PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quik Yin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Magne Midgard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yin comes into the arena with I Got A Feeling (lol :P) blaring out of the sound system. Midgard has chosen Crazy Train as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Yin
vs
Midgard

185 cm
23
222 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

186 cm
24
217 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

NATURAL BEAST

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Quik Yin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magne Midgard!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yin tries for a takedown but Midgard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Yin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Yin trying to control the action but Midgard is working from the bottom.
Midgard is looking for a sweep.

Yin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Midgard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Yin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Midgard, who protects the arm well.
Midgard is not content to let Yin control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midgard is trying to control Yin's posture but Yin avoids it.
You can see the frustration on Midgard's face as Yin controls the position.
Yin wants to take a breather but Midgard manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Yin.

Midgard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Yin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yin passes Midgard's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Yin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Midgard is just riding it out for now. Yin eventually gives up the hold.
Yin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Yin is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Midgard has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Yin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Midgard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yin.
Midgard is refusing to be controlled, as Yin sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yin throwing shots but Midgard is blocking nicely.
Yin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yin not doing much here.
Midgard is looking for a sweep. Yin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Midgard defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yin is looking to advance position but Midgard won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quik Yin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Midgard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Midgard tries to close the distance and clinch but Yin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Midgard trying to control from the bottom.
Yin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Midgard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Midgard keeps working.
Midgard controlling the position well.
Yin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Midgard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Midgard is looking to control Yin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Midgard avoid being mounted?
Midgard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yin's back!
Midgard looking to hold on to the position here but Yin rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Yin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Midgard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Yin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Midgard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Midgard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yin keeping moving, preventing Midgard from controlling successfully.
Midgard is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Midgard stays in close to Yin's body and controls the position.

Yin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Midgard is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Yin.
Midgard content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yin holding on.
Midgard working away.
Yin manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Yin is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Midgard pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yin wants to control but Midgard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Midgard not doing much here.
Midgard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Midgard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Magne Midgard just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Midgard fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Magne Midgard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

Midgard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Midgard works the jab nicely.
Quik Yin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Midgard tries to avoid it but Yin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Midgard to the ground. Midgard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Midgard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Quik Yin has been cut.
Midgard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Midgard throws a nice inside leg kick.

Midgard has closed the distance and engaged Yin in a clinch.
Yin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Midgard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Yin avoids a wild elbow strike from Midgard.
Midgard tries to throw a body punch but Yin avoids it by throwing Midgard back against the cage.
Yin tries to pull guard but Midgard won't allow it.
Yin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Midgard crunches a lovely knee into Yin's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Midgard.
Midgard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yin.
Midgard tries to land a knee to the head but Yin blocks with his arms.
Midgard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Midgard scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Midgard.
Midgard scores with a knee to the head.
Midgard misses with a knee to the head.
Midgard misses with a knee to the head.
Midgard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Midgard missing with knees to the body.
Midgard has Yin pressed against the cage.
Yin managing to block the knees to the body from Midgard.
Yin managing to block the knees to the body from Midgard.
Midgard is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yin managing to block the knees to the body from Midgard.
Midgard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Midgard tries to land knees in the clinch but Yin avoids the damage to the body.
Midgard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yin tries to pull guard but Midgard holds him up against the cage and eventually Yin drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quik Yin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Midgard tries to land knees in the clinch but Yin avoids the damage to the body.
Yin being controlled against the cage.
Midgard is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yin is keeping busy.
Midgard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yin.
Midgard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yin blocks it with crossed arms.

Yin manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Midgard drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Midgard has Yin in his guard.
Midgard being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yin is looking to work some ground and pound but Midgard has wrist control.
Yin thows a big elbow that misses.
Yin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Midgard is keeping the position for now.
Yin is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yin tries to free his leg and advance position but Midgard is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magne Midgard really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Quik Yin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Yin scores with a nice right hand.
Yin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yin misses the shot to the body.
Yin throws a head kick that misses
and Midgard counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yin's knee momentarily.
Yin avoids a kick to the body.
Midgard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Midgard clinches up with Yin and pushes him back against the cage.
Midgard tries a knee to the head but Yin blocks it.
Midgard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Midgard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Midgard is stalling here.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Midgard missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yin tries for a takedown but Midgard manages to get underhooks.
Midgard looking to throw knees to the head but Yin is blocking nicely.
Midgard trying to land knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Midgard is pressed up against the cage. Yin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Midgard down to the mat. Midgard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quik Yin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Midgard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Midgard throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Midgard fakes the leg kick and cracks Yin in the body.
Midgard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Midgard wants to clinch.
Midgard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Midgard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Yin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yin misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Midgard keeps Yin at a distance using the push kick.
Midgard lands with a kick to the temple. Yin shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Midgard, right into the meat.
Midgard scores with a nice strike.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midgard slowing the pace effectively.
Yin managing to block the knees to the body from Midgard.
Midgard creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yin's defenses.
Midgard crunches a lovely knee into Yin's ribcage.
Midgard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Midgard landing knees to the body.
Midgard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Quik Yin's cut is getting worse.
Yin takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Midgard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Midgard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Yin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Midgard scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Midgard effectively controlling the action here.
Midgard lands a left hand.
Midgard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Midgard avoiding damage.
Yin tries to break the clinch but Midgard is controlling the position.
Yin is working for takedown but Midgard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Midgard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Midgard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Yin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Midgard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Midgard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Midgard pushes off an throws an elbow but Yin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Magne Midgard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Midgard swings wildly with an uppercut but Yin uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magne Midgard dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Quik Yin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Midgard moves forwards but Yin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Midgard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Midgard is looking to clinch but Yin is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Midgard.
Yin fails to land with a series of punches.
Yin with a poor takedown
and Midgard counters with a nice leg kick.
Midgard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yin. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Midgard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Yin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Midgard. Yin shrugs it off though.
Midgard tries to clinch but Yin is having none of it.
Midgard cracks the inside of Yin's front leg.
Midgard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Midgard scores with a head kick.
Midgard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Yin's head.
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!

Midgard moves into the clinch.
Yin managing to block the knees to the body from Midgard.
Come on Midgard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Midgard is pressed up against the cage. Yin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Midgard down to the mat. Midgard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Midgard.
Quik Yin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Quik Yin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yin fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Quik Yin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good leg kick by Midgard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Midgard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Magne Midgard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Midgard can pounce on him.
Yin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yin will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Midgard tries to clinch but Yin is having none of it.

Midgard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Midgard throws a head punch that misses.
Midgard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Midgard scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Midgard lands with a left to the head.
Yin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yin avoiding damage as Midgard throws knees to the body.
Midgard misses with a knee to the head.
Midgard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Yin lands a takedown into guard.
Yin won't allow Midgard to sweep him here.
Midgard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yin controls the pace.
Yin wants to control from the top but Midgard keeps moving.
Yin is really struggling to control Midgard but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yin throwing strikes but missing.
Yin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Midgard has control of Yin's left arm, preventing Yin from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yin tries to free his leg and advance position but Midgard is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Magne Midgard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Midgard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 45:49
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 45:49
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magne Midgard! Magne Midgard retains his light heavyweight title!