PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phol Boxaaja (ranked 3020 p4p, 24910 weight class) and Yuri Boyka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phol Boxaaja could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Yuri Boyka's chin.

Boxaaja
vs
Boyka

180 cm
29
173
22 - 13 - 0

178 cm
22
167
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phol Boxaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Boyka!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boxaaja gets a double leg takedown into Boyka's guard.
Boxaaja tries to free his leg and advance position but Boyka is retaining full guard.
Boyka working a defensive guard here.

Boxaaja stands up and waves to Boyka to follow him.
Phol Boxaaja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Boxaaja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Boxaaja tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boxaaja wants to control but Boyka is keeping him busy.

Boxaaja is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Boyka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Boxaaja.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura but Boyka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boxaaja to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxaaja seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Boxaaja is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Boyka has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boyka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Boxaaja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Boyka defends it well.

Boxaaja wants to work for an arm triangle but Boyka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Boxaaja wants to stand up but Boyka is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boxaaja looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Boxaaja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boyka is just riding it out for now. Boxaaja eventually gives up the hold.

Boxaaja is looking for a kimura but Boyka is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boxaaja to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxaaja is thwarting Boyka's attempts to control the position.

Boxaaja wants to work for an arm triangle but Boyka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Boxaaja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Boyka sees it coming and defends easily.

Boxaaja is working for a submission of some sort.
Boxaaja prevents Boyka from standing back up.
Boxaaja trying to control the action but Boyka is working from the bottom.
Boyka pushes Boxaaja off looking to stand but Boxaaja dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Boxaaja seems to be working for a kimura but Boyka defends the submission attempt.
Boyka is not content to let Boxaaja control the position.

Boxaaja is working for a kimura here but Boyka manages to reverse the position and he's now in Boxaaja's guard.

Boxaaja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Boyka is aware though and is defending well.

Boxaaja is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Boyka frees his head nicely. Oh but Boxaaja has switched to an armbar! Boyka is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Phol Boxaaja!
A relieved looking Phol Boxaaja thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.