PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edo Yaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby TupperIII (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Yaj
vs
TupperIII

187 cm
25
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
45
215 lbs
37 - 36 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edo Yaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 36 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby TupperIII!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

TupperIII shoots in and bounces Yaj off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yaj is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
TupperIII looking to pass the guard.
TupperIII is fighting to break Yaj's control of his arms but Yaj is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
TupperIII must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yaj has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

TupperIII is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

TupperIII drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yaj dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yaj performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

TupperIII is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yaj pulls his head out easily.
Yaj trying to mount his opponent but TupperIII defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj is controlling the pace.
TupperIII gets full guard.

TupperIII escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yaj gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

TupperIII working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yaj doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yaj manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

TupperIII looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Yaj has picked TupperIII up and slammed him! TupperIII can't keep hold of the triangle and Yaj manages to pass to side control!
TupperIII is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Yaj is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
TupperIII is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yaj controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaj continues to stall.
TupperIII is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yaj controlling the position easily from mount.
TupperIII gets back to half guard.
Yaj takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

TupperIII looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj is taking a breather. TupperIII says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

TupperIII is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yaj pulls his head out easily.
TupperIII tries to roll over but Yaj keeps him under control.
Yaj seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Yaj prevents TupperIII from improving his position.

TupperIII looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

TupperIII is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yaj pulls his head out easily.
Yaj perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yaj frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Yaj controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
TupperIII is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yaj takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
More hug and hope from Yaj.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edo Yaj dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

TupperIII circles away from the clinch attempt.
TupperIII misses with a takedown attempt - Yaj sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Yaj has managed to clinch.
TupperIII looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Yaj lands a damaging elbow.
Yaj working aggressively here.
Yaj stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
TupperIII tries to pull guard but Yaj holds him up against the cage and eventually TupperIII drops back down to his feet.
TupperIII is trying to pull guard but Yaj turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Edo Yaj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby TupperIII.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj misses with a body punch.
TupperIII tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yaj smiles and moves away.

Yaj has closed the distance and engaged TupperIII in a clinch.
Yaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yaj gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

TupperIII is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yaj pulls his head out easily.
TupperIII tries to roll over but Yaj keeps him under control.
Yaj landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Yaj is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Yaj takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Yaj is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that TupperIII can do to turn this around?
TupperIII is working to get back to half guard.
TupperIII sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Still in half guard, Yaj seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
TupperIII slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
TupperIII can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yaj controls the pace.
Yaj'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.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Yaj.
Yaj pushing down on TupperIII's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
TupperIII is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
TupperIII is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaj trying to mount his opponent but TupperIII defends it.
Yaj stalling.

TupperIII looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yaj is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Yaj content to control rather than advance.
TupperIII is trying to get back to full guard.
TupperIII is still trying to improve position.
Yaj looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

TupperIII looking for submissions off his back.
Yaj takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

TupperIII actively working from the bottom here.
Yaj perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yaj trying to mount his opponent but TupperIII defends it.

TupperIII is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yaj pulls his head out easily.
Still in half guard, Yaj seems content to control.

TupperIII actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
TupperIII is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
TupperIII is breathing heavily.
Yaj stalling.
Further stalling from Yaj.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edo Yaj dominated that second round.
That's time! Yaj's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yaj throws a nice looking combination but TupperIII bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
TupperIII shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yaj pinned against the cage. Yaj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Yaj rushes TupperIII and presses him up against the cage.
Yaj tries a body shot but TupperIII blocks it.
Yaj goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yaj scores with a knee to the head.
Yaj tries to land knees in the clinch but TupperIII avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj throws a knee to the head but misses.

Yaj tightens his grip and picks TupperIII up, before dumping him to the ground. TupperIII manages to land in guard.

TupperIII has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

TupperIII has his foot on Yaj's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yaj works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaj stands and throws TupperIII's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
TupperIII is trying to improve his position.
Yaj content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Yaj advances to full mount.
TupperIII keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yaj content just to control the position here.
TupperIII really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yaj controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edo Yaj overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
TupperIII is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yaj controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
TupperIII working to try and regain half guard.
Yaj tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
TupperIII tries to reverse the position but Yaj maintains control.
Yaj content just to control the position here.
TupperIII keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Yaj content just to control the position here.
TupperIII is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaj looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yaj looking to control but TupperIII is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Yaj sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
TupperIII tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Yaj is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bobby TupperIII has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yaj controlling the position easily from mount.
TupperIII is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edo Yaj showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yaj has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edo Yaj!