PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Story (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rustam Yatsenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Story kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Yo my BITCH now!!!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Story
vs
Yatsenko

168 cm
28
135 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

181 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Hopkins Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tim Story!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rustam Yatsenko!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yatsenko lands a head shot.
Story shoots for a double leg takedown but Yatsenko sprawls well. He's pushed Story's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Yatsenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yatsenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Story will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yatsenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Story has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Story changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yatsenko tries to avoid it but Story manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yatsenko to the ground. Yatsenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Story. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Story shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yatsenko defends it nicely.

Story shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Yatsenko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Story throws a big elbow that misses.
Yatsenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Story.
Story is looking to work some ground and pound but Yatsenko has wrist control.
Story in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Story in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Story throwing strikes from guard but Yatsenko blocks nicely.
Story distracts Yatsenko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yatsenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Story wants to pass the guard but Yatsenko is keeping the position.
Story in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yatsenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yatsenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Story. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Story looking to pass the guard.
Story throws a big elbow that misses.
Story postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yatsenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Story.
Story is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Story throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yatsenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yatsenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Story working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Story throws a big elbow that misses.

Story drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yatsenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yatsenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yatsenko!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story is looking for a sweep.
Story might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Story is working hard here to advance position.
Yatsenko wants to control but Story is keeping him busy.
Story tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yatsenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yatsenko taking a breather here.
Story is not content to let Yatsenko control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Story manages to get back to half guard.

Story looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Story looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Story is staying active underneath Yatsenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Story tries to roll over but Yatsenko keeps him under control.

Story is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yatsenko pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Story dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A nice leg kick lands there from Yatsenko.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Story checks a leg kick.
Yatsenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yatsenko.
Yatsenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Story with a poor takedown
and Yatsenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Yatsenko throws a head kick but Story moves out of range.
Yatsenko misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yatsenko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rustam Yatsenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yatsenko scores with a leg kick.
A solid body kick from Yatsenko.
Yatsenko misses with a leg kick.
Yatsenko stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Story. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Story throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Yatsenko tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Story is in Yatsenko's guard.
Story loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Story has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Story stopping the sweep attempt from Yatsenko.
Story with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yatsenko wants to sweep here but Story controlling him for the moment.
Story working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Yatsenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yatsenko wants to stand but Story is controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Story preventing the sweep.
Story with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Story trying to control but Yatsenko is working from the bottom.
Story is in close to Yatsenko's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yatsenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Story showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Story stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yatsenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Story throwing strikes from guard but Yatsenko blocks nicely.
Story throws an elbow that misses. Yatsenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Story's guard. Nice move by Yatsenko!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yatsenko is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Story has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Yatsenko is looking to defend but Story has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Yatsenko! Story pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Yatsenko taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Tim Story!
Tim Story made sure to mention his sponsor, Hopkins Athletics in his post fight interview.