PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Yasnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khara Al Matayze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yasnov comes to the cage accompanied by Hell Yeah - Dead Prez Ft Jay-Z . Khara Al Matayze is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Yasnov
vs
Al Matayze

174 cm
22
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
25
138 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Vodka Rags

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nikolai Yasnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khara Al Matayze!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yasnov blocks a head kick by Al Matayze.
Al Matayze throws a jab when Yasnov was well out of range.
Yasnov lands with an overhand left.
Al Matayze scores with a hook.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Al Matayze.
Al Matayze misses with a series of wild punches.
Al Matayze will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Al Matayze misses with a double jab.
Al Matayze takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Al Matayze looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Al Matayze shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Yasnov but Yasnov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Al Matayze shoots for a double leg takedown but Yasnov sprawls well. He's pushed Al Matayze's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nikolai Yasnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khara Al Matayze.
Al Matayze missing with a left hand there. Yasnov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Al Matayze tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Yasnov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice body punch from Yasnov.
Al Matayze fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasnov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Yasnov looks to land a combination. Al Matayze sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice body punch from Yasnov.
Al Matayze looks gassed!
Yasnov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Yasnov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Al Matayze takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Yasnov!

Al Matayze is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice shot lands for Yasnov.
Al Matayze is still on wobbly legs! Can Yasnov finish him?
Yasnov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Al Matayze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Al Matayze seems to have recovered his senses.
Yasnov lands with a shot to the body.
Yasnov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Yasnov catches Al Matayze with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Yasnov thuds a left hand into Al Matayze's body.
Al Matayze is trying desperately to land a takedown but Yasnov is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Al Matayze.
Yasnov cracks Al Matayze with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Yasnov jabs at Al Matayze's body.
Yasnov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A lazy left from Yasnov finds it's target.
Yasnov blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yasnov clinches with his opponent.
Yasnov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Yasnov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Yasnov lands an uppercut.
Yasnov slows down the pace here.
Al Matayze's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Yasnov lands an uppercut.
Yasnov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Al Matayzes head.
A short right from Yasnov on the inside.
Yasnov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yasnov lands a body punch.
Yasnov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Yasnov connects with a knee to the head.
Yasnov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Yasnov gets through Al Matayze's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Yasnov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Yasnov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Good body shot from Yasnov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Yasnov.
Yasnov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Good body shot from Yasnov.
Yasnov lands with a left to the head.
Yasnov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Yasnov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yasnov is working Al Matayze over against the cage.
Yasnov is working Al Matayze over against the cage.
A short right from Yasnov.
Yasnov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Yasnov wants the takedown. Al Matayze is fighting it off but Yasnov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Al Matayze's guard against the cage.
Al Matayze looking to control.
Yasnov is stalling in the full guard.
Al Matayze has momentary wrist control but Yasnov slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Matayze keeping full guard, as Yasnov tries to pass.

Al Matayze escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Yasnov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Yasnov pushes down on Al Matayze's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yasnov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Matayze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yasnov.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yasnov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Yasnov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yasnov connects with a looping right hand.
Al Matayze fails to land the takedown.
Nikolai Yasnov is winning the standup battle so far.
Al Matayze misses with a double jab
and Yasnov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big right from Al Matayze misses.

Yasnov has Al Matayze up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Yasnov.
Yasnov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yasnov cracks Al Matayze with a nice body shot.
Yasnov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Al Matayze tries a body shot but Yasnov blocks it.

Yasnov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Yasnov.
Al Matayze is breathing heavily.

Al Matayze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yasnov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Matayze trying to control here.

Al Matayze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Yasnov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Matayze sees it coming and defends easily.

Yasnov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Matayze doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yasnov.
Yasnov working Al Matayze over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Yasnov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al Matayze sees it coming and defends easily.
Al Matayze missing with punches from the bottom.
Yasnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Al Matayze can do to turn this around?
Al Matayze is looking to improve his position.
Al Matayze is trying to stand up here but Yasnov is controlling him well.

Yasnov seems to be looking for submissions.
Yasnov content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Matayze looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Yasnov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Yasnov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Al Matayze looking for submissions off his back.
Yasnov moves into full mount! Al Matayze won't be happy about that!

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.
Yasnov controlling the position easily from mount.
Al Matayze tries to hold on but Yasnov postures up.
Yasnov looking to control and managing it successfully.

Yasnov moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Al Matayze has worked his arm free - good work by Al Matayze!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Yasnov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Matayze looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Al Matayze is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Al Matayze throws a left and a right that both miss
and Yasnov counters with a three punch combo that has Al Matayze backing up. Al Matayze nods at Yasnov to acknowledge the strikes.

Yasnov clinches up with Al Matayze and pushes him back against the cage.

Yasnov has picked Al Matayze up - he's going for a ride! Yasnov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Al Matayze is looking for a sweep. Yasnov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Al Matayze looking for submissions off his back.
Yasnov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yasnov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yasnov breaks from Al Matayze's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Yasnov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Al Matayze is trying to escape the mount.
Nikolai Yasnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yasnov controlling the position easily from mount.
Al Matayze is trying desperately to improve position.
Khara Al Matayze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yasnov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Al Matayze throwing hammer fists to the chest of Yasnov. What's that going to do exactly?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Al Matayze defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Yasnov.

Yasnov is working for a guillotine from mount but Al Matayze frees his head quite easily.
Al Matayze in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yasnov working the ground and pound effectively.
Yasnov controlling from the full mount.
Yasnov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Yasnov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Yasnov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Al Matayze?

Yasnov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Al Matayze is surviving well by controlling Yasnov's body position as best he can.
Yasnov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Matayze wants to hold on but Yasnov pushes him away.

Yasnov goes for an armbar but Al Matayze turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Al Matayze.
Yasnov controlling Al Matayze's posture.
Al Matayze wants to pass the guard but Yasnov is keeping the position.
Nikolai Yasnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yasnov trying to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Yasnov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yasnov 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:26
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Yasnov!