PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Linus Borjesson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Yelsin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Yelsin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Borjesson
vs
Yelsin

180 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Linus Borjesson!
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, Yuri Yelsin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yelsin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yuri Yelsin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yelsin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Yelsin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Borjesson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Yelsin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borjesson is controlling him.
Borjesson throws a big right hand that misses.

Borjesson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Borjesson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borjesson looking to pass the guard.
Borjesson trying to control the position from guard on top but Yelsin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Yelsin tries a head kick but it misses.

Yelsin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Borjesson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yelsin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Borjesson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borjesson stops Yelsin from standing up.
Yelsin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Borjesson 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.
Yelsin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Borjesson won't allow Yelsin to get back to his feet.
Borjesson wants to pass the guard but Yelsin is keeping the position.
Yelsin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Borjesson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Borjesson prevents Yelsin from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Yelsin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Yelsin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yelsin showed some decent athleticism there.
Yelsin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Borjesson is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yelsin wants to get back to his feet.
Borjesson is looking for a sweep. Yelsin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yelsin decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yelsin clinches up with Borjesson and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Linus Borjesson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yelsin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yelsin misses with a few strikes there.
Borjesson keeps the fight on the outside.

Yelsin takes the fight into the clinch.
Yelsin wants a takedown.

Yelsin breaks the clinch.

Yelsin forces Borjesson back against the cage and clinches.

Yelsin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yelsin drives through and clinches with Borjesson against the cage.
Yelsin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Yelsin tries to pull guard but Borjesson won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yelsin manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Borjesson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yelsin can pounce on him.
Borjesson with a poor takedown

and Yelsin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Yelsin pulls Borjesson into guard.
Yelsin keeping moving, preventing Borjesson from controlling successfully.
Borjesson throwing strikes from guard but Yelsin blocks nicely.
Borjesson won't allow Yelsin to get back to his feet.
Borjesson trying to control but Yelsin is working from the bottom.
Yelsin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borjesson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Yelsin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Yelsin keeping full guard, as Borjesson tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Borjesson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Yelsin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Yelsin drags the fight down to the ground.
Borjesson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yelsin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Borjesson is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borjesson trying to control but Yelsin is working from the bottom.
Borjesson with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yelsin wants to stand and escape but Borjesson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Yelsin darts in and clinches Borjesson up against the cage.

Yelsin jumps into guard, dragging Borjesson to the mat.
Borjesson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Borjesson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Borjesson stops Yelsin from standing up.
Borjesson tries to free his leg and advance position but Yelsin is retaining full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Borjesson throws a big right hand that misses.
Borjesson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Yelsin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Yelsin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Borjesson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Borjesson tries for a takedown but Yelsin circles away easily

and Yelsin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Yelsin looking to throw knees to the head but Borjesson is blocking nicely.

Yelsin pulls guard.

Yelsin kicks Borjesson off and gets to his feet.
Yelsin misses with a few strikes there.

Yelsin drives through and clinches with Borjesson against the cage.

Yelsin successfully pulls guard.
Borjesson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yelsin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yelsin keeping moving, preventing Borjesson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borjesson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yelsin parries the strikes from Borjesson easily there. Borjesson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yelsin to escape.
Yelsin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yelsin lands a jab-cross combination.
Yuri Yelsin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yelsin rushes Borjesson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Yelsin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A combination from Yelsin does no damage.
Yelsin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yelsin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Yelsin moves into range and clinches up with Borjesson.

Yelsin successfully pulls guard.

Borjesson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yelsin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yelsin has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borjesson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Borjesson is striking off his back. Yelsin thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Yelsin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Borjesson tries to roll over but Yelsin keeps him under control.
Borjesson is trying to maintain the position but Yelsin is very close to passing his half guard.

Borjesson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Borjesson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Yelsin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yelsin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Yelsin!