PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vern Vurris (ranked 1804 p4p, 1643 weight class) and Yannick Sakala (ranked 211 p4p, 190 weight class). Sakala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pole Pole. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Vurris
vs
Sakala

201 cm
31
270
23 - 11 - 1

193 cm
28
242
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Fantasy Threads (Laundry 15%)

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
© Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vern Vurris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yannick Sakala!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakala misses the shot to the body.
Sakala throws a front kick aimed at Vurris's knee but Vurris avoids it well.
Vurris is looking to counter punch.

Sakala closes the distance and clinches.
Sakala lands with a light punch inside.

Sakala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vurris lands with a right hand.
Sakala throws a sloppy head kick
and Vurris counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Sakala drives through and clinches with Vurris against the cage.
Sakala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sakala slows down the pace here.
Sakala misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sakala breaks the clinch.
Sakala looks for the body kick but Vurris saw that one coming.
Vurris wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sakala clobbers Vurris with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vurris ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sakala scores with a push kick.
Sakala's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vurris connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Sakala scrambles back to his feet.
Sakala throws a half hearted mid kick.
Vurris throwing a counter right hand but Sakala manages to avoid it.

Vurris shoots in and gets a takedown into Sakala's guard.

Sakala kicks Vurris off and gets to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vurris blocks a head kick by Sakala.
Sakala fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vurris checks it well.
It looked like Vurris was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sakala.
Vurris throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sakala counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakala misses with a hook

and Vurris moves into the clinch.
Sakala scores with a shot to the side of Vurris's head.
Sakala throws a punch but it's blocked by Vurris.
Sakala has a couple of punches blocked by Vurris.
Sakala lands a right hand.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sakala.
Vurris definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sakala working aggressively here.
Vurris tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sakala avoids it.

Sakala is fighting off a takedown attempt but Vurris is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sakala to the mat. Sakala regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Vurris stops Sakala from standing up.
Vurris won't allow Sakala to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris won't allow Sakala to get back to his feet.
Sakala bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vurris's guard.

Vurris is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Vurris is working an open guard so Sakala takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sakala throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vurris sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vurris swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Vurris drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sakala bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Vurris darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakala throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sakala throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sakala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sakala throws a hook but Vurris avoids it easily.
Sakala swings for the body but Vurris moves out of range.
Sakala misses the body punch
and Vurris counters with a stiff right hand.
Vurris tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sakala defends well and Vurris ends up having to push Sakala into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sakala lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head punch on the inside from Sakala fails to land.
Sakala throws a head punch that misses.
Sakala misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sakala misses with some punches.
Sakala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yannick Sakala dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vurris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sakala manages to avoid it.
Sakala throws a fast counter high kick but Vurris manages to duck under it in time.
Sakala misses the jab.
Sakala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vurris manages to avoid it.
Sakala misses with an uppercut
and Vurris counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sakala throws a lazy head kick
and Vurris counters with a stiff right hand.
Vurris blocks the body kick.
Sakala scores with a body shot.
Vurris thows a leg kick but Sakala checks it
and Sakala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vurris checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Vurris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vurris misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sakala! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vurris tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sakala is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A low kick from Vurris is predictable there
enabling Sakala to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakala misses with an uppercut.
Vurris appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Vurris scores with a jab.
Vurris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sakala throws a head kick that misses
and Vurris counters with a nice leg kick.
Sakala moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vurris looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sakala doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sakala.
Vurris moves out of range as Sakala throws a body kick.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sakala. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakala fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vurris misses with the combination.
Sakala throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Vurris counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vurris lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sakala at a distance.
A big right from Vurris misses.
Sakala with a nice cross.
Vurris darts in looking for a takedown but Sakala gets double underhooks and turns Vurris into the cage.
A little jabbing left from Sakala on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sakala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sakala lands with a left to the head.
Vurris tries to work over Sakala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vurris takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris blocks an uppercut.
Sakala controlling the action here for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sakala.
Sakala swings wildly with an uppercut but Vurris uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vurris tries to throw a body punch but Sakala avoids it by throwing Vurris back against the cage.
Vurris tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sakala creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vurris blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vurris.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakala misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sakala breaks the clinch.
Sakala throws a lazy body kick
and Vurris counters with an inside leg kick.
Sakala misses with a lunging right hand
and Vurris connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakala misses the target.
Vurris works Sakala's body with a nice hook.
Sakala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Vurris misses.
Sakala tries to land a body kick
and Vurris counters with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vurris shoots in looking for a takedown but Sakala manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vurris's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sakala let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sakala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vurris manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yannick Sakala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sakala looks to throw a body kick
and Vurris counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sakala misses the shot to the body.
Vurris is looking to clinch.
Vurris blocks a low kick nicely.
Sakala throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Vurris counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vurris throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice body kick from Sakala.
Sakala pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakala throws a push kick but Vurris slaps the foot to one side.
Sakala throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Vurris to counter with a crisp jab.
Sakala missing with a left hand there. Vurris was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakala cracks a nice hook into Vurris's ribs.
Vurris steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakala.
Vurris half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sakala lands with a good body shot.
Sakala connects with a crisp jab.

Sakala rushes Vurris and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sakala fails to land.
Sakala lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Vurris pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakala leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Vurris misses with a punch on the inside.
Sakala leaning his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sakala fails to land.
Vern Vurris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yannick Sakala seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vurris changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sakala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sakala throws a sloppy head kick and Vurris moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vurris is looking for a takedown.
Vurris is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sakala swings wildly with an uppercut but Vurris uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sakala misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakala has a couple of punches blocked by Vurris.
Vurris is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vurris blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sakala lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vurris backwards.
Sakala is pressed up against the cage. Vurris has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sakala down to the mat. Sakala 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 Vern Vurris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the body from Sakala misses

and Vurris counters with a shoot takedown. Sakala fights it but they end up in guard.
Sakala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sakala has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Vurris is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sakala.
Sakala swings wildly with an uppercut but Vurris uses good head movement to avoid it.

Vurris pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vurris crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sakala - the referee stops the clock and Vurris gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sakala. Vurris manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sakala on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sakala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sakala throws a front kick aimed at Vurris's knee but Vurris avoids it well.
Vurris tries to clinch but Sakala moves away
and Sakala counters with a stiff right hand.
Vurris pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vurris connects with a body shot that sends Sakala's belly button to the back.
Nice body punch from Sakala.
Yannick Sakala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A shot to the liver by Sakala. Beautiful body shot.
Vurris has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sakala finds it's way round the side to connect with Vurris's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yannick Sakala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sakala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yannick Sakala!
Yannick Sakala took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.