PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Karkmananis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Yen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karkmananis
vs
Yen

185 cm
29
215 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

190 cm
26
220 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nicolas Karkmananis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donnie Yen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

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

Karkmananis rushes Yen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yen blocks a body shot from Karkmananis.
Karkmananis tries to throw a body punch but Yen avoids it by throwing Karkmananis back against the cage.
Yen takes an elbow to the temple.
Yen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Karkmananis misses with a head kick.
Karkmananis connects with a high kick.
Donnie Yen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Yen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Karkmananis's guard.
Yen postures up in Karkmananis's guard and throws a big left but Karkmananis blocks it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Yen trying to control but Karkmananis is working from the bottom.
Yen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Karkmananis wants to stand but Yen is controlling the position.
Yen trying to control the position from guard on top but Karkmananis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yen drops back looking for a leg! Karkmananis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karkmananis manages to kick Yen off! Yen jumps back into Karkmananis's guard.
Karkmananis is looking to stand up but Yen isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Karkmananis counters with a series of strikes. Yen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Yen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Karkmananis darts in and clinches Yen up against the cage.
Karkmananis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karkmananis misses with some punches.
Karkmananis struggles to land a body shot inside as Yen controls his hands.
Yen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karkmananis to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis lands a body punch in the clinch.

Karkmananis breaks from the clinch.
Nicolas Karkmananis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Karkmananis gets a clinch.
Karkmananis tries to throw a body punch but Yen avoids it by throwing Karkmananis back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Karkmananis.
Karkmananis tries to land knees in the clinch but Yen avoids the damage to the body.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Karkmananis darts in and clinches Yen up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yen tries to pull guard but Karkmananis won't allow it.
Karkmananis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karkmananis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Karkmananis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yen throws a sloppy head kick and Karkmananis moves out of range easily.
Yen tries to land a front kick but Karkmananis steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yen cracks a nice hook into Karkmananis's ribs.
Yen dives in for a single leg takedown but Karkmananis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Nicolas Karkmananis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.
Karkmananis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Karkmananis controlling the action here for a moment.
Karkmananis stops a takedown attempt from Yen.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yen dives in and grabs Karkmananis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karkmananis pushes down on Yen's head and hops out.
Karkmananis misses with the combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Yen checks a leg kick.
Karkmananis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Karkmananis throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karkmananis but Karkmananis pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Yen fails with the takedown

and Karkmananis counters with a head kick that drops Yen - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!

Yen is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Karkmananis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Yen is still in real trouble! Can Karkmananis finish him?
Yen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Karkmananis continues to stall.

Karkmananis escapes and gets back to his feet.

Karkmananis moves into range and clinches up with Yen.
Yen seems to have recovered his senses.
Yen tries to pull guard but Karkmananis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Karkmananis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yen is defending well for now.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch.
Karkmananis looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Karkmananis throws a good cross that connects.
Karkmananis tries a head kick but it misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yen.
Karkmananis keeps the fight on the outside.

Karkmananis darts in and clinches Yen up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Karkmananis dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Karkmananis moves into range and clinches up with Yen.
Yen tries to break the clinch but Karkmananis is controlling the position.
Yen is trying to break the clinch but Karkmananis is controlling him.
Karkmananis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yen can do to turn this around?
Yen blocks a body shot from Karkmananis.
Yen is looking to break free of the clinch but Karkmananis has double underhooks.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yen throws a head kick but Karkmananis moves out of range.
Yen darts in looking for a takedown but Karkmananis gets double underhooks and turns Yen into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karkmananis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Yen's brow.

Karkmananis 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.
Karkmananis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Karkmananis takes the fight into the clinch.
Karkmananis tries to throw a body punch but Yen avoids it by throwing Karkmananis back against the cage.

Yen jumps guard and drags Karkmananis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karkmananis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Yen fails with a takedown attempt.
Karkmananis fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from Yen.

Karkmananis rushes Yen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Yen fails to pull guard.
Nicolas Karkmananis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yen throws a combination. Karkmananis tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Karkmananis fails to land with a series of punches.
Yen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Karkmananis slips a jab from Yen.
Yen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karkmananis is fending him off so far but Yen persists. Nope, Karkmananis circles away and we're back to standing.
Yen is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yen tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karkmananis instigates a clinch.
Yen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Karkmananis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yen throws a head kick that misses.
Karkmananis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yen scores with a one two! Karkmananis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Karkmananis throws a body punch but Yen moves out of range.
Yen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Karkmananis.
No joy there for Karkmananis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nicolas Karkmananis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Karkmananis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Karkmananis taking a breather.
Karkmananis struggles to land a body shot inside as Yen controls his hands.
Yen tries to score a body lock takedown but Karkmananis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Nicolas Karkmananis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Yen is trying to drag Karkmananis to the mat but Karkmananis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Karkmananis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yen blocking some punches.
Karkmananis slowing the pace effectively.
Yen tries to circle away but Karkmananis has him pinned against the cage.
Yen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Karkmananis is defending well.
Yen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yen is trying to pull guard but Karkmananis has him pressed against the cage.

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

Karkmananis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yen misses with a head kick.
Karkmananis blocks a head kick by Yen.

Karkmananis closes the distance and pushes Yen back into the cage.
Karkmananis displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yen up against the cage.
Yen blocks a body shot from Karkmananis.
Karkmananis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Karkmananis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Karkmananis misses with a knee to the head.
Yen tries to pull guard but Karkmananis won't allow it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karkmananis.
Karkmananis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Karkmananis dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yen fails with a takedown attempt.
Karkmananis looks for the body kick but Yen saw that one coming.
Karkmananis lands with a slapping head kick.
Yen shoots in for a takedown but Karkmananis shows good takedown defense.
Karkmananis throws a head kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Karkmananis as Yen shoots in.
Nicolas Karkmananis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donnie Yen.
Yen lands with a thumping leg kick.

Karkmananis clinches.
Karkmananis lands a right hand.
Karkmananis lands a hook to the side of the head.

Yen manages to pull guard.
Our spies down at at Lokko Ltd. inform us that Yen has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Karkmananis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Yen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Yen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karkmananis with a knee to the head.

Yen pulls guard effortlessly.
Karkmananis is stalling in the full guard.

Karkmananis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Karkmananis gets a clinch.

Karkmananis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yen dives in for a single leg takedown but Karkmananis sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Karkmananis is pushing Yen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Karkmananis digs a right hand into Yen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yen's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karkmananis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Karkmananis presses Yen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Karkmananis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Karkmananis has managed to clinch.
Karkmananis lands an uppercut.
Karkmananis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Karkmananis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karkmananis lands a hook that snaps the head of Yen backwards.
Yen tries to pull guard but Karkmananis holds him up against the cage and eventually Yen drops back down to his feet.
Karkmananis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Karkmananis digs a right hand into Yen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yen's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Karkmananis manages to break the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yen, right into the meat.
Yen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Karkmananis stuffs the takedown attempt from Yen. Yen gets slowly back to his feet.
Karkmananis connects with a superb combination that knocks Yen out cold! The referee charges across the mat and tackles Karkmananis before he can land any more shots to the unconscious Yen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Nicolas Karkmananis!