PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Fast (ranked 4561 p4p, 4673 weight class) and Mykhailo Yakovenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fast
vs
Yakovenko

177 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
158
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Fast!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mykhailo Yakovenko!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fast throws a sloppy head kick
and Yakovenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fast. Yakovenko does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fast fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Yakovenko to the ground. Fast is now in Yakovenko's guard.
Fast works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Yakovenko tries to get to full guard but Fast has control of the leg.
Fast throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yakovenko looking for submissions off his back.
Fast is keen to just control but Yakovenko is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fast is thwarting Yakovenko's attempts to control the position.
Yakovenko is controlling Fast's trapped leg to prevent Fast from advancing to side control.

Fast is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yakovenko defends it well.
Yakovenko tries to get to full guard but Fast has control of the leg.

Fast is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two 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.
Fast sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yakovenko defending well though.
Yakovenko gets back to full guard.

Yakovenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yakovenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Fast wants to clinch but Yakovenko slips to the side
and Yakovenko counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fast moves to clinch but Yakovenko breaks away
and Yakovenko counters with a two punch combo.
Yakovenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Fast appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Fast shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yakovenko pinned against the cage. Yakovenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Fast shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yakovenko isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fast stacks Yakovenko on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Fast!
Yakovenko wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Yakovenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fast in side control, throwing shots but Yakovenko defends.

Fast stands up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yakovenko scores with a one two! Fast had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mykhailo Yakovenko will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fast shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Yakovenko is looking for a sweep. Fast is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fast content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yakovenko keeps control of the position for the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yakovenko tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fast passes to side control.

Fast stands up and beckons Yakovenko to his feet.
Yakovenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Yakovenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fast, pushing him back against the cage.

Fast breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yakovenko is defended easily by Fast.
Fast tries to counter by clinching up but Yakovenko breaks away and moves out of range.
Fast tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yakovenko swivels and escapes.
Yakovenko changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tom Fast is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fast avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fast half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Yakovenko darts in and clinches Fast up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yakovenko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fast has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Fast fails to land.
Yakovenko tries to pull guard but Fast won't allow it.
Tom Fast has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mykhailo Yakovenko.

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

Yakovenko has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yakovenko fails to pull guard.
Yakovenko goes for a takedown attempt but Fast pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Yakovenko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fast.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Yakovenko! But no joy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Fast breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yakovenko is defended easily by Fast.
Fast with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yakovenko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Yakovenko tries to keep at a distance but Fast has taken the fight into the clinch.
Yakovenko is looking for a takedown.
Yakovenko can't break the clinch.
Yakovenko tries to pull guard but Fast won't allow it.
Fast displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yakovenko up against the cage.
Fast tries to pull guard but Yakovenko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fast's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yakovenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fast swivels and escapes.

Fast gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Yakovenko tries to break the clinch but Fast is controlling the position.
Fast tries to pull guard but Yakovenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Fast drops back down to his feet.
Fast wants a takedown but no success here.
Yakovenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yakovenko is working for takedown but Fast is calmly controlling the position for now.
Yakovenko takes a knee right on the jaw!

Fast has picked Yakovenko up - he's going for a ride! Fast dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Fast dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Fast or perhaps it was just good defense by Yakovenko, which made it look bad.
Fast throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yakovenko's waist but Yakovenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fast off to one side.

Yakovenko moves into range and clinches up with Fast.
Yakovenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yakovenko being controlled against the cage.
Fast tries to pull guard but Yakovenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Fast drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Fast. 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.
Fast is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yakovenko is keeping busy.
Yakovenko stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yakovenko being controlled against the cage.
Yakovenko gets through Fast's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fast displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yakovenko up against the cage.

Fast breaks the clinch.
Yakovenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Fast manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Yakovenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fast lands a head kick. Yakovenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fast defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Yakovenko.
Yakovenko looks to land a body kick but Fast moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fast looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fast perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fast throws a strike but Yakovenko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fast working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Yakovenko's head.
Yakovenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fast wants to control from the top but Yakovenko keeps moving.
Tom Fast overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yakovenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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.
Yakovenko wants to free his trapped foot but Fast is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Fast wants to control but Yakovenko passes into side.
Yakovenko taking a breather here.
Fast tries to improve position but can't.

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.

Yakovenko stands up.
Yakovenko cracks Fast with an open hand slap.
Yakovenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yakovenko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fast sprawls well. Fast wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Yakovenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Fast tries to counter with a takedown but Yakovenko is quick to defend against it.
Yakovenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fast moves in looking to clinch but Yakovenko pushes him off.
Fast tries for a takedown but Yakovenko circles away easily
and Yakovenko counters with a left and a right that stings Fast.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mykhailo Yakovenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yakovenko 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mykhailo Yakovenko!