PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boa Link (ranked 5831 p4p, 636 weight class) and Emon Yang (ranked 4496 p4p, 535 weight class). Link comes to the cage accompanied by Peak Times by Switch. This should be a great matchup!

Link
vs
Yang

200 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
200 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Boa Link!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Emon Yang!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yang sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Link's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Link duly obliges.
Link looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yang takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Link lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yang's sensitive parts.
Yang moves out of range as Link throws a body kick.
Link leaves Yang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Link explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Yang changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Link looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yang in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Yang trying to control the position but Link is working away.
Yang landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang in side control lands a decent elbow.

Link throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Yang shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Link manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yang looking to pass the guard.
Link is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yang is controlling him.
Yang is standing up over Link. Link looks to escape but Yang dives into side control.
Link tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yang wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yang is working Link over with some ground and pound from side control.
Link is trying to escape the position but Yang is controlling the position.
Link is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Link being controlled for a moment.

Yang wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Link, who protects the arm well.
Link tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Link is desperately trying to improve his position but Yang has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Link slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yang lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Yang is working for a kimura but Link is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Yang there.
Yang stops Link from getting back to his feet.

Yang decides to stand and escape the position.
Link shoots in looking for a takedown but Yang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Link's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Link.
Yang closes this distance looking for a takedown but Link circles away.
Yang shoots for a double leg takedown but Link sprawls well. He's pushed Yang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Boa Link has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emon Yang.
Yang looks winded!
A head kick from Link lands but Yang takes it in his stride.
Link shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yang sprawls well. Yang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Link gets slowly back to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Link - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Link.
Link sets himself, and Yang steps forward looking for the clinch! Link avoids it this time.
Link connects with a leg kick. Yang looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Yang throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yang throws a wild body kick that Link sees coming a mile off.
Link fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yang.
Yang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yang wants it to stay on the feet.
Link scores with a spinning back kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Link shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Yang shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Link's guard.

Link looking for a guillotine here but Yang defends easily.
Yang won't allow Link to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boa Link dominated that round.
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.

Link fails with the takedown.
Link with a poor takedown

and Yang counters by clinching up.

Yang has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Link uses from the top position.
Yang wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Yang wants to sweep but no luck.

Yang is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Link is aware though and is defending well.
Link trying to control but Yang is working from the bottom.
Link advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang is looking to control Link's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yang avoid being mounted?
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yang can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yang blocking the ground and pound attempt from Link.
Yang wants to control but Link is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Yang looking for submissions off his back.
Yang is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yang is in trouble now - Link has advanced to mount!

Link goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Yang is on top in guard.
Yang won't allow Link to get back to his feet.
Yang tries to free his leg and advance position but Link is retaining full guard.

Link throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Link pushes Yang off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Link shoots in but Yang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boa Link. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Link misses with a body kick.

Yang closes the distance and clinches.
Our sources have told us that Link has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Yang goes for a takedown attempt but Link pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Link fails with a takedown attempt.
Yang is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Yang closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Link sneaks out the side door and pushes Yang away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Link will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Link will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Link scores with a kick to the midsection.
Yang takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Link fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yang has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Link gets caught napping as Yang dives in and scores a takedown. Link manages to retain guard.
Link wants to hit a switch here but Yang passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Link there!
Yang lands a couple of good shots and Link has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Yang biding his time, looking for the opening.
Link trying to get back to his feet but Yang is in full control for now.
Yang is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Link staying busy and making it hard for Yang to control.
Link is trying to get back to his feet but Yang has full control of the position and if anything, Link has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Link is trying to shake Yang off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Yang won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch lands to the side of Yang 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Boa Link is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yang shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Yang stops Link from standing up.
Yang's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Yang trying to control the position from guard on top but Link is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Link is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Emon Yang will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Link throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from Link.
Link looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yang has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Link.
Link tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Yang moves into the clinch.
Link wants to break free but Yang has control.
Link lands an elbow just above Yang 's eye.

Yang is trying to trip Link. He has hold of a leg but Link is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Yang persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yang sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yang must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yang looking to pass the guard.
Yang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yang drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yang jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Link is looking to stand up but Yang isn't so interested in that idea.
Link looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yang is one step ahead there.
Yang controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Link has an active guard here but Yang has managed to pass into half guard.
Yang controlling the action here.
Yang wants to stand but Link has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Link is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yang trying to control the pace.
Link wants to get back to his feet.
Yang keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Link kicks Yang off and gets back to his feet.
Link fails to land the takedown.
Yang avoids the body shot from Link.
Link connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yang closes the distance and clinches.
Yang trying to land knees to the body.
Yang is pushing Link up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yang keeps control of Link as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Link is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Yang jumps guard.
Link cracks Yang with a solid left hand.

Yang is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yang is trying to control the position but Link postures up.
Link trying to control but Yang is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yang doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Link pushes down on Yang's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Link is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yang is just riding it out for now. Link eventually gives up the hold.
Yang wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Link is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yang is just riding it out for now. Link eventually gives up the hold.
Link trying to control the action but Yang is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Boa Link.
I think Link 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Emon Yang!