PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Boris Yurinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sanji Sanpun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yurinov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Autechre - Gantz Graf. Sanpun comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Snacktime - Barenaked Ladies kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Yurinov
vs
Sanpun

173 cm
28
146 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

178 cm
27
157 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Yurinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sanji Sanpun!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yurinov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sanpun.
Sanpun is looking to clinch.
Yurinov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Yurinov tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Yurinov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sanpun misses with a kick to the body.
Yurinov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanpun moves away.
Sanpun shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanpun is looking to chop away at Yurinov's legs.
Sanpun has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sanpun throws a head kick that misses.
Yurinov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Yurinov looks to land a body kick but Sanpun moved away.
Sanpun misses with a body kick.
Yurinov sizes up Sanpun with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sanpun takes one to the chin there.
Good leg kick by Sanpun there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Yurinov looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanpun is just out of range.
Yurinov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sanpun drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sanpun connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yurinov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sanpun scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Sanpun clinches up against the cage.
Sanpun tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yurinov avoids it.
Sanpun is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Yurinov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sanpun throws a punch but it's blocked by Yurinov.
Sanpun lands an elbow inside.

Yurinov breaks from the clinch.
Sanpun with a hook.
Sanpun takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slow jab from Yurinov misses its intended target.
Yurinov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sanpun looks to score with a jab to the body but Yurinov is just out of range.
Sanpun moves out of range of the strikes.

Sanpun is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yurinov's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yurinov is trying to escape back to his feet but Sanpun uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun misses with the ground and pound.
Sanpun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Yurinov is trying to improve his position.
Sanpun trying to control the position but Yurinov is working away.
Sanpun throws a strike aimed at the side of Yurinov's head but Yurinov avoids it well.
Sanpun controlling from side mount.
Yurinov parries the strikes from Sanpun easily there. Sanpun is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Yurinov to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yurinov manages to get back to half guard.
Sanpun not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanpun content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sanpun working Yurinov over with strikes.
Sanpun thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Yurinov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sanpun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun is just content to waste time from the top position. Yurinov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Sanpun tries to free his leg and advance position but Yurinov is retaining full guard.
Sanpun won't allow Yurinov to get back to his feet.
Yurinov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanpun.
Sanpun trying to control the position from guard on top but Yurinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanpun is looking to advance position but Yurinov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanji Sanpun dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sanpun avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sanpun doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Yurinov.
A head kick misses from Yurinov.
Yurinov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Yurinov lands a leg kick that knocks Sanpun off balance momentarily.
Yurinov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Boris Yurinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanpun checks the leg kick.
Yurinov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sanji Sanpun is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanpun takes one on the button.
Yurinov throws a jab when Sanpun was well out of range.

Sanpun moves into the clinch.

Yurinov breaks the clinch.
Yurinov misses with a body kick.
Sanpun looks to throw the jab but Yurinov is out of range.
Sanpun closes the distance looking to clinch
and Yurinov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Boris Yurinov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yurinov swinging wildly here.
Some bone on bone action there as Yurinov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Yurinov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Sanpun is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yurinov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yurinov connects with an inside leg kick.
Yurinov checks a low kick from Sanpun.
Yurinov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yurinov moves out of range of the body kick.
Yurinov lands with a cross.
Yurinov cracks Sanpun with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sanpun checks a leg kick nicely.
Sanpun shoots in and drives through. Yurinov sprawls well.
Yurinov swinging wildly here.
The fighters circling - Sanpun throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Sanpun.

Sanpun closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sanpun lands in his opponent's guard.
Sanpun passes Yurinov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yurinov gets full guard.
Sanpun wants to control from the top but Yurinov keeps moving.
Sanpun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sanpun with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun postures up in Yurinov's guard and throws a big left but Yurinov blocks it.
Yurinov keeping moving, preventing Sanpun from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanpun throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanpun wants to control from the top but Yurinov keeps moving.
Sanpun passes Yurinov's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Sanpun is looking for a kimura here.

Yurinov is defending against the submission attempts here by Sanpun.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun slips a nice elbow through Yurinov's hands, connecting with Yurinov's forehead.
Sanpun with the ground and pound but Yurinov uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sanpun won't allow Yurinov to get back to his feet.
Sanpun trying to control the position from guard on top but Yurinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanpun looking to sit in guard and control but Yurinov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sanpun looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sanji Sanpun will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yurinov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sanpun chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sanpun takes a swing at Yurinov's ribcage but misses.
Sanpun takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yurinov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sanpun checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A telegraphed right hand from Yurinov misses the target.
Yurinov throws the left hand but Sanpun avoids the punch easily.

Yurinov tries to sprawl but Sanpun drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sanpun trying to control the pace.
Yurinov is staying active underneath Sanpun, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yurinov is trying is best to control the position here.
Yurinov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanpun is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanpun wants to take a breather but Yurinov is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanpun dives in for a single leg takedown but Yurinov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Sanpun jumps guard and drags Yurinov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yurinov won't allow Sanpun to sweep him here.
Yurinov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Sanpun looking for subs off his back but Yurinov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sanpun is looking to get back to full guard here but Yurinov has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun is trying to work for a sweep but Yurinov has mounted him!
Sanpun is looking to improve his position but Yurinov isn't that keen on the idea.
Yurinov controlling from the full mount.
Yurinov can't control as he wanted to and Sanpun manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Yurinov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Boris Yurinov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun wants to control the action here but instead Yurinov manages to pass to full mount!
Yurinov wants to control the pace but Sanpun is squirming around nicely.
Sanpun can't escape the position.
Yurinov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sanji Sanpun has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yurinov trying to control but Sanpun is having none of it.
Sanpun keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanpun regains half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Yurinov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanji Sanpun is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sanpun trying to hold on to Yurinov's head to control him but Yurinov postures up.

Yurinov is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Yurinov connects with a nice short shot to Sanpun's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sanji Sanpun.
I've got Sanpun 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sanji Sanpun!
Sanji Sanpun thanked the fans post fight for their support.