PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Buka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Tsehov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsehov has chosen Ivan Rebroff - Cossack Patrol as his entrance music. 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.

Buka
vs
Tsehov

175 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Buka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Tsehov!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsehov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Buka pinned against the cage. Buka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Buka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tsehov, pushing him back against the cage.
Buka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tsehov's defenses.
Buka content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Tsehov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tsehov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Buka keeps working.
Tsehov is stalling here. Buka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tsehov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Buka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Tsehov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsehov is looking to stall here but Buka recovers full guard.
Tsehov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsehov tries to free his leg and advance position but Buka is retaining full guard.
Buka wants to get back to his feet but Tsehov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Buka keeping full guard, as Tsehov tries to pass.
Tsehov passes Buka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tsehov stops Buka from getting back to his feet.

Tsehov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Tsehov is looking for a kimura but Buka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tsehov to get the leverage.
Tsehov looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tsehov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tsehov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Buka tries to avoid it but Tsehov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Buka to the ground. Buka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tsehov letting Buka take a breather here.

Buka breaks from the clinch.
Yuri Buka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tsehov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Buka.
Tsehov misses with a head kick.

Buka pushes Tsehov up against the cage in a clinch.

Buka breaks from the clinch.
Tsehov has a takedown stuffed.
Yuri Buka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Tsehov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tsehov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Buka looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsehov moves nicely into side control.

Tsehov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsehov tries to move to mount but Buka blocks the move with his legs.
Tsehov wants to take a breather but Buka manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tsehov.

Buka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Buka misses with a series of wild punches.

Buka pushes Tsehov up against the cage in a clinch.
Buka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Ivan Tsehov has been cut.
Tsehov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Buka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Buka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Buka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tsehov's defenses.
Buka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Buka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tsehov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Buka tries to land a knee to the head but Tsehov blocks with his arms.
Buka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Tsehov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsehov tries to clinch but Buka is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Buka. No joy for Tsehov on that attempt.
Buka swats away the attempt to clinch by Tsehov.
Tsehov shoots in for a double leg but Buka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Yuri Buka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Tsehov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsehov misses with a kick to the body.
Buka scores with a hook to the body. Tsehov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Buka fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tsehov.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tsehov.

Buka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Buka misses with an elbow strike.

Buka breaks from the clinch.
Tsehov misses with a few strikes there.
Tsehov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tsehov shoots in but no luck this time.
Buka tries a head kick but it misses.

Tsehov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Buka prevents Tsehov from improving position.
Buka defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsehov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Buka!
Tsehov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Tsehov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Buka has worked his arm free - good work by Buka!
Tsehov working the strikes but Buka uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buka is trying to stand up here but Tsehov is controlling him well.

Tsehov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tsehov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tsehov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tsehov is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuri Buka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ivan Tsehov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Buka moves into the clinch.
Buka pushes off an throws an elbow but Tsehov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Buka tries to land knees in the clinch but Tsehov avoids the damage to the body.

Tsehov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Buka looks like he's trying to stand up.

Tsehov wants to work for an arm triangle but Buka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tsehov trying to control from half guard but Buka is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsehov is working for a kimura but Buka is defending it quite comfortably.

Tsehov is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Buka has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tsehov is trying to work for a kimura but Buka is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tsehov seems to be working for a kimura but Buka defends the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Buka closes the distance and clinches.
Tsehov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Buka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsehov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Buka wants to clinch up but Tsehov keeps it at a distance.

Buka gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tsehov has Buka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Buka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buka lands a damaging elbow.

Buka manages to break the clinch.
Buka closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tsehov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Buka's guard now.
Tsehov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Buka is keeping the position for now.
Buka wants to stand but Tsehov is controlling the position.
Tsehov trying to control but Buka is working from the bottom.
Buka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tsehov is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsehov wants to pass the guard but Buka is keeping the position.

Tsehov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Buka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Buka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Buka!
Tsehov is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Tsehov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tsehov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivan Tsehov!