PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Yaroslev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yaroslev is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by War is the Answer - Five Finger Death Punch. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van Kirkland
vs
Yaroslev

194 cm
22
285 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

205 cm
22
285 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™ (WOT)
Torment Fightwear

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksander Yaroslev!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yaroslev moves into range and clinches up with Van Kirkland.
Yaroslev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Kirkland.
Yaroslev tries to throw a body punch but Van Kirkland avoids it by throwing Yaroslev back against the cage.
Van Kirkland is trying to push Yaroslev away but Yaroslev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Yaroslev digs a right hand into Van Kirkland's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Van Kirkland's gas tank.
Van Kirkland is trying to pull guard but Yaroslev has him pressed against the cage.

Van Kirkland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A shot to the liver by Van Kirkland. Beautiful body shot.
Aleksander Yaroslev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland looks for a takedown but Yaroslev sprawls well.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Yaroslev sprawls well. Yaroslev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Van Kirkland gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Kirkland checks a leg kick nicely.
Van Kirkland throws a series of punches but Yaroslev avoids them all with ease.

Yaroslev clinches with his opponent.
Yaroslev misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yaroslev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Kirkland avoids it.
Van Kirkland is trying to force a seperation but Yaroslev has the dominant position.

Yaroslev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yaroslev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland staying out of range there.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown but Yaroslev shows good takedown defense.

Yaroslev gets the takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Yaroslev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Kirkland keeps working.
Van Kirkland has one of Yaroslev's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Van Kirkland is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland can't do much from the bottom here.
Van Kirkland is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Kirkland is trying to control Yaroslev's posture but Yaroslev avoids it.
Yaroslev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Kirkland down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yaroslev is looking to take a break and control but Van Kirkland is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Kirkland sneaks back into half guard.
Yaroslev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yaroslev.
Yaroslev trying to pass the guard but Van Kirkland defending well.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Yaroslev postures up.
Van Kirkland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Van Kirkland regains full guard. Nicely done.
Van Kirkland looking to control.
Van Kirkland is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yaroslev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Kirkland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Van Kirkland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yaroslev is one step ahead there.
Yaroslev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Kirkland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

We're going to have a standup here because Mikhail Van Kirkland wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A big left from Yaroslev misses.
Yaroslev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Kirkland moves away.
Yaroslev misses the shot to the body.
Van Kirkland misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yaroslev is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yaroslev is squirming around, avoiding Van Kirkland's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aleksander Yaroslev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van Kirkland closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yaroslev quickly recovers to half guard.
Van Kirkland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van Kirkland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van Kirkland wants to pass to mount but Yaroslev is defending the position.
Van Kirkland wants to control but Yaroslev is keeping him busy.
Van Kirkland trying to mount his opponent but Yaroslev defends it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Van Kirkland trying to control the action but Yaroslev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mikhail Van Kirkland.

Van Kirkland manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Yaroslev on his heels. He'll look to pass Yaroslev's guard now, I'm sure.
Van Kirkland looking to sit in guard and control but Yaroslev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Yaroslev throws a strike but Van Kirkland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Van Kirkland trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaroslev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yaroslev is controlling Van Kirkland's posture.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Yaroslev keeps moving.
Van Kirkland's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mikhail Van Kirkland wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Van Kirkland takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Yaroslev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.

Yaroslev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van Kirkland's half guard.
Van Kirkland wants to improve his position but Yaroslev is controlling well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yaroslev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Yaroslev uses his free foot to push down on Van Kirkland's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Van Kirkland trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yaroslev's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland looking to sit in guard and control but Yaroslev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Yaroslev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yaroslev wants to control from the top but Van Kirkland keeps moving.
Yaroslev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yaroslev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Van Kirkland keeping full guard, as Yaroslev tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Yaroslev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yaroslev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Yaroslev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Van Kirkland looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Van Kirkland holds on and takes a little breather.
Van Kirkland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Kirkland wants to stand and escape but Yaroslev is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mikhail Van Kirkland just wasn't active enough.
Van Kirkland slips a jab from Yaroslev.
Van Kirkland with a lazy takedown attempt
and Yaroslev counters with an outside leg kick.
Van Kirkland moves out of range of the leg kick from Yaroslev.
Yaroslev just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yaroslev feints and as Van Kirkland raises his hands in defense, Yaroslev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yaroslev throwing strikes but missing.
Aleksander Yaroslev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Van Kirkland seems keen to control Yaroslev's posture.
Yaroslev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Van Kirkland works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yaroslev connects with a couple of short punches.
Van Kirkland has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Yaroslev stands up over Van Kirkland, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Van Kirkland trying to keep a closed guard but Yaroslev is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Kirkland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Kirkland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Yaroslev is controlling him.
Yaroslev preventing the sweep.
Van Kirkland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Van Kirkland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yaroslev.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Kirkland is on top in guard.
Van Kirkland trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaroslev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mikhail Van Kirkland wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Yaroslev cracks Van Kirkland with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mikhail Van Kirkland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yaroslev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Van Kirkland wants to get back to full guard.
Yaroslev is keen to just control but Van Kirkland is a slippery customer.
Yaroslev is nestled in close to Van Kirkland, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Van Kirkland tries to roll over but Yaroslev keeps him under control.
Yaroslev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Van Kirkland keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yaroslev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yaroslev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Kirkland's head.
Van Kirkland wants to improve his position but Yaroslev is controlling well.
Yaroslev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aleksander Yaroslev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland is trying to maintain the position but Yaroslev is very close to passing his half guard.
Yaroslev wants to control but Van Kirkland is keeping him busy.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Yaroslev postures up.
Van Kirkland keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yaroslev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mikhail Van Kirkland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Van Kirkland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yaroslev throwing shots but Van Kirkland is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Yaroslev is working for a submission of some sort.
Still in half guard, Yaroslev seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Yaroslev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yaroslev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Yaroslev!
After winning the bout, Aleksander Yaroslev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.