PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Pichushkin (ranked 871 p4p, 107 weight class) and Harrison Yates (ranked 1044 p4p, 131 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pichushkin
vs
Yates

185 cm
28
195 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

187 cm
37
199 lbs
28 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Pichushkin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Harrison Yates!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pichushkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yates misses with a low kick.
Yates swings for the body but Pichushkin moves out of range.
A slow jab from Pichushkin misses its intended target.
Pichushkin scores with a nice strike.
Yates throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yates throws a sloppy head kick and Pichushkin moves out of range easily.
Pichushkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yates takes a swing at Pichushkin's ribcage but misses.
Yates throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Pichushkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pichushkin avoids the head kick by Yates.
Yates scores with a decent looking hook.
Pichushkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yates ducks under a wild hook from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pichushkin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pichushkin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Yates in his tracks.
Yates takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Yates.
Yates fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Yates closes the distance and clinches.
Pichushkin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pichushkin scores with a hook to the body.
Pichushkin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pichushkin misses with the head strike.

Pichushkin jumps guard.
Pichushkin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pichushkin looking to control but Yates passes into half guard.
Pichushkin tries to roll over but Yates keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin trying to control from the bottom.

Pichushkin actively working from the bottom here.
Pichushkin is trying to maintain the position but Yates is very close to passing his half guard.
Pichushkin tries to get to full guard but Yates has control of the leg.
Yates sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Pichushkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pichushkin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pichushkin regains full guard. Nicely done.

Pichushkin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Pichushkin working for submissions but it's allowed Yates to get to half guard.
Pichushkin trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yates is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pichushkin trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Yates manages to pass to mount!
Yates avoids the attempt from Pichushkin to control.
Pichushkin is desperately trying to improve his position but Yates has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Harrison Yates will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yates fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pichushkin manages to avoid it.
Pichushkin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Yates scores with a nice head shot.
Yates throws a body punch but Pichushkin moves out of range.
Yates throws a sloppy head kick and Pichushkin moves out of range easily.
Pichushkin missing with a left hand there. Yates was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A countering left hand to the body from Yates misses.
Pichushkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheers as Pichushkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yates doesn't seem phased though.
Yates swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheers as Pichushkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Yates doesn't seem phased though.
Pichushkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yates was well out of range. Poor timing from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin walks into a stiff left hand from Yates.
Pichushkin takes a swing at Yates's ribcage but misses.
Pichushkin defending well as Yates loads up on a big left hand.
Pichushkin misses with an uppercut.
Yates avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pichushkin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yates stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pichushkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates throws a low kick, looking for Pichushkin's leg but Pichushkin calmly moves out of range.
Yates uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pichushkin.
Yates throws a leg kick but Pichushkin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Yates lands a nice looking body kick.
Yates misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pichushkin.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yates, right into the meat.
A telegraphed right hand from Pichushkin misses the target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Yates! But no joy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pichushkin.
Yates throws the left hand but Pichushkin avoids the punch easily.
Yates throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pichushkin.
Yates misses with a head kick.
Yates uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Yates on the side of the head.
Pichushkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Yates.
Pichushkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Yates throws a low kick, looking for Pichushkin's leg but Pichushkin calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pichushkin blocks a head kick by Yates.
Pichushkin swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pichushkin throws a hook but Yates blocks it.
Pichushkin misses with a looping right.
Yates throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yates ducks under a wild hook from Pichushkin.
A left lands for Pichushkin.
Pichushkin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Yates misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pichushkin looks to land a left hand but Yates moved out of range nicely.
A left lands for Yates.

Pichushkin looking to score a takedown here. Yates is defending well but Pichushkin drives through and ends up in Yates's guard.
Yates keeping full guard, as Pichushkin tries to pass.
Pichushkin stays in close to Yates's body and controls the position.
Pichushkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yates swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin working some strikes from top position.
Pichushkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yates keeping moving, preventing Pichushkin from controlling successfully.
Yates is adopting a defensive guard.
Pichushkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yates is pulling down on Pichushkin's head to control his posture.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pichushkin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pichushkin slips under a jab.
Harrison Yates seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yates throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Pichushkin to counter with a crisp jab.
Pichushkin digs a good hook to Yates's body.
Yates scores with a nice body kick.
Pichushkin cracks a nice hook into Yates's ribs.
Yates ducks under a wild hook from Pichushkin.
Yates throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pichushkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yates turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Yates throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pichushkin pivots, looking for a leg kick but Yates is out of range and Pichushkin settles back down.
Pichushkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yates circles away quickly and effectively.
Pichushkin lands a jab to the head.
Harrison Yates is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pichushkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yates.
Pichushkin misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pichushkin dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pichushkin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yates.
Pichushkin swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pichushkin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yates.
Yates throws a head kick that misses.
Yates connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Yates scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pichushkin in his tracks.
Yates scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yates. Pichushkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yates misses the jab.
Pichushkin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yates throws a big shot that misses.
Yates with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pichushkin scores with a jab. Yates acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Yates misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Pichushkin misses its intended target.
Yates fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pichushkin blocks a head kick by Yates.
Pichushkin throws a jab but it's blocked by Yates.
Yates loads up on a big right hand but Pichushkin slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Yates, right into the meat.
Yates plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Yates misses with an uppercut. Pichushkin saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Pichushkin misses the target.
Yates walks into a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pichushkin is defended easily by Yates.
Yates throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It looked like Pichushkin was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Pichushkin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pichushkin lands in his opponent's guard.
Yates pulls Pichushkin in to control the position.
Pichushkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Yates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yates is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin wants to pass the guard but Yates is keeping the position.
Pichushkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pichushkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Yates is retaining full guard.
Pichushkin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yates regains half guard there - taking advantage of Pichushkin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

Pichushkin seems to be working for a kimura but Yates defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pichushkin seems to be working for a kimura but Yates defends the submission attempt.
Yates tries to get to full guard but Pichushkin has control of the leg.
Yates is controlling Pichushkin's trapped leg to prevent Pichushkin from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yates is not content to let Pichushkin control the position.
Yates has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pichushkin is working away from the top position though.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pichushkin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yates does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yates wants to clinch.
Yates moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates defending well as Pichushkin loads up on a big left hand.
Pichushkin works over Yates's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Harrison Yates just about did enough to take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pichushkin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yates.
Yates blocks a jab.
Yates loads up on a big right hand but Pichushkin slips the punch.
Yates keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pichushkin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Pichushkin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yates's sensitive parts.
Pichushkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yates was well out of range. Poor timing from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pichushkin swinging wildly here.
Yates is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pichushkin with a body shot.
Yates dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pichushkin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pichushkin throws a lazy right hand but Yates sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, jab by Pichushkin - just one landing.
Pichushkin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pichushkin misses with a straight right.
Yates throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Pichushkin's head.
Pichushkin catches Yates with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pichushkin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Yates.
Yates avoids the body shot from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin throws a hook but Yates blocks it.

Yates darts in and clinches Pichushkin up against the cage.
Pichushkin throws a punch but it's blocked by Yates.
Pichushkin misses with a body punch.
Pichushkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yates's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pichushkin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Yates lands an elbow that stopped Pichushkin in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Alexander Pichushkin has been cut.
Pichushkin pushes Yates back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Pichushkin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pichushkin misses with the head strike.

Pichushkin drags the fight down to the ground.
Yates slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Yates trying to control the position from guard on top but Pichushkin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Pichushkin looking for a guillotine here but Yates defends easily.

Pichushkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yates defends well.
Pichushkin wants to control but Yates passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pichushkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pichushkin wants to get back to full guard.
Pichushkin moves into full guard.
Alexander Pichushkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pichushkin seems keen to control Yates's posture.

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.
Yates sitting in guard here, content to control.

Pichushkin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pichushkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates misses with a looping left.
Yates digs a good hook to Pichushkin's body.
Pichushkin takes one to the side of the head.
Pichushkin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pichushkin had his way with Harrison Yates in that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Pichushkin's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pichushkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Yates.
Pichushkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yates.
It seemed like Yates was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yates lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Yates lands a head kick. Pichushkin smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Yates throws a head kick that misses.
Pichushkin appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Pichushkin misses with a straight right.
Yates throws a hook but Pichushkin avoids it easily.
Pichushkin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pichushkin blocks a head kick by Yates.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pichushkin misses with a hook.
Pichushkin lands with a nice combination. Yates backs away looking to recover.
Pichushkin scores with a sloppy right hand. Yates should have avoided that one.
Pichushkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yates manages to avoid it.
Yates steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Yates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Yates throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Yates works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pichushkin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pichushkin feints and then cracks Yates's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Yates down.
Good exchange - Pichushkin coming out on top.
Pichushkin throws a jab when Yates was well out of range.
Yates throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Yates backs away, Pichushkin returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Yates lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yates throws a head kick but Pichushkin moves out of range.
Yates looks to land a left hand but Pichushkin moved out of range nicely.
Yates has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pichushkin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Yates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pichushkin slips under a jab.
Yates walks into a stiff left hand from Pichushkin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yates throws an off balance right hand
and Yates takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yates comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Yates looks to clinch
letting Pichushkin counter with a right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Pichushkin misses the target.
Yates uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pichushkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pichushkin.
Pichushkin connects with a nice looking jab.
Yates misses with a straight right.
Yates ducks right into an uppercut from Pichushkin.
A big left from Yates misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Yates.
Pichushkin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pichushkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Pichushkin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Yates is just out of range.
Pichushkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yates throws the left hand but Pichushkin avoids the punch easily.
Pichushkin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yates connects with a high kick.
Pichushkin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Pichushkin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pichushkin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A jab from Pichushkin misses.
Yates wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Yates with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pichushkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yates.
Yates throws out a counter right but Pichushkin avoids it with no problem.
Yates moves away from the strike by Pichushkin.
Yates moves away from the strike by Pichushkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yates stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice body punch from Pichushkin.
Yates lands a leg kick that knocks Pichushkin off balance momentarily.
Yates will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A slapping body kick lands there for Yates.
Yates misses the shot to the body.
Pichushkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Pichushkin avoids the head kick by Yates.
Yates throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A counter left hand to the body from Pichushkin misses its target.
Yates is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Yates works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pichushkin throws out a powerful jab.
Pichushkin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yates stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pichushkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pichushkin lands a jab to the head.
Yates slips under a jab.
Pichushkin looks to land a right hand but Yates moved out of range.
A jab from Pichushkin misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Pichushkin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pichushkin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 49:47
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Pichushkin!
Alexander Pichushkin retains his middleweight title!
Alexander Pichushkin thanked the fans post fight for their support.