PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Yacoshin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Eachann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yacoshin
vs
Eachann

184 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexey Yacoshin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raphael Eachann!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yacoshin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Yacoshin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Yacoshin is looking to take a break and control but Eachann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Eachann has hold of Yacoshin's hands but Yacoshin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Eachann wants to get back to his feet.
Yacoshin is tying to control. Eachann wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Eachann trying to control here.
Yacoshin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Yacoshin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Eachann for as long as he can get away with.
Eachann is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eachann is not content to let Yacoshin control the position.

Eachann looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Eachann kicks off Yacoshin and gets to his feet.
Yacoshin shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Eachann as Yacoshin shoots in.

Yacoshin gets the takedown into side control.
Eachann is looking for a sweep.
Yacoshin taking a breather here.
Eachann is looking for a sweep.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Eachann is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Yacoshin happy to just control the position for now.
Yacoshin trying to control the position but Eachann is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexey Yacoshin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Yacoshin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Eachann but Eachann pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Yacoshin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yacoshin is breathing heavily.
Eachann fails to land the takedown.

Yacoshin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Yacoshin looking to pass the guard.
Yacoshin is working hard here to advance position.
Eachann looking for a sweep. Not yet Eachann, not yet.
Yacoshin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yacoshin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eachann is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yacoshin won't allow Eachann to sweep him here.
Eachann keeping moving, preventing Yacoshin from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eachann can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yacoshin controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eachann shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yacoshin pinned against the cage. Yacoshin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Yacoshin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Eachann's guard.
Yacoshin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Yacoshin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Yacoshin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Yacoshin stays in close to Eachann's body and controls the position.
Yacoshin lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Eachann working for submissions but it's allowed Yacoshin to get to half guard.
Yacoshin trying to control the pace.
Yacoshin prevents Eachann from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yacoshin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Eachann is staying active underneath Yacoshin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Eachann moves into full guard.
Yacoshin trying to control but Eachann is working from the bottom.
Eachann looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yacoshin is one step ahead there.
Eachann trying to control the position.
Eachann keeping full guard, as Yacoshin tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Yacoshin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Yacoshin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Eachann moves into the clinch.
Eachann can't get the takedown.
Eachann works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Eachann stalling.
Yacoshin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Eachann pulls his leg out and moves away.
Yacoshin misses with a takedown attempt

and Eachann counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Yacoshin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yacoshin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Eachann's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Eachann's back!
Eachann manages to reverse the position and now he's in Yacoshin's guard. Nice work there by Eachann.
Yacoshin wants to sweep but no luck.
Eachann trying to control but Yacoshin is working from the bottom.
Eachann tries to free his leg and advance position but Yacoshin is retaining full guard.
Eachann won't allow Yacoshin to sweep him here.
Eachann trying to control but Yacoshin is working from the bottom.

Eachann thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Eachann prevents Yacoshin from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yacoshin stuffs the takedown attempt from Eachann. Eachann gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yacoshin misses with a takedown attempt

and Eachann counters by clinching up.
Eachann tries to score a body lock takedown but Yacoshin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yacoshin tries for a takedown but Eachann manages to get underhooks.
Eachann holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Eachann wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yacoshin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Eachann pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Yacoshin tries to score a body lock takedown but Eachann shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Yacoshin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Eachann is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Yacoshin wants a takedown but no success here.
Yacoshin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Eachann pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Eachann has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yacoshin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Eachann is fighting off a takedown attempt but Yacoshin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Eachann to the mat. Eachann regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Eachann is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eachann wants to sweep but no luck.
Eachann is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Yacoshin trying to control the position from guard on top but Eachann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexey Yacoshin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Eachann is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yacoshin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eachann throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yacoshin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Yacoshin stopping the sweep attempt from Eachann.
Yacoshin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Eachann can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Yacoshin controls the pace.
Yacoshin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eachann is keeping the position for now.
Yacoshin wants to control from the top but Eachann keeps moving.

Eachann looking for a guillotine here but Yacoshin defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eachann wants to sweep but no luck.
Eachann wants to get back to his feet but Yacoshin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Yacoshin preventing the sweep.
Yacoshin trying to control but Eachann is working from the bottom.
Eachann is trying to control the position but Yacoshin postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eachann fails with a takedown attempt.
Eachann throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yacoshin's waist but Yacoshin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Eachann off to one side.
Alexey Yacoshin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Yacoshin gets a takedown into half guard.
Yacoshin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Yacoshin wants to pass to mount but Eachann is defending the position.
Yacoshin uses his free foot to push down on Eachann's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Eachann.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yacoshin controlling from the full mount.
Eachann is working to get back to half guard.
Yacoshin controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raphael Eachann will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Yacoshin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Eachann counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yacoshin wants to control but Eachann is keeping busy.
Yacoshin manages to get to full guard.
Eachann controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Eachann trying to control but Yacoshin is working from the bottom.
Yacoshin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eachann trying to control the position from guard on top but Yacoshin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yacoshin is trying to control the position but Eachann postures up.
Eachann trying to control but Yacoshin is working from the bottom.
Yacoshin pulls Eachann in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eachann shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Yacoshin pinned against the cage. Yacoshin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yacoshin scores with a takedown into Eachann's guard.
Yacoshin trying to control the position from guard on top but Eachann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eachann looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yacoshin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yacoshin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Eachann's head.
Eachann looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yacoshin is one step ahead there.
Yacoshin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Eachann is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eachann controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Eachann changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Yacoshin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Eachann tries for a kimura but Yacoshin is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eachann working away.
Yacoshin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Yacoshin is positioning himself well to prevent Eachann advancing to mount.
Yacoshin regains full guard. Nicely done.

Eachann thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yacoshin lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Yacoshin looking to control.
Eachann preventing the sweep.
Yacoshin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eachann manages to get himself to full guard.
Eachann looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eachann had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Yacoshin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Eachann Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Yacoshin's back instead.
Eachann looking to hold on to the position here but Yacoshin rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Yacoshin looking to control.
Yacoshin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eachann manages to get himself to full guard.

Eachann is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yacoshin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Eachann looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Yacoshin postures up.
Eachann wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eachann looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yacoshin is one step ahead there.

Eachann looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Eachann is trying to control the position but Yacoshin postures up.

Eachann looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yacoshin forces his way into half guard.
Eachann is trying to get back to full guard.
Yacoshin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Eachann wants to control but Yacoshin is keeping busy.
Yacoshin trying to control from half guard but Eachann is working away.
Eachann trying to control but Yacoshin postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Raphael Eachann.
I think Eachann has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!