PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Yarasky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Collin McRidger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Collin McRidger struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. This should be fireworks!

Yarasky
vs
McRidger

190 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

TKO Vegas

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nikita Yarasky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Collin McRidger!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yarasky.
McRidger is looking to clinch but Yarasky is avoiding it.
Yarasky fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

McRidger tries to keep at a distance but Yarasky has taken the fight into the clinch.

McRidger has hold of one of Yarasky's legs. Yarasky is fighting the takedown attempt but McRidger gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yarasky is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McRidger trying to control but Yarasky is working from the bottom.

Yarasky throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yarasky manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Yarasky goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McRidger turns into him and now he's in Yarasky's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McRidger wants to control from the top but Yarasky keeps moving.
McRidger advances position into side control!
Yarasky is trying to improve his position.
McRidger landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarasky tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McRidger lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yarasky down.
McRidger is looking to take a break and control but Yarasky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yarasky is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Yarasky wants to get back to his feet.
McRidger is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Yarasky looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McRidger connects with a nice short shot to Yarasky's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRidger controlling the pace.
McRidger lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yarasky trying to hold on to McRidger's head to control him but McRidger postures up.
Yarasky is looking to improve his position.
McRidger content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Yarasky trying to get back to full guard but McRidger takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yarasky tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McRidger looking to finish Yarasky with some ground and pound. This is bad for Yarasky!
McRidger controlling the pace for now.
Yarasky tries to reverse the position but McRidger maintains control.
Yarasky bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
McRidger looks gassed!
Yarasky tries to free his leg and advance position but McRidger is retaining full guard.
Yarasky wants to control from the top but McRidger keeps moving.
Yarasky postures up in McRidger's guard and throws a big left but McRidger blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McRidger defending well as Yarasky loads up on a big left hand.

McRidger drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Yarasky's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McRidger controlling the position.
McRidger trying to control the position but Yarasky is working away.
McRidger is breathing heavily.
Yarasky is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Yarasky tries for a takedown but McRidger circles away easily

and McRidger counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Yarasky!
Yarasky is bucking up trying to escape but McRidger cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
McRidger prevents Yarasky from getting the reversal.

McRidger working for a submission but Yarasky is keeping him at bay.
Yarasky is trying desperately to improve position.
Yarasky is squirming around, avoiding McRidger's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yarasky tries to hold on but McRidger postures up.
Yarasky is trying desperately to improve position.
Yarasky is working hard here to advance position.
McRidger thowing shots but they're missing.
Yarasky gets back to half guard.
McRidger prevents Yarasky from improving his position.
Collin McRidger has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McRidger wants to free his trapped foot but Yarasky is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Yarasky wants to get back to full guard.
Yarasky is trying to stand up here but McRidger is controlling him well.
Yarasky tries to get to full guard but McRidger has control of the leg.
McRidger trying to control the action but Yarasky is working from the bottom.
Yarasky is trying to control but can't.
Yarasky regains full guard. Nicely done.
Yarasky wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yarasky misses with a takedown attempt

and McRidger counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yarasky is trying to keep McRidger in close.
McRidger trying to control but Yarasky is working from the bottom.
Yarasky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Yarasky will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yarasky lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McRidger!
Yarasky throwing strikes here but McRidger is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Collin McRidger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yarasky tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yarasky closes the distance but McRidger moves to the side

and McRidger counters with a single leg into guard. Yarasky didn't expect that.

Yarasky working for a triangle but McRidger defends it easily.
McRidger trying to control the position from guard on top but Yarasky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yarasky working for a triangle but McRidger defends it easily.
Yarasky is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yarasky is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McRidger gets full guard.
Yarasky with a flurry of punches that miss.

Yarasky drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and McRidger dives on top into guard.
McRidger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McRidger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yarasky trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McRidger postures up and lands a big shot to Yarasky's brow.
Yarasky tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yarasky wants to improve his position but instead McRidger has moved into half guard.
Yarasky trying to control here.
Yarasky is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yarasky tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McRidger counters with a nice double leg into side control. Yarasky won't be happy with that.
Yarasky tries to bench press McRidger off him but McRidger keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yarasky regains half guard.
Yarasky looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yarasky is trying to defend against the ground and pound but McRidger scores with a couple of nice shots.
McRidger is taking a breather. Yarasky 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.
McRidger is trying to control the action in half guard but Yarasky is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Yarasky tries to kick McRidger off but McRidger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yarasky gets full guard.
Yarasky keeping moving, preventing McRidger from controlling successfully.
Yarasky wants to stand but McRidger is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yarasky preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McRidger trying to control the position from guard on top but Yarasky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Collin McRidger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Yarasky throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! McRidger escapes and throws Yarasky's legs to the side, diving into side control!
You can see the frustration on Yarasky's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Yarasky tries to bench press McRidger off him but McRidger keeps the position.
Nikita Yarasky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yarasky looks to move to half guard but instead McRidger has passed into mount! Damn!
McRidger blocks Yarasky's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Collin McRidger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McRidger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Collin McRidger!