PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Obasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Boyka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Obasi
vs
Boyka

183 cm
30
195 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
28
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Obasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yuri Boyka!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obasi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boyka misses with a head kick.
Boyka thumps Obasi with a low kick.
Good leg kick by Boyka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Boyka lands an overhand right.
Obasi is looking to clinch but Boyka is avoiding it.

Obasi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Obasi trying to pass the guard but Boyka defending well.
We've been hearing good reports from Obasi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Obasi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boyka pushes Obasi off looking to stand but Obasi dives back in and keeps control.
Still in half guard, Obasi seems content to control.
Obasi is trying to control. Boyka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boyka is looking to control Obasi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boyka avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obasi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Obasi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boyka wants to improve his position but Obasi is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Obasi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Boyka's guard.
Obasi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boyka is looking to stand up but Obasi isn't so interested in that idea.
Obasi content to stall in guard here.
Obasi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Boyka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyka keeping full guard, as Obasi tries to pass.
Obasi trying to control the position from guard on top but Boyka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Obasi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Boyka throws a front kick aimed at Obasi's knee but Obasi avoids it well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Obasi.
Boyka misses with a low kick as Obasi jumps back.
Boyka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Obasi clinches up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Obasi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Obasi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Boyka up against the cage.
Boyka tries to work over Obasi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obasi lands a left hand.
Obasi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Obasi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Boyka misses with a punch on the inside.
Obasi lands a nice knee to the body.

Obasi manages to pull guard.
Obasi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boyka told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Obasi pushes Boyka off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Obasi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Boyka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obasi takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Obasi has Boyka pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Obasi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Boyka tumbling to the mat - Obasi dives into Boyka's guard.
Boyka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Obasi trying to control but Boyka is working from the bottom.
Obasi preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Obasi stands up and waves to Boyka to follow him.
Boyka misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Obasi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Boyka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Yuri Boyka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obasi blocks a jab.
Boyka throws a chopping leg kick but Obasi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Boyka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Obasi.
Obasi tries to clinch up but Boyka circles away and keeps his distance.
Boyka misses with a double jab
and Obasi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Obasi stalks Boyka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Boyka's face. Boyka staggers backwards, shaken.
Boyka tries a head kick but it misses.
Obasi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Boyka is fending him off so far but Obasi persists. Nope, Boyka circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Obasi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Obasi has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka throws a lazy uppercut
and Boyka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Obasi moves out of range of the leg kick from Boyka.

Obasi moves into the clinch.
Boyka misses with the head strike.
Obasi is pushing Boyka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Obasi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Boyka prevents a body shot from Obasi.
A right hand to the body from Boyka.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Obasi.
Obasi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Boyka's defenses.
Boyka has a couple of punches blocked by Obasi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyka struggles to land a body shot inside as Obasi controls his hands.
Obasi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Boyka prevents it.
Obasi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The referee is keeping an eye on Obasi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyka tries to throw a body punch but Obasi avoids it by throwing Boyka back against the cage.

Obasi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obasi being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obasi wants to get back to his feet but Boyka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Obasi pushes Boyka off and gets back to his feet.
Obasi blocks a head kick by Boyka.
Nice defenses there by Obasi.
Boyka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyka looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Boyka tries a head kick but it misses.
Boyka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Obasi.
Obasi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boyka keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed right hand from Boyka misses the target.
Boyka throws a big shot that misses.
Obasi delivers a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boyka scores with a spinning back kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyka throws a head kick that misses
and Obasi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boyka stuffs the takedown.
Boyka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Boyka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Obasi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Boyka tries a head kick but it misses.
A shot to the body from Boyka misses
letting Obasi counter with a right hand.
Boyka throws a sloppy head kick and Obasi moves out of range easily.
Boyka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Boyka lands a head kick. Obasi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Boyka rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Obasi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Boyka.
Boyka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy body kick from Boyka

and Obasi moves into the clinch.
Boyka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obasi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
John Obasi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Obasi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Obasi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Obasi lands with a right to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Obasi.
Obasi scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Yuri Boyka has been cut.
Boyka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Obasi tries to pull guard but Boyka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Obasi misses with an elbow strike.
Obasi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Obasi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka blocks a body shot from Obasi.
Boyka misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Boyka fails to land.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Yuri Boyka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obasi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Boyka lands a left hand.

Obasi decides to pull guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boyka prevents Obasi from getting back to his feet.
Boyka wants to pass the guard but Obasi is keeping the position.
Boyka would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Obasi rushes Boyka and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Boyka takes a knee to the side of the body.
Boyka tries to work over Obasi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Boyka swings wildly with an uppercut but Obasi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Obasi is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obasi stalls.
Boyka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Obasi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Boyka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice body kick from Obasi.
Boyka keeps the fight on the outside.
Obasi tries for a takedown but Boyka circles away easily
and Boyka makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obasi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Boyka.
Boyka scores with a spinning back kick!

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 John Obasi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Obasi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Obasi!
Our winner, John Obasi, 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.