PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nobuhito Inoue (ranked 3490 p4p, 3738 weight class) and Mykhailo Yakovenko (ranked 394 p4p, 417 weight class). Mykhailo Yakovenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Inoue
vs
Yakovenko

159 cm
25
156
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
158
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nobuhito Inoue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mykhailo Yakovenko!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Inoue shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yakovenko as he avoids it easily.
Yakovenko circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yakovenko moves into the clinch.
Yakovenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Inoue tries to score a body lock takedown but Yakovenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Inoue tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nobuhito Inoue. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Inoue dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Inoue tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Inoue goes for a takedown attempt but Yakovenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakovenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Inoue is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Yakovenko.
Yakovenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Inoue. Inoue gets slowly back to his feet.

Yakovenko closes the distance and pushes Inoue back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yakovenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakovenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Inoue, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Inoue dives in and grabs Yakovenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yakovenko pushes down on Inoue's head and hops out.
Despite the aggression on Yakovenko's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Yakovenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Inoue moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Inoue fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yakovenko lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Inoue looks for a takedown but Yakovenko sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yakovenko.
Yakovenko throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Yakovenko looks for the body kick but Inoue saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Inoue shoots in and drives through. Yakovenko sprawls well.
Inoue moves in looking to clinch but Yakovenko pushes him off.
Inoue fails with a takedown attempt.
Yakovenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Yakovenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yakovenko darts in looking for a takedown but Inoue gets double underhooks and turns Yakovenko into the cage.
Inoue shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yakovenko as he avoids it easily.

Inoue forces Yakovenko back against the cage and clinches.
Yakovenko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Inoue is defending well.
Inoue jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Yakovenko walks away with a smile on his face. Inoue gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Inoue counters with a nice low kick that buckles Yakovenko's knee momentarily.
Inoue throws a sloppy head kick
and Yakovenko counters with a left and a right that stings Inoue.
Yakovenko misses with a takedown attempt - Inoue sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A combination from Inoue does no damage.
Inoue fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Yakovenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Inoue is breathing heavily.

Yakovenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Yakovenko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Inoue escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yakovenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Inoue really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Yakovenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Inoue tries to sprawl out of it but Yakovenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Inoue manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Inoue shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yakovenko pinned against the cage. Yakovenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Inoue tries to keep at a distance but Yakovenko has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mykhailo Yakovenko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Inoue tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Yakovenko counters with a three punch combo that has Inoue backing up. Inoue nods at Yakovenko to acknowledge the strikes.

Inoue moves into the clinch.
Yakovenko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Inoue after a bit of a struggle.
Yakovenko tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Inoue just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yakovenko is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nobuhito Inoue has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mykhailo Yakovenko.

Yakovenko successfully pulls guard.
Inoue looking to sit in guard and control but Yakovenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Inoue manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Yakovenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yakovenko looking to throw knees to the head but Inoue is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Inoue pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Inoue throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Inoue stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Inoue stalling in the clinch.
Inoue tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yakovenko smiles and moves away.
Inoue shoots in and drives through. Yakovenko sprawls well.
Inoue tries for a takedown but Yakovenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Inoue moves into the clinch.
Yakovenko tries to pull guard but Inoue holds him up against the cage and eventually Yakovenko drops back down to his feet.

Inoue manages to break the clinch.
Inoue shoots in for a takedown but Yakovenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yakovenko moves into the clinch successfully.
Yakovenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Yakovenko jumps guard but Inoue stands there with Yakovenko around his waist. Yakovenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yakovenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Inoue controlling the action here for a moment.

Yakovenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Inoue shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yakovenko but Yakovenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Inoue throws a body punch but Yakovenko moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko shoots in and drives through. Inoue sprawls well.
Inoue swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yakovenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Inoue defends it nicely.
Yakovenko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Inoue pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Inoue misses with a two punch combination.
Yakovenko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Inoue fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yakovenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Yakovenko tries to pull guard but Inoue won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Inoue with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Inoue's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yakovenko.
Inoue tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mykhailo Yakovenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yakovenko drops his hands momentarily and Inoue takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Inoue throws a sloppy head kick and Yakovenko moves out of range easily.
Inoue stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Inoue wants it to stay on the feet.
Yakovenko fails with the takedown
and Inoue counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yakovenko thinking.
Yakovenko is breathing heavily.
Inoue tries to clinch up but Yakovenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Nobuhito Inoue is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yakovenko darts in looking for a takedown but Inoue gets double underhooks and turns Yakovenko into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nobuhito Inoue dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yakovenko throws a head kick that misses.
Inoue fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yakovenko misses with a jab, cross combination.

Inoue fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yakovenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Yakovenko is looking to take this one to the mat.
Inoue dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Inoue is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yakovenko to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Inoue stalling.
Inoue dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Inoue is trying to pull guard but Yakovenko turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nobuhito Inoue. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue wants to take the fight to the mat but Yakovenko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Yakovenko manages to pull guard.
Inoue wants to pass the guard but Yakovenko is keeping the position.

Yakovenko is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Inoue presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Inoue is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Yakovenko pulls Inoue into guard.
Yakovenko wants to stand up but Inoue is controlling him.
Inoue trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yakovenko's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko is trying to control the position but Inoue postures up.
Inoue controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Inoue tries to free his leg and advance position but Yakovenko is retaining full guard.
Yakovenko trying to keep a closed guard but Inoue is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yakovenko moves out of range as Inoue throws a body kick.
Yakovenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Inoue tries to avoid it but Yakovenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Inoue to the ground. Inoue escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yakovenko swings away with a body shot that misses

and Inoue moves into the clinch.
Yakovenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Yakovenko misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko is working for takedown but Inoue is calmly controlling the position for now.

Inoue breaks from the clinch.
Inoue goes for a double leg but Yakovenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yakovenko continues to drive forward.
Inoue changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yakovenko tries to avoid it but Inoue manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yakovenko to the ground. Yakovenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Inoue shoots in and drives through. Yakovenko sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Inoue. No joy for Yakovenko on that attempt.
Yakovenko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Yakovenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Inoue shoots for a takedown but Yakovenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Inoue throws a sloppy head kick and Yakovenko moves out of range easily.
And Yakovenko tries to counter it with a takedown but Inoue pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Inoue doesn't manage to clinch there - Yakovenko circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Inoue wants to clinch up but Yakovenko keeps it at a distance.
Inoue wants to clinch up but Yakovenko keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yakovenko.
Inoue tries to clinch but Yakovenko moves out of range.

Inoue gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Inoue lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Inoue manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Yakovenko looking to pass the guard.

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 Nobuhito Inoue.
I think Inoue 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mykhailo Yakovenko!