PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Kreese (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Yabal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yabal has chosen New Divide, Linkin Park as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kreese
vs
Yabal

170 cm
19
148 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
141 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***
Shango Designs

Cripplers Corner Brazil

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Kreese!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Yabal!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kreese drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kreese preventing the sweep.
Kreese pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yabal is keeping the position for now.

Kreese got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yabal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kreese has managed to get both his arms back between Yabal's legs - danger averted.
Kreese stands up over Yabal, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yabal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kreese is one step ahead there.
Yabal keeping full guard, as Kreese tries to pass.
Kreese passes into half guard.
Yabal tries to roll over but Kreese keeps him under control.
Yabal is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yabal manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Yabal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kreese is aware though and is defending well.

Yabal is looking for a triangle but Kreese pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreese trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yabal lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kreese!
Yabal trying to control but Kreese is having none of it.
Yabal looks gassed!
Kreese is trying desperately to improve position.
Kreese is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Yabal is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kreese is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kreese bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kreese won't allow Yabal to sweep him here.
Yabal is trying to control the position but Kreese postures up.

Yabal has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kreese can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kreese forces his way into half guard.
Yabal is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kreese scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kreese trying to mount his opponent but Yabal defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yabal manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Yabal is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kreese scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kreese is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Yabal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kreese's guard.
Yabal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreese swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kreese manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yabal is bucking up trying to escape but Kreese cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kreese cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yabal working to try and regain half guard.
Yabal in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreese controlling from the full mount.
Kreese has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Yabal's face.
Kreese lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Yabal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Kreese.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Yabal is trying desperately to improve position.
Kreese punishing his opponent with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kreese connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Yabal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kreese scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kreese dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kreese shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Yabal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kreese wants to pass the guard but Yabal is defending well.
Yabal is trying to get back to full guard.
Yabal moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Yabal keeping full guard, as Kreese tries to pass.
Yabal trying to strike off his back.

Yabal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yabal is breathing heavily.
Kreese won't allow Yabal to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreese scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kreese works over Yabal with some ground and pound from guard.
Kreese is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kreese trying to control the position from guard on top but Yabal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yabal has his foot on Kreese's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kreese works his way back into a safe position though.
Kreese has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kreese postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yabal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kreese lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kreese stands and throws Yabal's legs to the side, diving into side control.
John Kreese overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kreese is looking to take a break and control but Yabal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yabal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two 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.
Yabal is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kreese lands a few punches from side control.
Yabal tries to buck Kreese off but Kreese is having none of it.
Kreese scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Yabal to see if he's OK.
Kreese working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kreese advances to full mount.
Kreese landing strikes from the mount and Yabal is in trouble!
Yabal is working to get back to half guard.
Yabal is bucking up trying to escape but Kreese cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kreese is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kreese lands with some strikes.
Yabal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kreese lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Yabal tries to reverse the position but Kreese maintains control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kreese cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Yabal is trying desperately to improve position.
Yabal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kreese breaks from Yabal's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Yabal is bucking up trying to escape but Kreese cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kreese lands a heavy elbow.
Kreese postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Yabal looks a forlorn figure.
Yabal tries to hold on but Kreese postures up.
Yabal is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yabal tries to lock up and control but Kreese gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kreese is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kreese landing strikes from the mount.
Kreese lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Yabal is trying to escape the mount.
Kreese fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Yabal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kreese lands a nice shot to the head.
Yabal in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kreese scoring with strikes but Yabal is staying in there.
Yabal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Yabal tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kreese dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kreese closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yabal did well to prevent Kreese getting side control.
Yabal is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kreese's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kreese's back!
Kreese can't escape the position.

Kreese preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Yabal.
Kreese tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Yabal goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kreese is on top in guard.

Yabal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Yabal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kreese is pushing down on Yabal's leg trying to pass to half guard. Yabal is fighting to maintain full guard but Kreese has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yabal tries to get to full guard but Kreese has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kreese drops an elbow to the side of Yabal's head.
Yabal tries to get to full guard but Kreese has control of the leg.
Yabal taking some punishment here, with Kreese in his half guard.
Kreese is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kreese uses his free foot to push down on Yabal's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Yabal.
Kreese working the ground and pound effectively.
Kreese connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two 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.
Yabal is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yabal gets back to half guard.
Kreese scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yabal is trying to maintain the position but Kreese is very close to passing his half guard.
Kreese working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kreese working over Yabal with some ground and pound. Yabal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kreese is looking to advance position but Yabal won't allow it.
Yabal moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Yabal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kreese postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yabal wants to sweep but no luck.
Kreese scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kreese with a nice head shot there.
Kreese passes Yabal's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Yabal throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kreese passes to side control.
Yabal regains half guard.
Yabal works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kreese preventing the sweep.
Hannu Yabal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Yabal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreese working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Yabal doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Yabal wants to sweep but no luck.
Kreese passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Yabal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kreese closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kreese is nestled in close to Yabal, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Yabal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kreese.
Yabal throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kreese working over Yabal with some ground and pound. Yabal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Yabal manages to get to full guard.

Yabal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kreese is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kreese showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kreese 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kreese!