PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sid Water (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Yen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sid Water has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Water
vs
Yen

185 cm
23
201 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
220 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sid Water!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donnie Yen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yen has his takedown stuffed
and Water counters with a solid body kick.
Yen misses with a takedown attempt

and Water holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Water misses with an elbow strike.
Come on Water - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Water misses with a knee strike.
Yen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sid Water has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.
Water lands an elbow inside.
Water pushes off an throws an elbow but Yen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Water taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Water throws an elbow but misses.
Water tries a knee to the head but Yen blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Water just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yen's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yen is defending well for now.
Yen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Water walks away with a smile on his face. Yen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Yen tries for a takedown but Water circles away easily
and Water counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A shot to the liver by Yen. Beautiful body shot.
Yen tries for a takedown but Water sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yen closes the distance and clinches up with Water, looking for a takedown. Yen pushes Water against the cage but Water circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Water's waist but Water gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yen off to one side.
Water tries a head kick but it misses.
Yen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Water tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Water forces Yen back against the cage and clinches.
Water lands a nice elbow.
Water looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Yen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Water smiles and moves away.
Yen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Water's waist but Water gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yen off to one side.
Yen tries for a takedown but Water sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Water moves out of range of the body kick.

Water pushes Yen up against the cage in a clinch.
Water throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yen blocks it with crossed arms.
Yen tries to pull guard but Water won't allow it.
Water throws an elbow but it misses.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Yen blocks an elbow strike from Water.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Water just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yen's brow.
Yen blocks an elbow strike.
Water with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stalling in the clinch from Water.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Water.
Water pressing his opponent against the cage.
Knees to the body from Water.
Water manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Water throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Yen is trying to pull guard but Water has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Yen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Water lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yen slows down the pace here.
Yen wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Water.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Water 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.

Sloppy strikes from Water. Those never looked like landing.

It looks like Donnie Yen has been cut.
Yen misses with a takedown attempt
and Water counters with a left and a right that stings Yen.
A punch combination from Yen misses.
Yen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Yen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Water counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Water.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Water is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Yen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Water pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sid Water has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.
Water creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Water with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Water leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water lands an elbow just above Yen 's eye.
Sid Water has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Yen blocks an elbow strike from Water.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Water.
Yen is trying to break the clinch but Water has him pressed against the cage.
Water avoiding damage as Yen throws knees to the body.
Water looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Water tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Water manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Water for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Water misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Water with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Water pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Water.
Yen takes an elbow to the temple.
Yen fails to pull guard.
Water misses with an elbow strike.
Water throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Water holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Water gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Yen jumps guard but Water stands there with Yen around his waist. Yen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yen blocks an elbow strike from Water.
Water pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Water gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Water just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yen's brow.
Water throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Water throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yen blocks it with crossed arms.
Water controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yen fails to pull guard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Water just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yen's brow.
Yen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Water after a bit of a struggle.
Yen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Water avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Yen has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Water seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Yen can turn it around.
Water stalling against the cage.
Water lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Water avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Water lands an elbow inside that Yen shrugs off.
Water throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Water dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Donnie Yen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yen misses with a two punch combination.
Yen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Water rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Yen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Water displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yen.
Water tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yen shoots in looking for a takedown. Water tries to sprawl out of it but Yen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Water manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yen swats away the attempt to clinch by Water.
Jab by Yen.
Sloppy strikes from Water. Those never looked like landing.

Water closes the distance and clinches.
Yen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sid Water has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water slows down the pace here.
Yen wants a takedown.
Yen being controlled against the cage.
Yen looking for a takedown.
The referee calls for Water to work.
Yen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Water dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Water throws an elbow that misses.
Yen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Water fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Yen shoots in for a takedown but Water shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Water throws a right hand that Yen ducks under and follows up with a left that Yen also avoids with ease.
Yen keeps the fight on the outside.

Water clinches up with Yen and pushes him back against the cage.
Water throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Water just leaning against Yen, taking a breather.
Yen avoids a wild elbow strike from Water.
Water tries to land knees in the clinch but Yen avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Water is stalling here.
Yen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Water fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sid Water is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Water takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Yen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Water holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Water is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yen is defending well for now.
Water lands an elbow inside that Yen shrugs off.
Water missing with knees to the body.
Water missing with knees to the body.

Yen drags the fight down to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Water decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Yen, up you get!
Yen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Yen tries for a takedown but Water sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Water moves into the clinch successfully.
Water throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Water throws an elbow but misses.
Water looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Water walks away with a smile on his face. Yen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Water defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Water lands an elbow just above Yen 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Water clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Donnie Yen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Water gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Water tries to land knees in the clinch but Yen avoids the damage to the body.
Yen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Water to keep the fight standing.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Yen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Water gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sid Water has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.
Water misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yen.
Yen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Yen takes an elbow to the temple.
Water is pushing Yen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yen takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Water throws an elbow but it misses.
Water throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yen blocks it with crossed arms.
Yen wants a takedown.
Yen avoiding damage as Water throws knees to the body.
Water manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Water lands an elbow just above Yen 's eye.
Water misses with an elbow over the top.
Water throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yen tries for a takedown but Water manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yen fails to pull guard.
Yen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Yen is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
With the fighters up against the cage, Water throws an elbow but misses.
Water with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Water comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Water is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Water with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Yen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Water walks away with a smile on his face. Yen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Water fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yen throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Water sprawls well. Water wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yen gets slowly back to his feet.

Yen tries to keep at a distance but Water has taken the fight into the clinch.
Water stalling.
Yen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yen wants a takedown.
Yen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Water smiles and moves away.

Water rushes Yen and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Water leaning against his opponent.
Yen dodges an elbow strike from Water.
Yen avoids the elbow strike from Water, against the cage.
Water misses with an elbow strike.
Water stalling.
Water lands an elbow inside.
Water lands an elbow that stopped Yen in his tracks for a moment.
Yen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yen being controlled against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Water misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Water had his way with Donnie Yen in that round.
The cut man is working on Donnie Yen's cut.
That's time! Water's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Water.
Water misses with a few strikes there.
We've been told by Water's head coaches at Skylab Vegas that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Yen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Yen clinches.
Water is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yen can do to turn this around?
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Water creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Water lands an elbow inside.
Water lands a damaging elbow.
Yen blocks an elbow strike.
Water throws an elbow that misses.
Water looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Yen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Water will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donnie Yen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Water tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yen misses with a takedown attempt
and Water counters with a series of strikes. Yen will be more careful next time no doubt.

Water clinches.
Yen wants a takedown.
Water has Yen pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Yen is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Water - that's hurt Yen badly! Oh, another knee lands and Yen is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Yen doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Sid Water!
Sid Water retains his light heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Sid Water started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.