PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Yuber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Kooch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kooch has chosen Rusko - Tru Powwa as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Yuber
vs
Kooch

194 cm
23
265 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

194 cm
33
255 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Yuber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Kooch!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yuber fails with a takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kooch.
Kooch working away.
Yuber is not content to let Kooch control the position.
Yuber is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Yuber's face as Kooch controls the position.
Yuber wants to control but Kooch postures up.
Kooch is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Yuber will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Yuber is trying to control Kooch's posture but Kooch avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yuber shoots in looking for a takedown. Kooch tries to sprawl out of it but Yuber keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kooch manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yuber dives in and grabs Kooch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kooch pushes down on Yuber's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Yuber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yuber tries to clinch up.
Kooch lands a body shot.
Ivan Yuber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yuber stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yuber wants it to stay on the feet.
Yuber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yuber shoots in for a takedown but Kooch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Kooch looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kooch not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yuber keeping full guard, as Kooch tries to pass.
Kooch not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kooch's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Kooch.
Kooch takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yuber shoots in but no luck this time.
Yuber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Yuber with that takedown attempt.
Kooch just misses with a punch to the body.
Yuber tries to clinch up.
Kooch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yuber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kooch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yuber tries to clinch there but Kooch circles away.
Kooch misses with a wild body shot.
Yuber with a poor takedown
and Kooch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kooch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Yuber tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kooch connects with a body shot.
Kooch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Yuber rather than just go for the knockout.
Yuber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kooch circles away.
Yuber throws a lazy uppercut

and Kooch decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Yuber's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kooch stays in close to Yuber's body and controls the position.
Kooch postures up.
Yuber being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
It looks like Kooch might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mike Kooch has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Yuber fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Yuber misses with a takedown attempt - Kooch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yuber looks for a takedown but Kooch sprawls well.
Yuber throws the left hand but Kooch avoids the punch easily.
Yuber avoids the body shot from Kooch.

Yuber feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kooch looking for a guillotine here but Yuber defends easily.
Yuber trying to control but Kooch is working from the bottom.

Kooch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yuber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Yuber from controlling successfully.

Kooch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yuber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yuber trying to control the position from guard on top but Kooch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kooch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yuber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Yuber from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Kooch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yuber defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kooch has his foot on Yuber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yuber works his way back into a safe position though.
Yuber trying to control but Kooch is working from the bottom.

Kooch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yuber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yuber passes Kooch's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kooch is staying active underneath Yuber, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Yuber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!

Kooch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mike Kooch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yuber drops an elbow to the side of Kooch's head.

Kooch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kooch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kooch is breathing heavily.

Kooch looking for a guillotine here but Yuber defends easily.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Yuber from controlling successfully.

Kooch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yuber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kooch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yuber.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuber slips nicely into half guard.

Kooch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yuber seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yuber wants to free his trapped foot but Kooch is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yuber is looking to take a break and control but Kooch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yuber is looking to advance position but Kooch won't allow it.
Yuber wants to take a breather but Kooch is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kooch is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Yuber dominated that second round.
That's time! Yuber's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Yuber throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yuber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Yuber gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kooch to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kooch controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kooch looking to sit in guard and control but Yuber gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kooch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yuber doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yuber manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yuber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kooch keeping moving, preventing Yuber from controlling successfully.

Kooch looking for a guillotine here but Yuber defends easily.
Kooch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kooch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yuber is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kooch is trying to keep Yuber in close.

Kooch looking for subs off his back but Yuber has passed one foot through into half guard.
Yuber is controlling the pace.

Yuber is looking for a kimura here.
Yuber working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kooch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yuber advances position into side control!
Kooch is trying to improve his position.
Yuber is looking to take a break and control but Kooch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Kooch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kooch tries to buck Yuber off but Yuber is having none of it.
Yuber wants to control but Kooch is keeping him busy.

Yuber tries for a kimura but Kooch is defending well.
Yuber tries to stand but Kooch is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuber working away.
Yuber trying to control the action but Kooch is working from the bottom.
Kooch is trying to improve his position.
Yuber in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Yuber trying to control the position but Kooch is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kooch is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivan Yuber.
I think Yuber 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!