PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roman Yakimyuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuroda Atsushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Yakimyuk
vs
Atsushi

177 cm
34
167 lbs
25 - 17 - 2

170 cm
38
161 lbs
37 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 25 - 17 - 2, fighting out of London, Roman Yakimyuk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kuroda Atsushi!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atsushi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yakimyuk doesn't seem bothered though.
Yakimyuk misses with a jab, cross combination.
Atsushi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yakimyuk is fending him off so far but Atsushi persists. Nope, Yakimyuk circles away and we're back to standing.
Atsushi scores with a nice body kick.
Atsushi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Atsushi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Yakimyuk is fending him off so far but Atsushi persists. Nope, Yakimyuk circles away and we're back to standing.
Yakimyuk drops down looking for a counter takedown but Atsushi sprawls and moves away.

Atsushi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Atsushi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Yakimyuk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Atsushi.
Atsushi trying to control from half guard but Yakimyuk is working away.
Atsushi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakimyuk regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yakimyuk keeping moving, preventing Atsushi from controlling successfully.
Yakimyuk being controlled here, momentarily.
Yakimyuk wants to sweep here but Atsushi controlling him for the moment.
Yakimyuk is trying to control the position but Atsushi postures up.
Atsushi pushing down on Yakimyuk's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Yakimyuk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Atsushi pulls his head out easily.

Atsushi seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yakimyuk is holding on to half guard well.

Atsushi is working for a kimura but Yakimyuk is defending it quite comfortably.

Atsushi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Atsushi moves nicely into side control.

Atsushi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi works to advance to full mount. Yakimyuk defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Atsushi wants to control the pace but Yakimyuk is squirming around nicely.

Atsushi swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Yakimyuk is now in Atsushi's guard. A big mistake from Atsushi there, giving up the dominant position!
Yakimyuk is stalling in the full guard.
Atsushi working a defensive guard here.

Atsushi has an active guard here but Yakimyuk has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi trying to control but Yakimyuk postures up.

Atsushi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yakimyuk pulls his head out easily.
Atsushi wants to control but Yakimyuk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atsushi is looking for a sweep. Yakimyuk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Atsushi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Atsushi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Yakimyuk - that will leave a mark!
Atsushi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yakimyuk throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuroda Atsushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atsushi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Atsushi shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Yakimyuk throws a jab but it's blocked by Atsushi.
And Atsushi tries to counter it with a takedown but Yakimyuk pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Atsushi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yakimyuk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atsushi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Atsushi takes one to the side of the head.
Atsushi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yakimyuk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Atsushi.
Atsushi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atsushi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yakimyuk pinned against the cage. Yakimyuk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yakimyuk avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Roman Yakimyuk is winning the standup battle so far.
Atsushi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yakimyuk pinned against the cage. Yakimyuk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yakimyuk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Atsushi.
Roman Yakimyuk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Atsushi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Yakimyuk connects with a leg kick. Atsushi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Atsushi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Atsushi misses with a low kick as Yakimyuk jumps back.
Yakimyuk is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Yakimyuk avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Atsushi throws a front kick aimed at Yakimyuk's knee but Yakimyuk avoids it well.
Yakimyuk on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Atsushi. Atsushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Atsushi looks for the body kick but Yakimyuk saw that one coming.
Yakimyuk is looking to counter the offense by Atsushi and move into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk throws a push kick but Atsushi slaps the foot to one side.
Yakimyuk looks to land a combination but Atsushi avoids it well.
Yakimyuk on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Atsushi. Atsushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Yakimyuk throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Yakimyuk avoids a kick to the body.
Yakimyuk tries to counter by clinching up but Atsushi breaks away and moves out of range.
Yakimyuk tests Atsushi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yakimyuk misses with a looping right.
Yakimyuk connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Atsushi's hands.
Yakimyuk scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Atsushi doesn't seem bothered though.

Atsushi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yakimyuk to the mat! Yakimyuk manages to get full guard.

Yakimyuk has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Atsushi off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Atsushi tries to land a front kick but Yakimyuk steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Yakimyuk seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Atsushi looks to land a body kick but Yakimyuk moved away.
Yakimyuk tries to counter with a takedown but Atsushi is quick to defend against it.
Atsushi tries to work over Yakimyuk's front leg with a kick but Yakimyuk checks it.
Yakimyuk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk misses with a kick to the body.
Yakimyuk throws a head kick that half lands.
Yakimyuk throws a hook but Atsushi avoids it easily.
Atsushi avoids the body shot from Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Atsushi feints and then cracks Yakimyuk's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yakimyuk down.
Yakimyuk checks a low kick from Atsushi.
Atsushi avoids the head kick by Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Atsushi gets a double leg takedown into Yakimyuk's guard.
Atsushi looking to pass the guard.
Yakimyuk keeping moving, preventing Atsushi from controlling successfully.
Kuroda Atsushi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk trying to keep a closed guard but Atsushi is proving a slippery customer.
Atsushi trying to control but Yakimyuk is working from the bottom.
Yakimyuk keeping full guard, as Atsushi tries to pass.
Yakimyuk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Atsushi is one step ahead there.
Yakimyuk keeping moving, preventing Atsushi from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Yakimyuk dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Atsushi throws a body kick that misses.
Yakimyuk looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Roman Yakimyuk has been cut.
Yakimyuk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yakimyuk swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yakimyuk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Atsushi.
Atsushi throws a front kick aimed at Yakimyuk's knee but Yakimyuk avoids it well.
Yakimyuk checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Atsushi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Yakimyuk throws a body punch but Atsushi moves out of range.
Atsushi with the counter takedown but Yakimyuk avoids it easily.
Atsushi throws the kick towards the body but Yakimyuk avoids it.
Atsushi throws a jab when Yakimyuk was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atsushi fails to land the takedown.
Yakimyuk chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Atsushi can pounce on him.
Yakimyuk scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakimyuk connects with a right hand. Atsushi shakes it off.
Atsushi lands a front kick.
Yakimyuk cracks Atsushi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Atsushi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Yakimyuk blocks the body kick.
Yakimyuk tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Atsushi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Yakimyuk.
Yakimyuk throws a looping overhand right but Atsushi ducks down to avoid it.
Yakimyuk misses with a hook.
Atsushi tries a head kick but it misses.
Atsushi fails with a takedown attempt.
Atsushi misses with a head kick.
Yakimyuk takes a swing at Atsushi's ribcage but misses.
Roman Yakimyuk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakimyuk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atsushi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Atsushi tries to score with a low kick but Yakimyuk moves his leg out of the way.
Yakimyuk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Atsushi. That did some damage!
Yakimyuk throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Atsushi.
Nice sprawl there from Yakimyuk as Atsushi shoots in.
Roman Yakimyuk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kuroda Atsushi.
Atsushi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yakimyuk misses with a head kick.
Atsushi throws a quick inside leg kick.

Atsushi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Atsushi showed some decent athleticism there.

Yakimyuk kicks Atsushi off and gets back to his feet.
Yakimyuk is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Yakimyuk checks a leg kick.
A lazy left from Yakimyuk finds it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi throws a push kick but Yakimyuk slaps the foot to one side.
Atsushi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yakimyuk.
Atsushi is looking to land body kicks.
Yakimyuk takes a swing at Atsushi's ribcage but misses.
Atsushi throws a leg kick
and Yakimyuk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Atsushi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yakimyuk doesn't seem phased though.
Yakimyuk swings for the body but Atsushi moves out of range.
Atsushi misses with a leg kick
and Yakimyuk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Atsushi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Atsushi throws a low kick but Yakimyuk moves out of range easily.
Atsushi needs to keep his hands up - Yakimyuk had a free shot at his head there.
Yakimyuk dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Atsushi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yakimyuk checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yakimyuk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yakimyuk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi throws a body shot but no joy.
Yakimyuk checks a low kick from Atsushi.
Yakimyuk lands a nice looking kick to the body. Atsushi takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yakimyuk scores with a jab.
Atsushi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Atsushi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yakimyuk just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Yakimyuk.
Atsushi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bone on bone clash there as Yakimyuk blocks the leg kick.
Yakimyuk scores with a jab. Atsushi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Atsushi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Yakimyuk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Atsushi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yakimyuk blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Yakimyuk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yakimyuk has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Yakimyuk!
Roman Yakimyuk seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Kuroda Atsushi stepped up to the mic, saying 'Well folks like they used to say in the cartoons.... That's all folks! Been a great ride but glad I now get a chance to relax and enjoy life.'.