PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yancy Makaki Iii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cheik Imbula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imbula has chosen ~Apache~ as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Makaki Iii
vs
Imbula

182 cm
25
177 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
186 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

House of Valor
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Aspire Clothing
Urban Fighter

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yancy Makaki Iii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imbula throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Makaki Iii lands a glancing blow to the side of Imbula's head.
Imbula moves away from the strike by Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii throws a hook to the side of Imbula's head but Imbula sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Imbula missing with a left hand there. Makaki Iii was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Imbula throws a shot from downtown. Makaki Iii moves away and avoids it.
Makaki Iii looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Imbula scores with a decent looking hook.
Imbula walks into a straight right hand from Makaki Iii.
Imbula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Makaki Iii.
Imbula thinks about the counter body kick.
Imbula throws a leg kick that misses.
Imbula fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Makaki Iii looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Imbula throws a lazy uppercut
letting Makaki Iii counter with a right hand.
Makaki Iii lands with a nice body punch.
Makaki Iii uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Imbula.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice jab there from Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii lands a nice shot to the body.
Imbula loads up on a big right hand but Makaki Iii slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula lands a nice hook to Makaki Iii's body. Makaki Iii takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Makaki Iii checks a low kick from Imbula.
Imbula throws a nice outside leg kick.
Makaki Iii moves away from the strike by Imbula.
Imbula takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Imbula walks into a stiff left hand from Makaki Iii.
Imbula swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Makaki Iii tries to counter by clinching up but Imbula breaks away and moves out of range.
Imbula lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Makaki Iii takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Makaki Iii slips a jab from Imbula.
Makaki Iii is looking to counter punch.
Makaki Iii throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.
Imbula slips under a jab.
Imbula lands with a cross.
Imbula avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Makaki Iii shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Makaki Iii throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Makaki Iii moves into range and clinches up with Imbula.
Imbula tries a body shot but Makaki Iii blocks it.
Imbula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Makaki Iii lands a shoulder strike.
Makaki Iii misses with a body punch.
Imbula blocks a body shot from Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii digs a right hand into Imbula's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Imbula's gas tank.
Makaki Iii avoiding damage.
Imbula scores with a nice hook to the head.
Makaki Iii scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Imbula lands a hook to the side of the head.
Makaki Iii misses with the head strike.
Makaki Iii lands a left hand that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Imbula lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Makaki Iii fails to land.
Imbula scores with a shoulder strike.
Imbula taking a breather.
Makaki Iii makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Imbula breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula swings for the body but Makaki Iii moves out of range.
Makaki Iii swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Makaki Iii thows a left - swing and a miss!
Imbula defending well as Makaki Iii loads up on a big left hand.
Makaki Iii throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.
Imbula swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Makaki Iii swings for the body but Imbula moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Makaki Iii. Beautiful body shot.
Makaki Iii blocks a low kick nicely.
Imbula misses with a hook to the body
and Makaki Iii cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Imbula throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Makaki Iii appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Imbula rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Makaki Iii makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Makaki Iii smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Makaki Iii throws a hook but Imbula blocks it.
Imbula doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Imbula misses with a wild body shot.
Makaki Iii wants to clinch
and Imbula counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Makaki Iii.
Imbula punishes Makaki Iii's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice jab there from Makaki Iii.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Makaki Iii throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.
Imbula throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Makaki Iii counters by moving into the clinch.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Makaki Iii backwards.
Imbula goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Makaki Iii.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Makaki Iii swings wildly with an uppercut but Imbula uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Imbula on the inside.
A short uppercut from Imbula.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Makaki Iii blocks a body shot from Imbula.
A body shot lands from Makaki Iii.
Imbula lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Makaki Iii backwards.
Makaki Iii tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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 Yancy Makaki Iii will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Makaki Iii throws a series of punches but Imbula avoids them all with ease.
Makaki Iii defending well as Imbula loads up on a big left hand.
Cheik Imbula seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imbula misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Makaki Iii. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Makaki Iii throws a half hearted mid kick.
Imbula tries a quick counter leg kick but Makaki Iii is wise to it.
Makaki Iii scores with a shot to the body.
Makaki Iii dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Imbula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii throws an overhand right that lands on Imbula's shoulder, as Imbula tries to avoid the shot.
Imbula slips a straight right by Makaki Iii.
Imbula only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Makaki Iii lands with an uppercut that bounces Imbula off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makaki Iii throws a right and a left that Imbula avoids nicely.
A slow jab from Makaki Iii misses its intended target.
Makaki Iii throws a lazy right hand but Imbula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good leg kick by Imbula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Makaki Iii misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makaki Iii throws a good cross that connects.
Imbula takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Makaki Iii is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Imbula defending well as Makaki Iii loads up on a big left hand.
Imbula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Imbula misses with a looping left.
Makaki Iii throws a body shot but no joy.
Makaki Iii missing with a left hand there. Imbula was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Imbula lands a leg kick that knocks Makaki Iii off balance momentarily.
Imbula takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Imbula dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Makaki Iii. That did some damage!
Makaki Iii misses with a lunging right hand
and Imbula counters with a straight right hand.
Makaki Iii shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Makaki Iii scores with a crisp jab that stopped Imbula in his tracks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Makaki Iii gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii lands a left hand that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Imbula working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hand to the body from Makaki Iii.
Imbula's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Imbula misses with a body punch.
Makaki Iii tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula throws a punch but it's blocked by Makaki Iii.
Makaki Iii misses with a punch to the body.
Makaki Iii controlling the action here for a moment.
A short right from Makaki Iii on the inside.
Imbula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Makaki Iii swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Imbula on the inside.
Makaki Iii lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Makaki Iii misses with a hook from the clinch.
Imbula lands a body punch in the clinch.
Imbula misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Imbula lands with a left to the head.

Imbula pulls guard successfully.
Makaki Iii trying to control the position from guard on top but Imbula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makaki Iii seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Imbula wants to sweep here but Makaki Iii controlling him for the moment.

Imbula is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Makaki Iii defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Imbula is trying to keep Makaki Iii in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula wants to sweep but no luck.

Imbula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Imbula is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Makaki Iii defends well.

Makaki Iii got a little sloppy there for a moment and Imbula has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Makaki Iii has managed to get both his arms back between Imbula's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Makaki Iii connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Makaki Iii attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Imbula! But no joy.
Imbula on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Makaki Iii moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Imbula swinging wildly here.
Makaki Iii keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Imbula, right into the meat.
Imbula throws a sloppy head kick and Makaki Iii moves out of range easily.
Yancy Makaki Iii is winning the standup battle so far.
A swing and a miss from Makaki Iii.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makaki Iii misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula tries to land a front kick but Makaki Iii steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Imbula misses with a low kick.
Imbula takes one to the side of the head.
Imbula takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula's jab looks to have found its range, popping Makaki Iii under the eye.
Imbula throws a body punch but Makaki Iii moves out of range.
Makaki Iii fires out a quick counter leg kick but Imbula just manages to avoid it.
Makaki Iii moves out of range of the body kick from Imbula.
It looked like Makaki Iii wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Imbula works Makaki Iii's body with a nice hook.
Imbula swings for the body but Makaki Iii moves out of range.
It looked like Makaki Iii wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good leg kick by Makaki Iii there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Makaki Iii's corner calls for a 1-2. Makaki Iii obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Makaki Iii throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Imbula is rocked!
Imbula misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula is still on wobbly legs! Can Makaki Iii finish him?
Imbula scores with a shot to the body.
Makaki Iii misses with a hook.
Imbula seems to have recovered his senses.
Imbula connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Makaki Iii throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Imbula.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Imbula.
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!
Makaki Iii misses with a lunging right hand
and Imbula counters with a stiff right hand.
Cheik Imbula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii swings for the body but Imbula moves out of range.
Makaki Iii misses with a body punch
and Imbula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Imbula scores with a nice body kick.
Makaki Iii slips a jab from Imbula.
Makaki Iii looks to throw the jab but Imbula is out of range.
Makaki Iii throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Makaki Iii comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Makaki Iii throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Imbula on the side of the head.
Imbula scores with a leg kick.
Makaki Iii takes a swing at Imbula's ribcage but misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Imbula.
Imbula throws a nice inside leg kick.
Imbula throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Makaki Iii sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Imbula on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Yancy Makaki Iii is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula misses the shot to the body.
Imbula uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Makaki Iii.
Imbula ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Makaki Iii moves away.

Makaki Iii drives through and clinches with Imbula against the cage.
Imbula stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Makaki Iii swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Imbula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Makaki Iii's elbow.
Imbula lands a nice shot to the body.
Makaki Iii tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Imbula misses with a punch on the inside.
Makaki Iii has a couple of punches blocked by Imbula.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Makaki Iii controls the action.
Imbula swings wildly with an uppercut but Makaki Iii uses good head movement to avoid it.
Imbula fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Makaki Iii is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Nice body punch from Imbula - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makaki Iii misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Makaki Iii blocks a body shot from Imbula.
Imbula lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Imbula pulls guard successfully.
Imbula not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Makaki Iii is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Imbula has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Makaki Iii can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Imbula thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cheik Imbula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Makaki Iii 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yancy Makaki Iii!
A relieved looking Yancy Makaki Iii thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.