PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nevzorov Stepanovich (ranked 3243 p4p, 359 weight class) and Kyo Yodachai (ranked 3778 p4p, 400 weight class). Kyo Yodachai acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Stepanovich
vs
Yodachai

170 cm
25
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
166 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nevzorov Stepanovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kyo Yodachai!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stepanovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yodachai tries to clinch but Stepanovich moves away

and Stepanovich counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stepanovich showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Stepanovich passes Yodachai's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Stepanovich is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stepanovich is working for a kimura but Yodachai is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yodachai is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepanovich is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yodachai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stepanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Yodachai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stepanovich has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Stepanovich is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Stepanovich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yodachai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stepanovich trying to control but Yodachai is working from the bottom.

Stepanovich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yodachai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Stepanovich has Yodachai in his guard.

Stepanovich has an active guard here but Yodachai has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stepanovich keeping moving, preventing Yodachai from controlling successfully.

Stepanovich escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yodachai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Yodachai drops back looking for a leg! Stepanovich is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stepanovich manages to kick Yodachai off! Yodachai jumps back into Stepanovich's guard.

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.
Stepanovich working a defensive guard here.
Yodachai looking to sit in guard and control but Stepanovich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Yodachai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stepanovich controlling from the top position.
Stepanovich trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Yodachai manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stepanovich looks to land a left hand but Yodachai moved out of range nicely.
Nevzorov Stepanovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stepanovich darts in looking for a takedown but Yodachai gets double underhooks and turns Stepanovich into the cage.

Stepanovich feints and as Yodachai raises his hands in defense, Stepanovich changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Stepanovich trying to control but Yodachai is working from the bottom.

Stepanovich postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yodachai is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stepanovich, into his guard.

Yodachai trying to control but Stepanovich is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yodachai passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepanovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Stepanovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yodachai pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stepanovich manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stepanovich working a defensive guard here.
Yodachai trying to control but Stepanovich is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Stepanovich has his foot on Yodachai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yodachai works his way back into a safe position though.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stepanovich holds on and takes a little breather.
Yodachai trying to control but Stepanovich is working from the bottom.
Stepanovich can't keep his opponent in guard - Yodachai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Stepanovich trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Stepanovich tries to lock up and control but Yodachai gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yodachai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stepanovich is looking to escape.
Stepanovich tries to hold on but Yodachai pushes him away.
Stepanovich is desperately trying to improve his position but Yodachai has a good base and remains in mount.
Stepanovich holds on, trying desperately to control.
Yodachai looking to control but Stepanovich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Stepanovich is desperately trying to improve his position but Yodachai has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stepanovich gets back to half guard.
Yodachai is trying to control the action in half guard but Stepanovich is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stepanovich is looking to improve his position.

Stepanovich looking for submissions off his back.

Stepanovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yodachai pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yodachai is keen to just control but Stepanovich is a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Stepanovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yodachai pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyo Yodachai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yodachai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yodachai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stepanovich.
Yodachai tries to clinch but Stepanovich moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Yodachai enables Stepanovich to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Yodachai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Yodachai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yodachai wants to improve his position but instead Stepanovich has moved into half guard.
Yodachai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yodachai.
Yodachai has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Temp Spar Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stepanovich wants to pass the guard but Yodachai is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepanovich drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yodachai looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yodachai looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yodachai!

Stepanovich tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Yodachai presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Stepanovich tries to hold on but Yodachai pushes him away.
Stepanovich is squirming around, avoiding Yodachai's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanovich bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stepanovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Yodachai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yodachai being controlled here, momentarily.

Stepanovich has his foot on Yodachai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yodachai works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stepanovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yodachai is aware though and is defending well.

Yodachai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stepanovich seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Yodachai is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Stepanovich looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Yodachai passes into half guard.
Nevzorov Stepanovich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stepanovich has his hands clasped together around Yodachai's back. He's all about the action.
Yodachai takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Stepanovich is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yodachai pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stepanovich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nevzorov Stepanovich.
Well Stepanovich 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nevzorov Stepanovich!
In his post fight interview, Nevzorov Stepanovich started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.