PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Yonder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Yonder
vs
King

180 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bruce Yonder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven King!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yonder doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.
Yonder tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

King drives through and clinches with Yonder against the cage.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yonder blocks a head kick by King.
Yonder throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
King throws a head kick that misses.
Yonder jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Steven King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

King pushes Yonder up against the cage in a clinch.

King manages to break the clinch.

Yonder closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yonder is trying to break the clinch but King is controlling him.
Yonder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yonder's efforts to push away.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Yonder.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yonder misses with a knee to the head.
Yonder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

King manages to break the clinch.
King misses with a head kick.
Yonder tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
Yonder throws a head kick that misses.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yonder throws a hook to the side of King's head but King sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
King throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Yonder throws a looping overhand right but King ducks down to avoid it.
King goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Yonder takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
King fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Yonder has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Yonder darts in and clinches King up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yonder trying to control the position but instead, King has worked for underhooks and has pushed Yonder into the cage.
Yonder tries a knee to the head but King blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yonder throws an elbow but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yonder blocks a head kick by King.
Yonder with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Yonder misses with a takedown attempt - King sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Yonder connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King scores with a head kick. Yonder tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Bruce Yonder has been cut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Yonder.

King clinches with his opponent.
Yonder throws a head punch that misses.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Yonder moves out of range easily.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King misses with a head kick.
Yonder half committed to a counter leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Yonder goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruce Yonder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King manages to pull guard.
Yonder trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but King manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
King looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
King postures up.
King throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven King dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruce Yonder's cut.
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.

Yonder blocks a head kick by King.
Yonder throws a hook to the side of King's head but King sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Yonder clinches.
Yonder tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and King avoids it.
Yonder will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning King up against the cage.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Yonder.
Yonder taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yonder missing with knees to the body.
Yonder misses with some punches.
Yonder will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning King up against the cage.
King tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yonder is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.

King breaks from the clinch.

King gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yonder shoots in looking for a takedown. King tries to sprawl out of it but Yonder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. King manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
King scores with a head kick. Yonder tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
King buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King has managed to clinch.

King manages to break the clinch.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Steven King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

King has managed to clinch.
King has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yonder tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and King avoids it.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Yonder closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

King breaks from the clinch.
King checks a leg kick.
Yonder tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.

King has closed the distance and engaged Yonder in a clinch.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King lands with a kick to the temple. Yonder shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yonder clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
King on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yonder throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yonder misses with some punches.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Yonder breaks the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yonder. That's going to slow King down.

King closes the distance and pushes Yonder back into the cage.
Yonder misses with a punch to the body.
Yonder tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and King avoids it.
Yonder takes a knee right on the jaw!

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Yonder drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Yonder has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yonder tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.

Yonder's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yonder tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

King clinches.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yonder tries to clinch but King is having none of it.

King has managed to clinch.
Yonder is trying to maintain a safe position but King gets an underhook and turns Yonder into the cage.
Yonder misses with a punch on the inside.

King manages to break the clinch.
Yonder takes a kick to the side of the head.

King clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bruce Yonder's cut.
That's time! Yonder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

King rushes Yonder and presses him up against the cage.
Yonder tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.

King manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
King lands a knee to the head.
Yonder tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yonder lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King lands a high kick!

King moves into the clinch successfully.
Yonder misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yonder tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yonder throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but King blocks it with crossed arms.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yonder throws a leg kick but King moved away.

King clinches with his opponent.
Yonder is trying to break the clinch but King has him pressed against the cage.

King has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Yonder uses from the top position.
Yonder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yonder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Yonder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King is keeping the position for now.
Yonder distracts King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Yonder chips away with some ground and pound.
Yonder throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yonder is aware though and is defending well.
Yonder throws a strike but King rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Yonder keeping full guard, as King tries to pass.
Yonder is trying to control the position from the bottom.

King decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yonder takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King moves into the clinch.

King breaks from the clinch.
Yonder blocks a head kick by King.
Yonder lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yonder tries to break free but King pushes him back against the cage.
Yonder tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yonder looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yonder misses with a knee strike.
Yonder is trying to force a seperation but King has the dominant position.
Yonder is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Yonder.
Yonder tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.
Yonder missing with knees to the body.
Bruce Yonder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yonder is trying to break free.
Yonder pushes off an throws an elbow but King leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Yonder.

King manages to break the clinch.

King gets in close and instigates a clinch.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yonder, pushing him back against the cage.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

King gets a clinch.
Yonder misses with a knee strike.
Steven King is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Yonder manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well King 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven King!