce on him.
Backstrom tries to clinch up

and Yu moves into the clinch.
Backstrom wants a takedown.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Backstrom blocks an elbow strike from Yu.
Yu lands an elbow inside that Backstrom shrugs off.

Backstrom breaks from the clinch.
Yu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice jab there from Yu.
Yu fails to land with a series of punches.
Backstrom lands a nice looking kick to the body. Yu takes a step back to recover.

Yu moves into range and clinches up with Backstrom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu wants a takedown.

Backstrom pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Backstrom throws a sloppy head kick and Yu moves out of range easily.
A head kick by Backstrom misses

and Yu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Yu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Backstrom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yu passes into half guard.
Backstrom wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yu wants to work for an arm triangle but Backstrom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yu stops Backstrom from getting back to his feet.
Yu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Backstrom's head.

Yu is trying to work for a kimura but Backstrom is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Yu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Yu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yu jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Backstrom shoots in looking for a takedown but Yu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Backstrom's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Yu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Yu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Yu lands a right hand.

Backstrom breaks from the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yu!

It looks like David Backstrom has been cut.

Backstrom tries to keep at a distance but Yu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Yu.
Yu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Yu lands with a left to the head.
Yu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Yu lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
A short body shot lands from Yu as the two fighters clinch.

Yu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Backstrom's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Backstrom missing with knees to the body.
Yu goes for a takedown attempt but Backstrom pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Yu has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yu lands an elbow that stopped Backstrom in his tracks for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Backstrom.
Yu pushes Backstrom back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Backstrom avoids a wild elbow strike from Yu.
Backstrom tries to break free but Yu pushes him back against the cage.
Yu throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Backstrom being controlled against the cage.
Backstrom managing to block the knees to the body from Yu.

Backstrom manages to break the clinch.
Backstrom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Yu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Backstrom tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yu avoids it.
Yu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Yu lands a left hand.
Yu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Backstrom.
Yu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Backstrom's defenses.

Backstrom gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Backstrom thows a huge punch but Yu dodges it nicely.
Yu is staying active underneath Backstrom, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yu keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Backstrom throwing shots but Yu is blocking nicely.
Yu wants to get back to his feet.
Backstrom missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom is trying to control the action in half guard but Yu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Backstrom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yu's head.
Yu is trying to stand back up but Backstrom is controlling him
Yu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Backstrom.
Backstrom working over Yu with some ground and pound. Yu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yu wants to get back to his feet.
Backstrom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yu's head.
Backstrom thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yu wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yu has hold of Backstrom's hands but Backstrom slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Backstrom seems to be looking for submissions.
Backstrom is keen to just control but Yu is a slippery customer.
Yu looks like he's trying to stand up.
Backstrom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yu keeps working.
David Backstrom has got the better of the ground game so far.
Backstrom throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Yu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Yu!