PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vitaliy Yakimenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Griffiths (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Yakimenko
vs
Griffiths

187 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
21
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitaliy Yakimenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Griffiths!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffiths throws a body kick that misses.

Griffiths has managed to clinch.
Yakimenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Griffiths walks away with a smile on his face. Yakimenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A bone on bone clash there as Yakimenko blocks the leg kick.
Yakimenko blocks a low kick nicely.

Griffiths instigates a clinch.
Yakimenko tries to pull guard but Griffiths forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Yakimenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaliy Yakimenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yakimenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Yakimenko keeping moving, preventing Griffiths from controlling successfully.
Griffiths is stalling in the full guard.
Griffiths's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Yakimenko trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Griffiths looking to pass the guard.

Griffiths drops back looking for a leg! Yakimenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yakimenko manages to kick Griffiths off! Griffiths jumps back into Yakimenko's guard.
Yakimenko wants to sweep here but Griffiths controlling him for the moment.
Griffiths stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yakimenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yakimenko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Griffiths trying to control but Yakimenko is working from the bottom.
Griffiths passes into half guard.
Yakimenko's coaches at ~Abobomination Training $700 13 LEGIT elite coache have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Griffiths controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffiths moves into full mount! Yakimenko won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimenko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Griffiths takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Griffiths with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffiths tries to control but Yakimenko wriggling away.

Griffiths working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Griffiths is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yakimenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Griffiths is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Griffiths extends the arm and Yakimenko is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stephen Griffiths!
A victorious Stephen Griffiths thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.