PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Blair Howe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juri Bojka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juri Bojka acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Howe
vs
Bojka

215 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Blair Howe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juri Bojka!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bojka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bojka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Howe counters with a big head kick but Bojka shrugs it off.
Juri Bojka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bojka tries for a takedown but Howe circles away easily
and Howe counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Bojka 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 referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bojka trying to control the position from guard on top but Howe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Howe has Bojka pulled in close to control his posture.
Bojka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Howe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Bojka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Juri Bojka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Howe has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bojka.

Bojka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Howe to the mat! Howe manages to get full guard.
Bojka postures up.
Howe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Howe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bojka is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bojka trying to control but Howe is working from the bottom.
Bojka tries to stand but Howe is controlling from the bottom.

Howe is looking for a triangle but Bojka pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bojka wants to pass the guard but Howe is keeping the position.

Howe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bojka escapes and throws Howe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Howe wants to control but Bojka postures up.
Bojka lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bojka in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bojka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howe keeps working.
Howe struggling a bit here.
Howe is looking for a sweep.
Howe takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Howe is trying to control Bojka's posture but Bojka avoids it.
Howe tries to buck Bojka off but Bojka is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bojka stands up.
Bojka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Howe tries to clinch up but Bojka circles away and keeps his distance.
Bojka fails with the takedown.
Blair Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juri Bojka.
Howe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bojka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Howe blocks a jab.
Juri Bojka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bojka at a distance.
Howe shoots in for a takedown but Bojka shows good takedown defense.
Howe leaves Bojka with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Howe stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Howe wants it to stay on the feet.
Howe shoots in for a double leg but Bojka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Bojka forces Howe back against the cage and clinches.
Howe tries to break free but Bojka pushes him back against the cage.
Bojka is looking to break free of the clinch but Howe has double underhooks.
Bojka tries for a takedown but Howe manages to get underhooks.
Blair Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juri Bojka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bojka keeps control of Howe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Bojka manages to break the clinch.
Bojka shoots in looking for a takedown. Howe tries to sprawl out of it but Bojka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bojka shoots in looking for a takedown but Howe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bojka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bojka fails with the takedown.
Bojka is breathing heavily.
Howe tries to clinch but Bojka moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bojka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Howe.

Bojka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bojka tries to pull guard but Howe won't allow it.

Howe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Howe shoots in for a takedown but Bojka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Howe fails with a takedown attempt.
Bojka scores with a sloppy right hand. Howe should have avoided that one.
Bojka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Howe sprawls well. Howe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bojka gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bojka moves into range and clinches up with Howe.
Howe taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bojka drops down looking for an ankle pick but Howe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Howe fails with a takedown attempt.
Howe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bojka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Howe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howe fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bojka fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Howe to the ground. Bojka is now in Howe's guard.
Juri Bojka has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bojka trying to control but Howe is working from the bottom.
Bojka looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juri Bojka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Howe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Howe closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bojka circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Howe as Bojka shoots in.
Bojka shoots in for a takedown but Howe shows good takedown defense.

Bojka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Howe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Howe fails with a takedown attempt.
Bojka throws a sloppy head kick and Howe moves out of range easily.

Bojka gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe is trying to maintain the position but Bojka is very close to passing his half guard.
Bojka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Howe is trying to maintain the position but Bojka is very close to passing his half guard.
Bojka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Howe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Bojka is looking for submissions but instead, Howe has regained full guard.
Bojka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Howe keeping moving, preventing Bojka from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juri Bojka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bojka shoots in looking for a takedown. Howe tries to sprawl out of it but Bojka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Howe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Blair Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juri Bojka.
Bojka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Howe counters by clinching up.
Howe is trying to break the clinch but Bojka has him pressed against the cage.
Bojka tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe working hard to break the clinch.
Howe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bojka is pressed up against the cage. Howe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bojka down to the mat. Bojka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bojka throws a body kick that misses
and Howe counters with a nice body shot.

Bojka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Howe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bojka goes for a double leg but Howe avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Howe continues to drive forward.
A short right from Howe on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Howe.
Bojka keeps control of Howe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Howe is struggling to control the position.
Howe tries to break free but Bojka pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bojka throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howe counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Bojka clinches up with Howe and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Howe's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Howe is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bojka is defending well.
Howe leaning against his opponent.
Howe wants to take the fight to the mat but Bojka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bojka gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Howe regains guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bojka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Blair Howe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juri Bojka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Howe trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juri Bojka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bojka 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juri Bojka!