PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Butabi (ranked 380 p4p, 53 weight class) and Boo Yaj (ranked 1187 p4p, 147 weight class). Butabi comes to the cage accompanied by Make That Money. This should be fireworks!

Butabi
vs
Yaj

180 cm
19
180 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

ZZ POPS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steve Butabi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Boo Yaj!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yaj slips under a jab from Butabi.

Butabi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Butabi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Butabi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Butabi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yaj being controlled here, momentarily.
Butabi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yaj wants to improve his position but instead Butabi has moved into half guard.
Yaj really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Butabi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Butabi in particular looking to stall.
Butabi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butabi thows a huge punch but Yaj dodges it nicely.

Butabi is looking for a kimura but Yaj is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Butabi to get the leverage.

Butabi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yaj is just riding it out for now. Butabi eventually gives up the hold.

Butabi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yaj defends it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yaj can do anything to dispel that myth.
Butabi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yaj defending well though.
Butabi is taking a breather. Yaj 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Butabi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yaj has managed to free his arm - good work.
Butabi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Butabi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Butabi misses with a head shot.
Yaj looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Butabi has hold of Yaj's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Yaj manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Butabi unloads with some shots from mount but Yaj bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butabi looking to control but Yaj is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Butabi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Butabi looking to finish with strikes here!
Butabi thowing shots but they're missing.
Yaj wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Butabi.
Butabi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Butabi working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Yaj turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Butabi off and cradles Yaj's limp body as Butabi celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Steve Butabi!
Steve Butabi retains his welterweight title!
Steve Butabi looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Emilioooooooooo'.