PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tsyuoshi Taranaki (ranked 4091 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maykol Yurk (ranked 2533 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Taranaki
vs
Yurk

175 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

177 cm
25
156 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tsyuoshi Taranaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maykol Yurk!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yurk fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Taranaki has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Taranaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Taranaki moves out of range of the body kick.
Taranaki takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki's cut is getting worse.
Yurk shoots in but Taranaki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taranaki has a takedown stuffed.
Yurk lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Yurk blocks the body kick.
No luck for Taranaki with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki throws a leg kick but Yurk sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Yurk lands a jab to Taranaki's midsection.
Yurk tries to close the distance and clinch but Taranaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Yurk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taranaki or perhaps it was just good defense by Yurk, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yurk instigates a clinch.
Yurk changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taranaki fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Taranaki closes the distance and clinches up with Yurk, looking for a takedown. Taranaki pushes Yurk against the cage but Yurk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Yurk.
Yurk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Taranaki closes the distance and clinches.

Yurk ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Yurk no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Taranaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Taranaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yurk working a defensive guard here.

Yurk working for submissions but it's allowed Taranaki to get to half guard.
Yurk is trying to stand.
Yurk is positioning himself well to prevent Taranaki advancing to mount.
Taranaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yurk keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taranaki seems to be looking for submissions.
Taranaki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yurk keeps working.
Yurk wants to control but Taranaki is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Taranaki slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Yurk is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taranaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Taranaki circles away from the clinch attempt.

Yurk clinches up against the cage.
Yurk is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Yurk pulls guard.
Yurk throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Taranaki is fighting to break Yurk's control of his arms but Yurk is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Yurk trying to keep a closed guard but Taranaki is proving a slippery customer.
Yurk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taranaki is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yurk pulls Taranaki in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maykol Yurk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tsyuoshi Taranaki's cut.
That's time! Taranaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yurk tries to clinch but Taranaki is having none of it.

Yurk shoots in and gets a takedown into Taranaki's guard.
Taranaki keeping moving, preventing Yurk from controlling successfully.
Yurk might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Taranaki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Taranaki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taranaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yurk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki has a closed guard, preventing Yurk from standing up.
Yurk trying to control but Taranaki is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taranaki.
Yurk dives in for a single leg takedown but Taranaki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Yurk fails with a takedown attempt.
Taranaki stuffs the takedown attempt from Yurk. Yurk gets slowly back to his feet.
As Yurk looks to move away, Taranaki throws a big counter combo but Yurk just gets out of the way.
Tsyuoshi Taranaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maykol Yurk.

That's two 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.

Taranaki closes the distance and clinches.
Yurk tries to pull guard but Taranaki won't allow it.

Taranaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taranaki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taranaki wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick misses from Taranaki.
Taranaki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yurk sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yurk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Taranaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maykol Yurk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yurk closes the distance and clinches up with Taranaki, looking for a takedown. Yurk pushes Taranaki against the cage but Taranaki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yurk tries to clinch but Taranaki is having none of it.
Taranaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Yurk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yurk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Taranaki circles away.
Yurk is breathing heavily.
Yurk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Taranaki pinned against the cage. Taranaki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Yurk tries for a takedown but Taranaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Taranaki.
Taranaki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Taranaki clinches up against the cage.
Yurk tries for a takedown. No joy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Taranaki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Taranaki manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki throws a right hand that Yurk ducks under and follows up with a left that Yurk also avoids with ease.
Taranaki tries to clinch but Yurk moves out of range.
Yurk lands with a nice combination. Taranaki backs away looking to recover.

Taranaki instigates a clinch.
Yurk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Taranaki has him pressed against the cage.
Yurk is trying to pull guard but Taranaki has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taranaki lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Maykol Yurk has been cut.
Taranaki tries to land knees in the clinch but Yurk avoids the damage to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Taranaki.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yurk is looking for a takedown.
Taranaki is trying to drag Yurk to the mat but Yurk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Taranaki gets underhooks to prevent Yurk's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tsyuoshi Taranaki dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taranaki goes for a double leg but Yurk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Yurk continues to drive forward.
Taranaki with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yurk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taranaki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Yurk takes the fight into the clinch.
Yurk is looking to break free of the clinch but Taranaki has double underhooks.

Yurk'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.
Yurk wants to clinch.
Taranaki feinted with a counter takedown.
Yurk has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown but Yurk shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsyuoshi Taranaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Taranaki gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yurk is trying to pull guard but Taranaki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Taranaki turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Taranaki misses with the ground and pound.
Taranaki is looking to take a break and control but Yurk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taranaki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Yurk is trying to control Taranaki's posture but Taranaki avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Yurk is trying to get back to half guard.
Taranaki looking to control but instead Yurk has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Taranaki seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taranaki with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yurk as he avoids it easily.
Yurk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yurk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Taranaki has closed the distance and engaged Yurk in a clinch.
Taranaki tries to pull guard but Yurk won't allow it.
Taranaki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yurk looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Yurk lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taranaki backwards.
Yurk is trying to force a seperation but Taranaki has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yurk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yurk tries to clinch up but Taranaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Yurk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taranaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yurk.
Yurk looks for a takedown but Taranaki sprawls well.
Yurk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Taranaki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yurk tries to avoid it but Taranaki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yurk to the ground. Yurk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taranaki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taranaki tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Yurk counters with a series of strikes. Taranaki will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maykol Yurk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yurk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maykol Yurk!