PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shen Yu (ranked 4393 p4p, 381 weight class) and Prohor Georgiev (ranked 2400 p4p, 245 weight class). Georgiev is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Oxxxymiron - City under the sole. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yu
vs
Georgiev

173 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shen Yu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Prohor Georgiev!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yu tries to clinch but Georgiev moves away

and Georgiev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Georgiev.
Yu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yu is controlling Georgiev's posture.
Yu trying to keep a closed guard but Georgiev is proving a slippery customer.
Yu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Georgiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Georgiev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Georgiev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Georgiev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Yu controls Georgiev momentarily but Georgiev frees himself.
Yu wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Georgiev stands and throws Yu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Yu looks to move to half guard but instead Georgiev has passed into mount! Damn!
Georgiev trying to control but Yu is having none of it.
Georgiev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Yu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Georgiev unloads with some shots from mount but Yu bucks and avoids them well.
Georgiev landing strikes, looking to finish!
Yu is looking to improve his position but Georgiev isn't that keen on the idea.
Georgiev punching from mount but Yu doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Yu tries to hold on but Georgiev pushes him away.
Yu tries to control the position but Georgiev now has his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Georgiev throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Georgiev is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Georgiev throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Georgiev is looking for the choke from the back position but Yu is controlling his hands well.
Yu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Georgiev on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Georgiev is looking to control Yu but Yu is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Georgiev gets his hands free as Yu looks to control.

Georgiev is persistently looking for the submission but Yu is defending it well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Yu wants to escape the position.
Georgiev throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Georgiev has the hooks in. Yu is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Georgiev tightening his grip on Yu, looking for the choke.

Georgiev is persistently looking for the submission but Yu is defending it well.

Georgiev working for the choke.
Yu tries to roll but Georgiev sticks to his back.
Georgiev not allowing Yu to control his hands.
Yu covering up well under a series of strikes from Georgiev.
Yu is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Well, with Georgiev on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Yu is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Georgiev thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Georgiev throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Georgiev missing with strikes from the back.
Yu trying to control the position but Georgiev manages to sink in the hooks.

Yu preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Georgiev.
Yu trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Yu is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Yu is trying to break free.
Georgiev somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Georgiev gets his hands free as Yu looks to control.

Georgiev looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prohor Georgiev dominated that round.
That's time! Yu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Georgiev swings for the body but Yu moves out of range.
Georgiev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yu blocks a jab.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Georgiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yu tries to clinch up but Georgiev circles away and keeps his distance.
We've been told by Yu's head coaches at House of Pain that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Georgiev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Georgiev has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Yu fails with an attempt to clinch.
Georgiev swats away the attempt to clinch by Yu.
Yu wants to clinch up but Georgiev keeps it at a distance.

Yu gets a clinch.
Georgiev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Georgiev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yu darts in trying to clinch

and Georgiev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Georgiev wants to control but Yu is keeping him busy.
Yu is trying to get back to full guard.
Yu is looking to control Georgiev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Yu avoid being mounted?
Yu is looking for a sweep. Georgiev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Georgiev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yu is refusing to be controlled, as Georgiev sits in half guard.
Yu is trying to maintain the position but Georgiev is very close to passing his half guard.
Georgiev throwing shots but Yu is blocking nicely.
Georgiev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu is staying active underneath Georgiev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Prohor Georgiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Georgiev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Georgiev is trying to control. Yu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Georgiev thows a huge punch but Yu dodges it nicely.
Georgiev wants to control but Yu is keeping him busy.
Yu desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Yu is looking to improve his position.
Yu works his way to full guard. Good work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yu holds on and takes a little breather.
Yu is trying to keep Georgiev in close.
Yu pulls Georgiev in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Georgiev is looking to work some ground and pound but Yu has wrist control.
Yu is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Georgiev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yu tries to clinch but Georgiev is having none of it.
Georgiev throws a looping overhand right but Yu ducks down to avoid it.
Shen Yu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Georgiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yu tries to clinch but Georgiev moves out of range.
Georgiev drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Yu defends it well.
Yu avoids the body shot from Georgiev.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Georgiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Georgiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Yu is looking to clinch but Georgiev is avoiding it.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch but Georgiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Georgiev with the counter takedown but Yu avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Yu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yu tries to clinch but Georgiev is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Georgiev. Yu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Georgiev swings for the body but Yu moves out of range.
Georgiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Georgiev with the counter takedown but Yu avoids it easily.
Yu slips a straight right by Georgiev.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Georgiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yu doesn't manage to clinch there - Georgiev circles away.
Georgiev feints the counter takedown.
Yu doesn't manage to clinch there - Georgiev circles away.
Georgiev with the counter takedown but Yu avoids it easily.
Georgiev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Yus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Yu wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Georgiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Georgiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Georgiev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Yu closes the distance and pushes Georgiev back into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Georgiev prevents a body shot from Yu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prohor Georgiev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yu tries to close the distance and clinch but Georgiev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Georgiev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Yu doesn't manage to clinch there - Georgiev circles away.
Jab, jab by Georgiev - just one landing.
Yu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Georgiev under the eye.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Georgiev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Georgiev, as that shot connected.
Yu tries to clinch there but Georgiev circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Georgiev. Yu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Prohor Georgiev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Yu as Georgiev shoots in.
Georgiev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yu manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Georgiev.
Yu is looking to clinch but Georgiev is avoiding it.
And Georgiev tries to counter it with a takedown but Yu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yu tries to clinch but Georgiev moves out of range.

Georgiev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Georgiev lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yu controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Georgiev pushing down on Yu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Georgiev thows a huge punch but Yu dodges it nicely.
Georgiev controlling the action here.
Yu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Georgiev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yu defending well though.
Georgiev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Georgiev throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yu has control of Georgiev's left arm, preventing Georgiev from doing any damage.
Yu trying to keep a closed guard but Georgiev is proving a slippery customer.
Georgiev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Georgiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Georgiev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yu being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Georgiev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Georgiev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yu is trying to control the position but Georgiev postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Georgiev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu doesn't manage to clinch there - Georgiev circles away.
Georgiev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Yu gets a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yu.
Georgiev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Yu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Georgiev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Georgiev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Georgiev blocks a body shot from Yu.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Yu.
Yu lands a hook that snaps the head of Georgiev backwards.
Georgiev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Georgiev slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yu has a couple of punches blocked by Georgiev.
Georgiev stalling in the clinch but Yu improves position.
Georgiev fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Yu breaks the clinch.
Yu wants to clinch up but Georgiev keeps it at a distance.
Yu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Georgiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shen Yu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yu moves to clinch but Georgiev breaks away

and Georgiev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yu tries to get to full guard but Georgiev has control of the leg.
Shen Yu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Georgiev thows a huge punch but Yu dodges it nicely.
Yu trying to control but Georgiev postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Prohor Georgiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Georgiev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Prohor Georgiev!
Prohor Georgiev bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.