PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leo Yaj (ranked 1150 p4p, 142 weight class) and Rasul Mirzaev (ranked 1677 p4p, 189 weight class). Yaj comes to the cage accompanied by Hey mr. DJ. Mirzaev has chosen Natalie La Rose - Somebody ft. Jeremih as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yaj
vs
Mirzaev

156 cm
32
158 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

170 cm
28
157 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Yaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rasul Mirzaev!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yaj gets tackled into the cage by Mirzaev. Mirzaev maintains the clinch.
Yaj lands an elbow that stopped Mirzaev in his tracks for a moment.
Mirzaev throws a punch but it's blocked by Yaj.
Yaj's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mirzaev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yaj slows down the pace here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mirzaev is trying to break the clinch but Yaj has him pressed against the cage.
Mirzaev wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mirzaev manages to break the clinch.
Yaj lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Rasul Mirzaev has been cut.
Yaj uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mirzaev.
A solid body kick from Mirzaev.
Yaj throws a nice looking combination but Mirzaev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little jabbing left from Mirzaev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mirzaev throws a body punch but Yaj moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzaev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Yaj moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mirzaev as Yaj tries to tie him up.
Mirzaev blocking some punches.
Yaj is struggling to control the position.
A frustrated look appears on Mirzaev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yaj tries to stall but Mirzaev uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yaj trying to land knees to the body.
Yaj lands a right hand.
Mirzaev looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Mirzaev breaks the clinch.
Mirzaev throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mirzaev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Yaj's head backwards.
Mirzaev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A slow jab from Mirzaev misses its intended target.
Yaj looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mirzaev throws a hook but Yaj blocks it.
Mirzaev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mirzaev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mirzaev throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yaj takes the fight into the clinch.
Mirzaev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yaj softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev misses with a punch on the inside.
Yaj gets through Mirzaev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mirzaev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Mirzaev tries to break free but Yaj pushes him back against the cage.
Mirzaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Mirzaev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by Yaj.
Yaj dives in and grabs Mirzaev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mirzaev pushes down on Yaj's head and hops out.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mirzaev lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Yaj has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Yaj and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mirzaev lands a really nice looking cross but Yaj seems unphased.
Yaj displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mirzaev throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mirzaev clinches up against the cage.
Mirzaev can't break the clinch.
Mirzaev scores with a shot to the side of Yaj's head.
Yaj leaning against his opponent.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mirzaev.
Yaj has a couple of punches blocked by Mirzaev.
Yaj misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Mirzaev fails to land.
Yaj lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mirzaev is looking to break free of the clinch but Yaj has double underhooks.
Mirzaev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Yaj takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Yaj has a couple of punches blocked by Mirzaev.

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

Yaj looking for a triangle here. Mirzaev is fighting it but it looks tight! Yaj pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Mirzaev is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Leo Yaj!
Leo Yaj made sure to mention his sponsor, FORCEE in his post fight interview.