PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mashrafe Mortaza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Yzerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Yzerman will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mortaza
vs
Yzerman

170 cm
26
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mashrafe Mortaza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steve Yzerman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mortaza slips under a jab.
Mortaza goes for a double leg but Yzerman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yzerman continues to drive forward.
Mortaza fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yzerman doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mortaza tries for a takedown but Yzerman circles away easily
and Yzerman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mashrafe Mortaza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yzerman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mortaza.
Yzerman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mortaza takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sloppy strikes from Yzerman. Those never looked like landing.
Yzerman uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mortaza shoots and misses
and Yzerman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mortaza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yzerman.
Mortaza shoots and misses
letting Yzerman counter with a right hand.
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!
Yzerman misses with a left hand

and Mortaza counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mortaza scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mortaza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mortaza 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.
Mortaza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yzerman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mortaza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yzerman tries to kick Mortaza off but Mortaza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yzerman wants to improve his position but Mortaza is controlling well.
Yzerman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mortaza is keen to just control but Yzerman is a slippery customer.
Mortaza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yzerman defending well though.
Mortaza wants to pass to mount but Yzerman is defending the position.
Yzerman is looking to improve his position.

Mortaza wants to work for an arm triangle but Yzerman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Mortaza wants to work for an arm triangle but Yzerman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Yzerman is looking to escape.
Mortaza looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
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.
Mortaza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yzerman defending well though.

Mortaza looking for a submission but Yzerman manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Mortaza throwing strikes but missing.
Mortaza content to stall in guard here.
Yzerman controlling the position.
Mortaza wants to pass the guard but Yzerman is keeping the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yzerman keeping moving, preventing Mortaza from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yzerman is trying to control the position but Mortaza postures up.
Yzerman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mortaza.
Mortaza trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mortaza trying to control but Yzerman is working from the bottom.
Yzerman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mortaza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mortaza is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Yzerman is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mortaza pushing down on Yzerman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mortaza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yzerman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mortaza lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mortaza thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yzerman is looking to control Mortaza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yzerman avoid being mounted?
Yzerman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mortaza.
Yzerman is trying to get back to full guard.

Mortaza looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Yzerman pushes Mortaza off looking to stand but Mortaza dives back in and keeps control.
Yzerman is not content to let Mortaza control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mashrafe Mortaza will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the liver by Yzerman. Beautiful body shot.
Mortaza on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yzerman with a hook.
Mortaza shoots in but no luck this time.
Yzerman lands the left hand.
Yzerman works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Yzerman connects with the punch.
Yzerman stuffs the takedown attempt from Mortaza. Mortaza gets slowly back to his feet.
Yzerman uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mortaza has time to react.
Yzerman is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Mortaza closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yzerman did well to prevent Mortaza getting side control.
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!
Yzerman wants to get back to his feet.
Mashrafe Mortaza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mortaza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yzerman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mortaza's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mortaza's back!
Yzerman is trying to stick to Mortaza's back but Mortaza is turning into Yzerman. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Yzerman's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mortaza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yzerman keeping moving, preventing Mortaza from controlling successfully.
Mortaza is looking to work some ground and pound but Yzerman has wrist control.
Mortaza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yzerman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mortaza advances to half guard.

Mortaza is trying to work for a kimura but Yzerman is defending well.
Yzerman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mortaza is working away from the top position though.

Mortaza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yzerman sees it coming and defends easily.
Mortaza thows a huge punch but Yzerman dodges it nicely.
Yzerman is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yzerman is staying active underneath Mortaza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mortaza lands strikes from half guard.
Mortaza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Mortaza in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Yzerman tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Mortaza!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mashrafe Mortaza!