PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Chen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berik Yawoka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chen comes into the arena with Surfing with the Alien blaring out of the sound system. Yawoka has chosen keep running up that hill 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.

Chen
vs
Yawoka

180 cm
32
180 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

180 cm
31
187 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Chen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Berik Yawoka!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yawoka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Chen's waist but Chen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yawoka off to one side.
Chen moves in looking to clinch but Yawoka pushes him off.

Chen gets tackled into the ropes by Yawoka. Yawoka maintains the clinch.
Chen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Yawoka wants to take the fight to the mat but Chen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sam Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berik Yawoka.

Yawoka turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Yawoka manages to end up in side control.
Yawoka wants to control but Chen is keeping him busy.
Yawoka controlling the position.
Yawoka in side control, throwing shots but Chen defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yawoka is looking to take a break and control but Chen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yawoka controls the position.

Yawoka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Chen, who protects the arm well.

Yawoka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yawoka in side control, throwing shots but Chen defends.
Yawoka trying to control the action but Chen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Yawoka is trying to get an arm triangle but Chen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yawoka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chen keeps working.
Chen is letting Yawoka control him for a moment.
Chen is pushing Yawoka's head away, looking to escape. Yawoka manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Yawoka tries for a kimura but Chen is defending well.

Yawoka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Chen taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Berik Yawoka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Yawoka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yawoka shoots in looking for a takedown. Chen tries to sprawl out of it but Yawoka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Chen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yawoka misses with a wild combination.
Chen avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yawoka moves out of range as Chen strikes.
Horrible takedown by Yawoka or perhaps it was just good defense by Chen which made him look bad.
Sam Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berik Yawoka.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yawoka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Chen sprawls well initially but Yawoka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Yawoka prevents Chen from standing back up.
Yawoka passes to side control.
Chen wants to get back to his feet but Yawoka drags him back down.

Yawoka tries for a kimura but Chen is defending well.
Yawoka is looking to take a break and control but Chen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yawoka controlling the position from side mount.

Yawoka is trying to get an arm triangle but Chen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen is not content to let Yawoka control the position.
Yawoka takes a little break here. Chen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four 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.
Yawoka trying to control the action but Chen is working from the bottom.
Chen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Yawoka asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Yawoka wants to control but Chen is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Berik Yawoka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Yawoka misses with a takedown attempt - Chen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chen tries to clinch there but Yawoka circles away.
Chen is looking to clinch but Yawoka is avoiding it.

Yawoka moves into the clinch successfully.
Yawoka is trying to drag Chen to the mat but Chen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Chen gets underhooks to prevent Yawoka's takedown attempt.
Sam Chen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berik Yawoka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yawoka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chen is trying to force a seperation but Yawoka has the dominant position.
Chen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yawoka has him pressed against the ropes.
Yawoka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yawoka tries to score a body lock takedown but Chen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Yawoka has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Chen regains guard immediately.
Yawoka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yawoka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yawoka throws a big elbow that misses.
Chen keeping moving, preventing Yawoka from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Berik Yawoka hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Yawoka scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Berik Yawoka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chen trying to remain calm as Yawoka controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yawoka is looking to take a break and control but Chen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Berik Yawoka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Yawoka looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chen wants to get back to his feet but Yawoka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Berik Yawoka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yawoka 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Berik Yawoka!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Berik Yawoka!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Berik Yawoka!

Berik Yawoka wins by unanimous decision!