PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Yates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Torsten Ver Magnussen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ralph Yates has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Yates
vs
Ver Magnussen

173 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

188 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ralph Yates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Torsten Ver Magnussen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Ver Magnussen misses

and Yates counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Ver Magnussen has clasped his hands together around Yates's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Ver Magnussen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ver Magnussen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ver Magnussen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Yates gets back to half guard.

Ver Magnussen seems to be looking for submissions.
Yates controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Ver Magnussen stops Yates from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yates tries to roll over but Ver Magnussen keeps him under control.
Yates tries to kick Ver Magnussen off but Ver Magnussen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Yates makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yates.

Yates had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ver Magnussen defends it easily.

Ver Magnussen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ver Magnussen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ver Magnussen wants to pass the guard but Yates is keeping the position.
Yates knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ver Magnussen on the ground.
Ver Magnussen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yates looks to move to half guard but instead Ver Magnussen has passed into mount! Damn!

Ver Magnussen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yates can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Ver Magnussen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Yates has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Ver Magnussen goes for an armbar but Yates turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Yates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yates is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Yates throws a big right hand that misses.
Yates throwing strikes from guard but Ver Magnussen blocks nicely.
Yates seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Yates stands up and waves to Ver Magnussen to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ver Magnussen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yates did well to prevent Ver Magnussen getting side control.

Yates manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ver Magnussen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Ver Magnussen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Yates manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Yates circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ver Magnussen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Yates sneaks out the side door and pushes Ver Magnussen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Yates is breathing heavily.
Yates goes for a double leg but Ver Magnussen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ver Magnussen continues to drive forward.

Ver Magnussen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yates sprawls well initially but Ver Magnussen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ralph Yates will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Yates dives in for a single leg takedown but Ver Magnussen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ver Magnussen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Yates quickly recovers to half guard.
Yates is trying to control but can't.

Yates actively working from the bottom here.
Ralph Yates overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ver Magnussen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yates has managed to free his arm - good work.

Ver Magnussen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yates defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ver Magnussen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yates defends it well.
Yates makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yates.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ver Magnussen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ver Magnussen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Yates looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Yates looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Yates!

Yates goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ver Magnussen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Yates's guard! Nice work there by Ver Magnussen!
Ver Magnussen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Yates swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ver Magnussen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Yates dives on top into guard.

Yates is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yates slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Yates postures up in Ver Magnussen's guard and throws a big left but Ver Magnussen blocks it.
Ver Magnussen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ver Magnussen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Yates is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Yates has escaped and now he's on top!

Yates postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Yates has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ver Magnussen is proving hard to escape from.
Yates with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Yates throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Yates landing some decent shots from guard.
Yates lands a couple of digs.
Yates throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Yates works over Ver Magnussen with some ground and pound from guard.
Ver Magnussen trying to control the position.
Yates connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yates is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Yates with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Torsten Ver Magnussen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Yates's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ver Magnussen is looking to clinch.

Ver Magnussen gets the takedown into side control.

Ver Magnussen has hold of Yates's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Yates seems comfortable defending it but Ver Magnussen has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Yates is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Yates is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Ver Magnussen couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Torsten Ver Magnussen!