PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malthe Poulsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malthe Poulsen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

York
vs
Poulsen

172 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Martin York!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Malthe Poulsen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poulsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
York is looking to take this one to the mat.
York tries to pull guard but Poulsen holds him up against the cage and eventually York drops back down to his feet.
York is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Poulsen is keeping busy.

Poulsen has York pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Poulsen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending York tumbling to the mat - Poulsen dives into York's guard.
York is looking to stand back up but Poulsen counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by York.
York might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Poulsen stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Poulsen prevents York from improving his position.
Poulsen slows the pace down in half guard.

Poulsen escapes and gets back to his feet.
Poulsen throws a series of punches but York moves out of range.
Poulsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but York defends well and Poulsen ends up having to push York into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
York feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Poulsen shoots in looking for a takedown but York manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Poulsen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Poulsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with York but York pushes him off and we're back to square one.
York seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Martin York has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malthe Poulsen.
York shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
York stuffs the takedown.

Poulsen drives through and clinches with York against the cage.
York jumps guard but Poulsen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Poulsen jumps into guard, dragging York to the mat.
York throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Poulsen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. York manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poulsen stands up and waves to York to follow him.
York goes for a double leg but Poulsen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Poulsen continues to drive forward.
Poulsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

York gets tackled into the cage by Poulsen. Poulsen maintains the clinch.
Poulsen takes an elbow to the forehead.
York throws an elbow that misses.
Poulsen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. York gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
York is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York tries to score a body lock takedown but Poulsen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
York jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Poulsen walks away with a smile on his face. York gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
York is breathing heavily.
York takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Malthe Poulsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
York stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and York wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Poulsen does no damage.
Poulsen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
York wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Poulsen closes the distance and pushes York back into the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poulsen is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malthe Poulsen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Poulsen shoots in but York avoids the takedown attempt easily.
York with a lazy takedown attempt
and York takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Poulsen goes for a double leg but York avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as York continues to drive forward.

Poulsen moves into the clinch.
York tries to pull guard but Poulsen won't allow it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
York is trying to pull guard but Poulsen has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin York. 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.
Poulsen is trying to drag York to the mat but York just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
York is trying to pull guard but Poulsen has him pressed against the cage.
York is trying to pull guard but Poulsen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulsen wants to take the fight to the mat but York manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
York tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Poulsen wants to break the clinch but can't.
York drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Poulsen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
York jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Poulsen walks away with a smile on his face. York gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Poulsen tries to score a power double leg takedown but York sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Poulsen somewhat.
Poulsen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Poulsen counters with a series of strikes. York will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poulsen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
York is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Poulsen goes for a takedown in the clinch but York prevents it.

Poulsen pulls guard.
York wants to stand and escape but instead Poulsen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Poulsen passes York's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Poulsen content to control rather than advance.
Poulsen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

York looking for submissions off his back.

Poulsen stands up out of the half guard.
York is trying hard to land a takedown here. Poulsen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Poulsen takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
York is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Poulsen jumps guard and drags York to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Poulsen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in York's guard.

Poulsen content to stall in guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
York wants to hit a switch here but Poulsen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for York there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malthe Poulsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

York tries to keep at a distance but Poulsen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poulsen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. York is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

York jumps guard.
Poulsen slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from York.
Poulsen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for York!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulsen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Poulsen content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poulsen has control of York's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and York regains control of the situation pretty easily.
York is trying to escape the mount.
Poulsen controlling from the full mount.
York can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poulsen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Poulsen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poulsen closes the distance and clinches up with York, looking for a takedown. Poulsen pushes York against the cage but York circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Poulsen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Martin York has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malthe Poulsen.

Poulsen darts in and clinches York up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Poulsen as York tries to tie him up.
York looking to throw knees to the head but Poulsen is blocking nicely.

York gets control of Poulsen's arms and successfully pulls guard. York will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Poulsen is pushing down on York's leg trying to pass to half guard. York is fighting to maintain full guard but Poulsen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Poulsen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Malthe Poulsen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poulsen works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poulsen is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
York keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Poulsen rushes York and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
York is trying to pull guard but Poulsen has him pressed against the cage.
York prevents Poulsen from breaking the clinch.
Martin York has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malthe Poulsen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
York tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Poulsen avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malthe Poulsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Poulsen 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malthe Poulsen!