PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryuken Yanagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stampe Eklund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eklund comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Troll - Trollberg kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ryuken Yanagi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yanagi
vs
Eklund

175 cm
32
165 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

168 cm
24
167 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryuken Yanagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stampe Eklund!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Eklund misses.

Yanagi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sloppy strikes there by Yanagi.
Yanagi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Eklund is looking for a sweep.
Yanagi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Yanagi cracks Eklund with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yanagi scores with a couple of short elbows.
Yanagi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Yanagi lands a decent elbow from side control.
Eklund struggling a bit here.
Yanagi scoring with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yanagi working away.
Yanagi is putting a hurting on Eklund here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanagi working the strikes but Eklund uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Eklund is controlling Yanagi's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Eklund taking some punishment here, with Yanagi in his half guard.
Eklund makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Eklund.
Yanagi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eklund tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eklund is on top in guard.
Yanagi keeping moving, preventing Eklund from controlling successfully.
Yanagi wants to hit a switch here but Eklund passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yanagi there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eklund throws a sloppy strike and Yanagi uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Yanagi has ended up in Eklund's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Yanagi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Yanagi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Yanagi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yanagi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yanagi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yanagi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Yanagi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yanagi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Eklund 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.
Yanagi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Eklund works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yanagi is working Eklund over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yanagi postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Yanagi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eklund wants to get back to his feet but Yanagi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Eklund lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yanagi!
Yanagi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Eklund lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Yanagi is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Eklund looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eklund seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yanagi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Yanagi tries to get to full guard but Eklund has control of the leg.
Ground and pound from Eklund.
Eklund prevents Yanagi from improving his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Eklund is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Yanagi reverses the position - he's now on top in Eklund's guard.
Yanagi throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryuken Yanagi dominated that round.
That's time! Yanagi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Eklund misses with a double jab.
Eklund lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Yanagi at a distance.
Yanagi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Yanagi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Eklund quickly recovers to half guard.
Yanagi slips a nice elbow through Eklund's hands, connecting with Eklund's forehead.
Yanagi thows a huge punch but Eklund dodges it nicely.
Yanagi throwing shots but Eklund is blocking nicely.
Yanagi working Eklund over with strikes.
Ryuken Yanagi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yanagi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yanagi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Eklund defending well though.
Eklund moves into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Eklund looking for a sweep. Not yet Eklund, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Eklund looking for a sweep. Not yet Eklund, not yet.
Yanagi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yanagi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eklund 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.
Yanagi with a nice head shot there.
Eklund is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Eklund manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Yanagi manages to get himself to full guard.
Eklund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eklund looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eklund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eklund lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Eklund trying to control the position from guard on top but Yanagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eklund stopping the sweep attempt from Yanagi.
Yanagi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yanagi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eklund in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Eklund content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Eklund with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Eklund sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yanagi's guard.
Eklund is keen to just control but Yanagi is a slippery customer.
Yanagi manages to get to full guard.
Yanagi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Eklund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Eklund makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yanagi keeping full guard, as Eklund tries to pass.
Yanagi striking from the bottom here.
Yanagi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eklund is one step ahead there.
Yanagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Eklund.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Eklund makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eklund pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yanagi is keeping the position for now.
Eklund scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stampe Eklund will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Yanagi shoots for a takedown but Eklund saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yanagi fails with the takedown.
Yanagi has his takedown stuffed
and Yanagi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryuken Yanagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eklund keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Eklund throws a hook to the side of Yanagi's head but Yanagi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ryuken Yanagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yanagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eklund but Eklund pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Yanagi gets tackled into the cage by Eklund. Eklund maintains the clinch.
Eklund is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Eklund tries to work over Yanagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Eklund tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yanagi's elbow.
Eklund lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yanagi is looking to break free of the clinch but Eklund has double underhooks.
Eklund pressing his opponent against the cage.
Yanagi tries to break the clinch but Eklund is controlling the position.
Eklund lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Eklund.
Yanagi is trying to maintain a safe position but Eklund gets an underhook and turns Yanagi into the cage.
Eklund is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eklund receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Yanagi is trying to break the clinch but Eklund has him pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Eklund tries a knee to the head but Yanagi blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Eklund.
Yanagi is trying to break the clinch but Eklund has him pressed against the cage.
Yanagi wants to stall.
Yanagi blocks a body shot from Eklund.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eklund misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Eklund taking a breather.
Eklund tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yanagi's elbow.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Yanagi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yanagi wants to take the fight to the mat but Eklund manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Eklund lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yanagi backwards.

Eklund lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Yanagi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eklund passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Yanagi!
Yanagi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Eklund landing strikes from the mount.
Eklund with a couple of short strikes.

It looks like Ryuken Yanagi has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Eklund content just to control the position here.
Eklund lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yanagi taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stampe Eklund comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Eklund 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stampe Eklund!
An out of breath Stampe Eklund thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.