PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Yaroslev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauri Koponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksander Yaroslev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mauri Koponen's chin.

Yaroslev
vs
Koponen

205 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

221 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksander Yaroslev!
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, Mauri Koponen!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koponen shoots in looking for a takedown. Yaroslev tries to sprawl out of it but Koponen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yaroslev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Koponen scores with a takedown into Yaroslev's guard.

Yaroslev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Koponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaroslev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koponen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Koponen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yaroslev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Koponen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Yaroslev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koponen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Koponen. No joy for Yaroslev on that attempt.
Yaroslev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Koponen can pounce on him.
Yaroslev shoots in and drives through. Koponen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksander Yaroslev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yaroslev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yaroslev wants it to stay on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koponen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Yaroslev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koponen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koponen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Yaroslev tries to keep at a distance but Koponen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Koponen lands a nice uppercut.

Koponen wants the takedown. Yaroslev is fighting it off but Koponen persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Yaroslev's guard against the cage.
Yaroslev keeping moving, preventing Koponen from controlling successfully.
Koponen pushes down on Yaroslev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Yaroslev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Yaroslev keeping moving, preventing Koponen from controlling successfully.
Yaroslev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koponen wants to pass the guard but Yaroslev is keeping the position.
Koponen trying to control but Yaroslev is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koponen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yaroslev's guard.
Koponen is taking a breather. Yaroslev says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yaroslev wants to improve his position but Koponen is controlling well.
Koponen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Yaroslev gets full guard.
Koponen forces his way into half guard.
Koponen looks gassed!

Koponen is looking for a kimura here.
Koponen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koponen is looking for a kimura here.
Yaroslev wants to improve his position but Koponen is controlling well.
Koponen is keen to just control but Yaroslev is a slippery customer.
Yaroslev misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Koponen is trying to control the action in half guard but Yaroslev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yaroslev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koponen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Yaroslev has his foot on Koponen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koponen works his way back into a safe position though.
Yaroslev wants to improve his position but instead Koponen has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koponen wants to free his trapped foot but Yaroslev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Koponen stalling.
Koponen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Koponen is looking for a kimura here.
Yaroslev throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yaroslev punching from the bottom.
Koponen is looking to take a break and control but Yaroslev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yaroslev is looking for a sweep. Koponen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauri Koponen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koponen gets a clinch.

Koponen jumps guard and drags Yaroslev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yaroslev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yaroslev looking to pass the guard.
Yaroslev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mauri Koponen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yaroslev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Koponen looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Yaroslev is defending well. Koponen quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Yaroslev has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Koponen celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mauri Koponen!