PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emil Yanenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitrtiy Koschelev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Emil Yanenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yanenko
vs
Koschelev

167 cm
24
162 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

178 cm
28
165 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Emil Yanenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrtiy Koschelev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koschelev throws a head kick but Yanenko moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Koschelev.
Koschelev misses with a head kick.
Yanenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Koschelev counters with a leg kick.
Yanenko fails with the takedown
and Koschelev counters with a low kick, right behind Yanenko 's knee.
Yanenko dives in and grabs Koschelev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koschelev pushes down on Yanenko's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emil Yanenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yanenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koschelev circles away.
Koschelev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yanenko.
Koschelev throws a good cross that connects.
Yanenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Koschelev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koschelev misses with a head kick.
Yanenko blocks a head kick by Koschelev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yanenko is defended easily by Koschelev.
Koschelev stuffs the takedown.
Yanenko misses with a takedown
and Koschelev counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Yanenko tries for a takedown but Koschelev circles away easily
and Koschelev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Koschelev on his heels. He'll look to pass Koschelev's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Yanenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yanenko trying to control but Koschelev is working from the bottom.
Koschelev keeping full guard, as Yanenko tries to pass.

Yanenko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yanenko stands and throws Koschelev's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Yanenko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Yanenko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Yanenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Koschelev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Yanenko but great work by Koschelev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanenko tries to bench press Koschelev off him but Koschelev keeps the position.
Yanenko looking for a sweep but Koschelev has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yanenko can't escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yanenko wants to control but Koschelev is having none of it.
Koschelev trying to control but Yanenko is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emil Yanenko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yanenko misses with the body kick
and Yanenko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yanenko shoots in but Koschelev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koschelev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Koschelev misses with a head kick.
Koschelev lands a head shot.
Koschelev misses with a head kick.
Koschelev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yanenko shoots in for a takedown but Koschelev shows good takedown defense.
Koschelev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Yanenko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koschelev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yanenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Koschelev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Yanenko somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emil Yanenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koschelev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Koschelev throws a head kick that misses.
Koschelev throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Yanenko's head.
Yanenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Koschelev's waist but Koschelev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yanenko off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yanenko looks for a takedown but Koschelev sprawls well.
Yanenko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Koschelev punishes Yanenko's body with a nice straight punch.
Koschelev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yanenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Koschelev counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Yanenko is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Koschelev pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Yanenko back to the cage. Koschelev follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koschelev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Koschelev throws a combination. Yanenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Koschelev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Emil Yanenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko dives in and scores a takedown into Koschelev's guard.

Yanenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Koschelev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Yanenko slips nicely into half guard.
Yanenko wants to free his trapped foot but Koschelev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Koschelev is defending against the submission attempts here by Yanenko.
Koschelev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yanenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko is working for a kimura but Koschelev is defending it quite comfortably.

Yanenko is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Yanenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dmitrtiy Koschelev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Yanenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Yanenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Koschelev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dmitrtiy Koschelev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koschelev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yanenko fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emil Yanenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koschelev scores with a head kick. Yanenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Koschelev lands a jab to the head.
A head kick misses from Koschelev.

Koschelev gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Yanenko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Yanenko looking to pass the guard.
Koschelev keeping moving, preventing Yanenko from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koschelev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Yanenko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Koschelev dives on top into guard.

Yanenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koschelev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Yanenko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Koschelev defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Koschelev passes into half guard.
Yanenko trying to control here.
Yanenko is looking to improve his position.
Yanenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Yanenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koschelev pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yanenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koschelev pulls his head out easily.

Yanenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yanenko tries to roll over but Koschelev keeps him under control.
Yanenko is refusing to be controlled, as Koschelev sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emil Yanenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yanenko 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emil Yanenko!
Our winner, Emil Yanenko, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.