PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travis Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Yazerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edward Yazerman 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!

Black
vs
Yazerman

182 cm
27
205 lbs
13 - 16 - 0

180 cm
27
220 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Travis Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edward Yazerman!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Yazerman counters by clinching up.

Yazerman breaks the clinch.
Black tries for a takedown but Yazerman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Yazerman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Yazerman manages to break the clinch.
Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Black fails with a takedown attempt.
Black has his takedown stuffed

and Yazerman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yazerman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yazerman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Black jumps guard but Yazerman turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Yazerman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Black's efforts to push away.

Yazerman drags the fight down to the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Yazerman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Black.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Yazerman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Black is controlling him.
Yazerman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yazerman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Black is aware though and is defending well.
Black has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Black is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Black throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yazerman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Black trying to control but Yazerman is working from the bottom.

Yazerman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Yazerman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Black is aware though and is defending well.
Black has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Yazerman is proving hard to escape from.

Yazerman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Black throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yazerman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yazerman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yazerman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Yazerman has a closed guard, preventing Black from standing up.
Yazerman trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Yazerman looking to control.

Yazerman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yazerman is on top in guard.

Black is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yazerman is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yazerman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yazerman wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yazerman is controlling him.
Black is breathing heavily.

Black has his foot on Yazerman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yazerman works his way back into a safe position though.
Yazerman stops Black from standing up.
Yazerman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yazerman trying to control the action but Black is working from the bottom.
Black is pushing Yazerman's head away, looking to escape. Yazerman manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yazerman lands a few punches from side control.

It looks like Travis Black has been cut.
Yazerman wants to control but Black is keeping him busy.
Black is looking to regain half guard here but Yazerman keeps moving and retains side control.
Black is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Black.
Yazerman wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Yazerman preventing the sweep.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yazerman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Black is refusing to be controlled, as Yazerman sits in half guard.
Black is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yazerman scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Yazerman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Black's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Yazerman changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Black looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Yazerman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Black knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Black tries to bench press Yazerman off him but Yazerman keeps the position.
Yazerman lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Black down.
Black is looking to reverse the position.
Black sneaks back into half guard.

Yazerman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Black tries to kick Yazerman off but Yazerman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Black trying to hold on to Yazerman's head to control him but Yazerman postures up.
Yazerman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yazerman drops an elbow to the side of Black's head.

Yazerman stands up out of the half guard.
Black swinging wildly here.
Black punishes Yazerman's body with a nice straight punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yazerman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yazerman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Yazerman moves into range and clinches up with Black.
Yazerman landing knees to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Black.

Yazerman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Yazerman has his foot on Black's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Black works his way back into a safe position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Black drops back looking for a leg! Yazerman is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yazerman manages to kick Black off! Black jumps back into Yazerman's guard.
Black trying to control but Yazerman is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is really struggling to control Yazerman but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Yazerman is trying to control the position but Black postures up.

Yazerman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yazerman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.
Yazerman looking to pass the guard.
Yazerman pushing down on Black's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Black trying to control here.
Yazerman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Black with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black looks like he's trying to stand up.

Yazerman is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Black wants to stand back up but Yazerman manages to pass into side control.
Yazerman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Black keeps working.
Yazerman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Black kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Yazerman scores with a couple of short elbows.
Black wants to get back to his feet but Yazerman drags him back down.
A lull in the action here.
Edward Yazerman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Black takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to get back to half guard.

Yazerman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yazerman is looking to take a break and control but Black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black is working to avoid the ground and pound but Yazerman connects with a decent elbow.
Black wants to control but Yazerman postures up.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Black is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Yazerman's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Yazerman stops Black from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Yazerman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Travis Black's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yazerman is looking to clinch but Black is avoiding it.
No luck for Black with that takedown attempt.
Black circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yazerman tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Yazerman tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.

Black tries to keep at a distance but Yazerman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Black wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yazerman has him pressed against the ropes.

Black manages to break the clinch.
Black misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yazerman misses with a double jab.
Nice defenses there by Yazerman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yazerman slaps away a takedown attempt from Black, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yazerman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Black swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Yazerman forces Black back against the ropes and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black working hard to break the clinch.

Yazerman has picked Black up - he's going for a ride! Yazerman dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Black is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yazerman pulls his head out easily.
Black is trying to stand back up but Yazerman is controlling him
Black has hold of Yazerman's hands but Yazerman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Yazerman there.

Yazerman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Black has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yazerman is trying to control. Black wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ground and pound from Yazerman.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black tries to kick Yazerman off but Yazerman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Still in half guard, Yazerman seems content to control.
Yazerman passes to side control.
Black is looking for a sweep.
Edward Yazerman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Yazerman lands an elbow.
Yazerman is putting a hurting on Black here, landing some big shots from side control.
Yazerman landing a few strikes.
Yazerman happy to just control the position for now.
Yazerman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Black is trying to improve his position.

Yazerman decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yazerman takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yazerman.
Black trying to control the position but instead, Yazerman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Black into the ropes.

Yazerman successfully pulls guard.

Yazerman is working an open guard so Black takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Black misses with a takedown

and Yazerman moves into the clinch.
Yazerman lands a body shot.
Black managing to block the knees to the body from Yazerman.
Yazerman lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Black jumps guard but Yazerman stands there with Black around his waist. Black gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Travis Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yazerman just leaning against Black, taking a breather.
Black looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Black tries to pull guard but Yazerman holds him up against the ropes and eventually Black drops back down to his feet.
Black managing to block the knees to the body from Yazerman.

Yazerman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Black uses from the top position.
Yazerman pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Black is posturing up here but Yazerman has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Black tries to roll out but it's too tight and Black has to tap! Slick submission there by Yazerman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Edward Yazerman!