PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Boyka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boyka has chosen Yuri Boyka as his entrance music. Yuri Boyka will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bruce Mathers Iii
vs
Boyka

165 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 1

178 cm
22
164 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Boyka!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathers Iii fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boyka manages to avoid it.

Mathers Iii moves into the clinch.
Mathers Iii has Boyka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Boyka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Boyka tries a knee to the head but Mathers Iii blocks it.
Boyka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Boyka breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Mathers Iii as Boyka shoots in.

Mathers Iii has Boyka up against the cage in a clinch.

Mathers Iii's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathers Iii closes the distance and clinches up with Boyka, looking for a takedown. Mathers Iii pushes Boyka against the cage but Boyka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boyka wants to counter with a clinch but Mathers Iii pushes him away.
Boyka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boyka throws a counter combo.
A head kick misses from Boyka.
Mathers Iii feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathers Iii throws a sloppy head kick and Boyka moves out of range easily.

Mathers Iii has Boyka up against the cage in a clinch.
Mathers Iii wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Boyka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mathers Iii avoids it.

Boyka breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Mathers Iii.
Boyka avoids the head kick by Mathers Iii.
And Boyka tries to counter it with a takedown but Mathers Iii pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mathers Iii misses with a takedown attempt

and Boyka moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka is looking to take this one to the mat.
Boyka stalls.
Mathers Iii fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mathers Iii tries to break the clinch but Boyka is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers Iii prevents the takedown attempt.
Mathers Iii tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mathers Iii has Boyka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Boyka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Boyka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Boyka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mathers Iii's defenses.

Boyka breaks from the clinch.

Mathers Iii closes the distance and clinches.
Mathers Iii drops down looking for an ankle pick but Boyka pulls his leg out and moves away.

Mathers Iii closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Boyka did well to prevent Mathers Iii getting side control.
Mathers Iii is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mathers Iii prevents Boyka from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathers Iii seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Boyka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mathers Iii throwing shots but Boyka is blocking nicely.
Boyka is looking to escape.

Mathers Iii is working for a kimura but Boyka is defending it quite comfortably.
Mathers Iii trying to control the action but Boyka is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mathers Iii is taking a breather. Boyka says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Mathers Iii changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Boyka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mathers Iii just content to control the position.
Boyka manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Mathers Iii moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mathers Iii pulls Boyka in close to prevent any damage.
Boyka tries to stand but Mathers Iii is controlling from the bottom.
Boyka wants to control from the top but Mathers Iii keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mathers Iii's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mathers Iii throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boyka shoots in and drives through. Mathers Iii sprawls well.
Boyka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mathers Iii.
Boyka is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Boyka gets a clinch.
Mathers Iii wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boyka has him pressed against the cage.
Boyka is pressed up against the cage. Mathers Iii has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boyka down to the mat. Boyka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mathers Iii shoots in looking for a takedown but Boyka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mathers Iii's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mathers Iii fails with the takedown
and Boyka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mathers Iii gets a clinch.
Mathers Iii wants to get back to striking at distance but Boyka won't allow it.
Boyka stops a takedown attempt from Mathers Iii.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mathers Iii.
Boyka is working Mathers Iii over against the cage.
Boyka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mathers Iii avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Boyka is pressed up against the cage. Mathers Iii has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boyka down to the mat. Boyka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Boyka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Boyka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boyka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mathers Iii after a bit of a struggle.
Boyka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Boyka obliges.
Come on Boyka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mathers Iii blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathers Iii blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Boyka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mathers Iii's defenses.

Boyka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mathers Iii keeps the fight on the outside.

Mathers Iii drives through and clinches with Boyka against the cage.
Boyka lands a good knee to the midsection. Mathers Iii won't want to take too many of those.
Boyka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Boyka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Boyka moves into the clinch.
Mathers Iii is trying to break the clinch but Boyka has him pressed against the cage.
Mathers Iii takes a knee to the side of the body.

Boyka breaks the clinch.
Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mathers Iii swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boyka misses with a few strikes there.
Mathers Iii keeps the fight on the outside.
Mathers Iii half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mathers Iii will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mathers Iii darts in and clinches Boyka up against the cage.

Boyka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Boyka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mathers Iii, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Boyka.
Mathers Iii managing to block the knees to the body from Boyka.
Boyka misses with an elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Boyka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boyka pulls guard.
Boyka controls Mathers Iii momentarily but Mathers Iii frees himself.
Boyka wants to get back to his feet but Mathers Iii is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Boyka keeping moving, preventing Mathers Iii from controlling successfully.
Boyka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mathers Iii trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boyka pulls Mathers Iii in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Boyka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mathers Iii misses with a takedown attempt
and Boyka counters with a head kick. That will keep Mathers Iii thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Mathers Iii gets a clinch.
Boyka stalling in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Boyka.
Boyka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mathers Iii is trying to break the clinch but Boyka has him pressed against the cage.
Yuri Boyka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Boyka stalling against the cage.
Boyka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyka using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Boyka stalling against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boyka stalls.
The crowd are getting on Boyka's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Mathers Iii jumps guard but Boyka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka controlling the action here for a moment.
Boyka lands a hook that snaps the head of Mathers Iii backwards.
Boyka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mathers Iii walks away with a smile on his face. Boyka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Boyka closes the distance and clinches.
Boyka tries to stall but Mathers Iii uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Boyka keeps control of Mathers Iii as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boyka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mathers Iii tries for a takedown but Boyka manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marshall Bruce Mathers Iii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boyka is pressed up against the cage. Mathers Iii has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Boyka down to the mat. Boyka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mathers Iii closes the distance and clinches.

Boyka manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyka tries to clinch there but Mathers Iii circles away.
Mathers Iii stuffs the takedown.
Boyka stuffs the takedown.

Mathers Iii clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Boyka.
Boyka throws a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Boyka.
Boyka slowing the pace effectively.
Knees to the body from Boyka.
Boyka stalls.
Mathers Iii tries to score a body lock takedown but Boyka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka connects with a knee to the head.
Boyka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Boyka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mathers Iii throws a body punch but Boyka moves out of range.
Boyka dives in for a single leg takedown but Mathers Iii sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Boyka lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Boyka moves into the clinch successfully.
Boyka crunches a lovely knee into Mathers Iii's ribcage.

Boyka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Boyka with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mathers Iii closes the distance and clinches.
Mathers Iii tries to break the clinch but Boyka is controlling the position.

Boyka breaks the clinch.
Boyka tries to clinch there but Mathers Iii circles away.
Mathers Iii looks for a takedown but Boyka sprawls well.
Boyka steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mathers Iii.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boyka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mathers Iii misses with a kick to the body.
Boyka is looking for the big counter here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Boyka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Boyka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Boyka!