PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Exodus Starburst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryuken Yanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Starburst
vs
Yanagi

173 cm
24
164 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

175 cm
30
165 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Exodus Starburst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryuken Yanagi!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Starburst dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yanagi avoids the head kick by Starburst.
Yanagi has a takedown stuffed.
Yanagi fails with a takedown attempt.
Starburst throws a body punch but Yanagi moves out of range.
Yanagi shoots in for a takedown but Starburst shows good takedown defense.
Exodus Starburst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuken Yanagi.
Yanagi shoots in for a double leg but Starburst sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Yanagi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Starburst napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Starburst on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Starburst tries to get out of the position.
Starburst managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Yanagi.
Yanagi working the ground and pound but Starburst is defending the strikes.
Starburst takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Starburst takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Starburst knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yanagi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starburst dodges the ground and pound from Yanagi.
Starburst on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Yanagi throws a strike aimed at the side of Starburst's head but Starburst avoids it well.
An elbow from Yanagi crashes against the mat.
Yanagi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Yanagi misses with the ground and pound.
Yanagi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Starburst parries the strikes from Yanagi easily there. Yanagi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Starburst to escape.
Starburst takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Yanagi tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Yanagi working the strikes but Starburst uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Starburst defending well though.
Ground and pound from Yanagi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Starburst tries to roll over but Yanagi keeps him under control.
Starburst blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yanagi.
Yanagi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Starburst regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Yanagi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yanagi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Starburst's guard.
Yanagi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Starburst's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yanagi slips a nice elbow through Starburst's hands, connecting with Starburst's forehead.
Starburst blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yanagi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi is looking to advance position but Starburst won't allow it.
Yanagi prevents Starburst from standing back up.
Yanagi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yanagi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yanagi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yanagi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Starburst won't allow Yanagi to pass to mount.
Starburst avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yanagi.
Starburst gets back to full guard.
Yanagi throwing strikes but missing.
Starburst is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yanagi is controlling him.
Yanagi throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yanagi is looking to work some ground and pound but Starburst has wrist control.
Yanagi throwing strikes but missing.
Yanagi stopping the sweep attempt from Starburst.
Yanagi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starburst preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starburst preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Yanagi looking to pass the guard.
Starburst is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yanagi is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yanagi shoots for a takedown but Starburst saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Starburst throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Yanagi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Starburst.
Starburst lands a front kick.
Yanagi checks a leg kick nicely.

Yanagi gets tackled into the cage by Starburst. Starburst maintains the clinch.
Yanagi is trying to pull guard but Starburst has him pressed against the cage.
Starburst swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yanagi can't get the takedown.
Exodus Starburst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryuken Yanagi.
Starburst gets underhooks to prevent Yanagi's takedown attempt.
Starburst goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Yanagi is trying to pull guard but Starburst has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starburst prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yanagi can't get the takedown.
Starburst lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Starburst displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yanagi up against the cage.
Starburst is pressed up against the cage. Yanagi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Starburst down to the mat. Starburst avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Starburst tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yanagi is able to avoid easily.
Yanagi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Starburst defends it nicely.
Starburst misses with a body shot.
Exodus Starburst is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Starburst.

Yanagi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yanagi wants to pass the guard but Starburst is keeping the position.
Starburst lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yanagi!
Yanagi is trying desperately to improve position.
Starburst is looking to stand but Starburst has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagi is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi gets back to half guard.
Yanagi gets back to full guard.
Yanagi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yanagi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Starburst puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Yanagi is looking to improve his position.
Starburst seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Starburst prevents Yanagi from improving his position.
Yanagi is looking to get back to full guard here but Starburst has managed to pass to side control instead.
Yanagi is trying to work for a sweep but Starburst has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi can't escape the position.
Yanagi regains half guard.
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!
Yanagi is pressing down on Starburst's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yanagi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yanagi wants to improve his position but instead Starburst has moved into half guard.
Yanagi is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryuken Yanagi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Starburst swings for the body but Yanagi moves out of range.
Yanagi fails with a takedown attempt.
Yanagi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yanagi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Starburst.
Starburst throws a chopping leg kick but Yanagi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Starburst stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Starburst wants it to stay on the feet.

Yanagi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Yanagi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Yanagi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Yanagi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanagi with the ground and pound but Starburst uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Yanagi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starburst is keeping the position for now.
Yanagi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yanagi looking to pass the guard.
Yanagi with a nice head shot there.
Yanagi lands a couple of digs.
Yanagi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yanagi throwing strikes but missing.
Yanagi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Starburst is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starburst working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yanagi.
Yanagi is looking to advance position but Starburst has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Starburst tries to control but Yanagi wriggling away.
Yanagi is in all sorts of trouble here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yanagi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yanagi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Starburst has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Yanagi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Starburst!
Yanagi with good strikes from the mount here!
Starburst is trying to escape the mount.
Starburst wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Yanagi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Yanagi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yanagi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ryuken Yanagi has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yanagi putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Yanagi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Starburst slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Yanagi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yanagi wants to pass to mount but Starburst is defending the position.
Starburst avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Yanagi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yanagi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Exodus Starburst has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yanagi working the head and body with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryuken Yanagi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yanagi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryuken Yanagi!