PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Toby Keith Yrkje (ranked 324 p4p, 720 weight class) and Grey Ape (ranked 45 p4p, 104 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Yrkje might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to As Good As I Once Was. Toby Keith Yrkje is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Yrkje
vs
Ape

187 cm
33
180
27 - 17 - 0

185 cm
33
173
25 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Toby Keith Yrkje!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Grey Ape!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yrkje smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ape has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ape throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yrkje counters with a stiff right hand.
Yrkje tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Yrkje takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Toby Keith Yrkje has been cut.
Ape avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ape throws a fast counter high kick but Yrkje manages to duck under it in time.
Yrkje scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ape throws a leg kick
letting Yrkje counter with a right hand.
Yrkje uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Yrkje crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ape - the referee stops the clock and Yrkje gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ape. Yrkje manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ape throws an off balance right hand
and Yrkje counters with a leg kick.
Ape displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Yrkje throws out the jab.
Ape now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ape throws a sloppy head kick
and Yrkje counters with a three punch combo that has Ape backing up. Ape nods at Yrkje to acknowledge the strikes.
Yrkje looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yrkje slips under a jab.
Yrkje is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ape.
Yrkje avoids the head kick by Ape.
Yrkje tries to counter by clinching up but Ape breaks away and moves out of range.
Ape throws a lazy head kick
and Yrkje counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yrkje avoids the head kick by Ape.
An attempted straight right counter from Yrkje misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ape takes one on the button.
Yrkje buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A big right from Ape misses.
Ape throws a head kick that misses
and Yrkje counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yrkje darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ape pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Ape tries to get set, Yrkje tries to push him back and clinch up but Ape manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd cheers as Ape lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yrkje doesn't seem phased though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape slips under a jab.
Ape throws a leg kick that is checked
and Yrkje counters with a nice uppercut.
Ape throws a head kick but Yrkje moves out of range.
Yrkje throwing a counter right hand but Ape manages to avoid it.
Ape tries to work over Yrkje's front leg with a kick but Yrkje checks it.
Yrkje ducks under a wild hook from Ape.
Ape throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yrkje counters with a nice uppercut.
Yrkje looks to land a body kick but Ape moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Yrkje!
Ape throws a hook to the side of Yrkje's head but Yrkje sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yrkje just misses with a punch to the body.
Yrkje lands a head shot.
Yrkje tries to move into range but Ape moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ape tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Yrkje wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ape throws a lazy right hand but Yrkje sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Yrkje misses.
Ape replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Yrkje blocks it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Keith Yrkje dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Toby Keith Yrkje's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A big right from Ape misses.
Yrkje scores with a nice body kick.
Ape on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yrkje. Yrkje obviously looking to wear him down.
Yrkje looks to score with a jab to the body but Ape is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ape! But no joy.
Yrkje throws a leg kick but Ape sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yrkje is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ape can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ape throws a leg kick but Yrkje sees it coming and moves out of range.
Yrkje has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A low kick from Ape misses

and Yrkje counters by clinching up.
Ape is trying to break the clinch but Yrkje has him pressed against the cage.
Yrkje working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yrkje throws a punch but it's blocked by Ape.

Yrkje gets control of Ape's arms and successfully pulls guard. Yrkje will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ape trying to control but Yrkje is working from the bottom.
Ape engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ape passes Yrkje's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ape is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Yrkje manages to get to full guard.
Ape looking to pass the guard.
Yrkje has control of Ape's left arm, preventing Ape from doing any damage.

Ape stands up from Yrkje's guard - Ape perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ape throws a jab when Yrkje was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Toby Keith Yrkje is winning the standup battle so far.
Ape takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yrkje moves in looking to clinch but Ape pushes him off.
Ape looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ape misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Ape misses the target.
Donk. Yrkje catches Ape right on the button with a cross.

Ape clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ape tries to break the clinch but Yrkje is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ape.
Ape tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Yrkje is working Ape over against the cage.
Ape unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ape tries to land a knee to the head but Yrkje blocks with his arms.
Ape working aggressively here.
Yrkje misses with a punch on the inside.

Ape's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ape throws a head kick that Yrkje semi-blocks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yrkje throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yrkje blocks a jab.
Yrkje is looking to counter the offense by Ape and move into the clinch.
Yrkje tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Grey Ape will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Toby Keith Yrkje's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ape takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ape misses the jab.
Yrkje is looking to counter with a body kick.
Ape throws a hook but Yrkje blocks it.
Yrkje feints and then cracks Ape's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ape down.
Nice shot lands for Yrkje.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ape pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ape fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Yrkje is out of range.
Yrkje misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ape tries a head kick but it misses.
Ape misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yrkje wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Yrkje darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ape tries to clinch up.
Yrkje chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ape tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice straight punches there by Ape. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yrkje has managed to clinch.
Ape misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yrkje.
Yrkje pushes Ape back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Yrkje blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yrkje jumps guard but Ape turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short uppercut from Yrkje.
Yrkje blocks an uppercut.
Yrkje prevents a body shot from Ape.

Yrkje pulls guard effortlessly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ape won't allow Yrkje to sweep him here.
Yrkje keeping moving, preventing Ape from controlling successfully.
Ape showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ape trying to control the position from guard on top but Yrkje is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ape engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ape wants to pass the guard but Yrkje is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Yrkje fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ape misses with a lunging right hand

and Yrkje counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yrkje.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ape misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ape working aggressively here.
Yrkje scores with a nice hook to the head.
Yrkje throws a punch but it's blocked by Ape.

Ape breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Keith Yrkje showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yrkje has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Keith Yrkje!
An out of breath Toby Keith Yrkje thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.