PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zabit Magomedov (ranked 339 p4p, 310 weight class) and Toby Keith Yrkje (ranked 42 p4p, 38 weight class). Yrkje has chosen As Good As I Once Was as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Magomedov
vs
Yrkje

179 cm
29
175
12 - 6 - 0

187 cm
29
180
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zabit Magomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Toby Keith Yrkje!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yrkje scores with a jab. Magomedov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Magomedov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yrkje.
Magomedov throws a shot from downtown. Yrkje moves away and avoids it.
Yrkje looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Magomedov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Magomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yrkje was well out of range. Poor timing from Magomedov.
Yrkje gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Toby Keith Yrkje has been cut.
Magomedov needs to keep his hands up - Yrkje had a free shot at his head there.
Magomedov slips a straight right by Yrkje.
Yrkje connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Magomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yrkje ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Yrkje scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Yrkje.
Magomedov cracks Yrkje with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A clash of legs there as Magomedov blocks the low kick.
Magomedov throws a hook but Yrkje blocks it.
Yrkje walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Magomedov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Yrkje throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Yrkje is just out of range.
Magomedov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Magomedov throws out a leg kick but Yrkje moves out of range and Magomedov only half commits.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Yrkje.
Magomedov misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Magomedov misses.
Magomedov throws an overhand right that lands on Yrkje's shoulder, as Yrkje tries to avoid the shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Yrkje!
Yrkje staying out of range there.
A jab from Yrkje does it's job there.
Magomedov takes one to the chin there.
Magomedov misses with a low kick.
Magomedov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yrkje displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Magomedov throws out the jab.
Yrkje connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Yrkje lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Yrkje uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Magomedov.
Magomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yrkje.
Yrkje connects with a body shot.
Yrkje misses with a straight left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Yrkje does no damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yrkje loads up on a big right hand but Magomedov slips the punch.
Yrkje scoring well with a low kick there.
Yrkje misses with a body kick.
Magomedov moves out of range of the leg kick from Yrkje.
Magomedov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Yrkje. Yrkje obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov connects with a single shot there.
Yrkje's corner calls for a 1-2. Yrkje obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Yrkje throws a hook to the side of Magomedov's head but Magomedov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Magomedov swings for the body but Yrkje moves out of range.
Magomedov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Magomedov misses with a lunging right hand
and Yrkje counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Magomedov digs a good body shot into Yrkje's ribs.
Magomedov connects with a solid leg kick.
Yrkje blocks a low kick nicely.
Magomedov scoring well with a low kick there.
Yrkje is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Magomedov had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
A lazy left from Magomedov finds it's target.
Yrkje works Magomedov's body with a nice hook.
Yrkje has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Magomedov throws a leg kick which misses Yrkje's front leg but catches the back leg as Yrkje tries to avoid it.
Yrkje avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Yrkje misses with a series of wild punches.
Magomedov misses with a jab to the body
and Yrkje counters with a nice low kick that buckles Magomedov's knee momentarily.
Magomedov checks a low kick from Yrkje.
Magomedov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Magomedov connects with a looping right hand.
Magomedov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Magomedov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov misses with a looping left.
Yrkje scores with a push kick.
Magomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yrkje manages to avoid it.
Yrkje moves out of range of the body kick.
Yrkje thinks about the counter body kick.
Yrkje turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Yrkje checks a leg kick.
Yrkje tried to score with a low kick but Magomedov checks it.
Magomedov moves forwards but Yrkje connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A clash of legs there as Magomedov blocks the low kick.
Magomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yrkje throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Yrkje throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yrkje scores with a nice body kick.
Yrkje scoring well with a low kick there.
Magomedov connects with a nice looking jab.
Magomedov moves out of range as Yrkje strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magomedov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Yrkje stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Good exchange - Yrkje coming out on top.

Magomedov has managed to clinch.
Yrkje is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yrkje working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Magomedov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Magomedov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yrkje.
Magomedov misses with some punches.
Yrkje misses with a hook to the ribs.
Magomedov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yrkje's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Magomedov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yrkje softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Magomedov has a couple of punches blocked by Yrkje.
Yrkje misses with a punch on the inside.
Magomedov presses Yrkje against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Yrkje.
Magomedov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magomedov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Magomedov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yrkje working aggressively here.
Magomedov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Magomedov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yrkje backwards.
Yrkje blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Toby Keith Yrkje dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Toby Keith Yrkje's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Yrkje moves out of range of the strikes.
Zabit Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yrkje scores with a leg kick.
Magomedov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Toby Keith Yrkje seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yrkje scores with a nice head shot.
Yrkje lands a jab to Magomedov's midsection.
A shot to the liver by Magomedov. Beautiful body shot.
Yrkje fails to land with a series of punches.
Magomedov moves in looking to clinch but Yrkje pushes him off.
Magomedov lands a glancing blow to the side of Yrkje's head.
Yrkje ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Magomedov throws a body punch but Yrkje moves out of range.
Yrkje cracks Magomedov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A chopping leg kick lands by Yrkje.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magomedov misses with a low kick.
Magomedov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Yrkje checks a leg kick.
Yrkje scores with a spinning back kick!
Yrkje lands a jab to the nose.
Yrkje throws a body shot but no joy.
Magomedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Yrkje is just out of range.
Magomedov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yrkje.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yrkje throws a poor cross that misses
and Magomedov counters with a nice uppercut.
Yrkje keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yrkje takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Magomedov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Magomedov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Magomedov throws a sloppy head kick and Yrkje moves out of range easily.
Magomedov misses with a body shot.
Magomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yrkje moves away.
Yrkje on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Yrkje lands a leg kick that knocks Magomedov off balance momentarily.
Yrkje throws a shot from downtown. Magomedov moves away and avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Magomedov.
Magomedov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Yrkje connects with an inside leg kick.
Magomedov lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yrkje checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Yrkje turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Magomedov tries to work over Yrkje's front leg with a kick but Yrkje checks it.
Magomedov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yrkje cracks Magomedov with a good jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yrkje.
Decent striking displayed by Yrkje there.
Magomedov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Yrkje was well out of range. Poor timing from Magomedov.
Magomedov looks to land a right hand but Yrkje moved out of range.
Good work by Yrkje as he checks the leg kick.
Yrkje moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Yrkje throws a leg kick which misses Magomedov's front leg but catches the back leg as Magomedov tries to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Magomedov.
Yrkje slips under a jab from Magomedov.
Magomedov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yrkje gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Yrkje lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Magomedov swings for the body but Yrkje moves out of range.
That kick from Yrkje tenderised Magomedov's leg. Magomedov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Yrkje throws a big shot that misses.
Magomedov staying out of range there.
Magomedov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yrkje misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yrkje connects with an inside leg kick.
Magomedov misses the jab.
Magomedov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Yrkjes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Magomedov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Magomedov backing away here, and Yrkje unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A jab from Magomedov misses.
Yrkje looks to land a left hand but Magomedov moved out of range nicely.
Yrkje scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Magomedov doesn't seem bothered though.
Magomedov throws a leg kick but Yrkje moved away.
Yrkje only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Magomedov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yrkje.
Yrkje does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A counter left hand to the body from Magomedov misses its target.
A good leg kick by Yrkje.
Magomedov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yrkje misses with a looping left.
Magomedov throws a leg kick that misses.
Magomedov misses with a left hand
and Yrkje counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Magomedov throws a hook to the side of Yrkje's head but Yrkje sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Magomedov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Yrkje throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Yrkje throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Magomedov throws a lazy right hand but Yrkje sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yrkje keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yrkje throws an overhand right that lands on Magomedov's shoulder, as Magomedov tries to avoid the shot.
Yrkje throws a low kick but Magomedov avoids it.
Magomedov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yrkje throws out a counter right but Magomedov avoids it with no problem.
Magomedov connects with a crisp jab.

That has opened up Toby Keith Yrkje's cut even more.
Yrkje throws the kick towards the body but Magomedov avoids it.
Yrkje avoids the body shot from Magomedov.
Yrkje connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Yrkje.
Magomedov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Yrkje.
Magomedov lands a head shot.
Yrkje scoring well with a low kick there.
Magomedov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Magomedov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magomedov scores with a decent looking hook.
Magomedov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yrkje uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Magomedov.
Yrkje throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Magomedov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Yrkje scores with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Toby Keith Yrkje will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Toby Keith Yrkje's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Magomedov throws a hook but Yrkje avoids it easily.
Yrkje tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Magomedov moves out of range of the strikes.
Yrkje takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Yrkje with a nice calf kick.
Magomedov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yrkje manages to avoid it.
Yrkje steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Magomedov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yrkje.

Magomedov takes the fight into the clinch.
Magomedov wants a takedown.
Magomedov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Magomedov tries a body shot but Yrkje blocks it.
Yrkje wants to stall.
Yrkje throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov works on Yrkje's body with a couple of short punches.
Magomedov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Magomedov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Magomedov throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Magomedov.
Magomedov struggles to land a body shot inside as Yrkje controls his hands.
Yrkje stalling the fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Magomedov.
Zabit Magomedov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hand to the body from Yrkje.
Magomedov stalling against the cage.
Magomedov prevents a body shot from Yrkje.
Yrkje jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Magomedov walks away with a smile on his face. Yrkje gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Yrkje fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Magomedov moves out of range as Yrkje strikes.
Magomedov throws a hook to the side of Yrkje's head but Yrkje sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Yrkje keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Magomedov.
A clash of legs there as Yrkje blocks the low kick.
Yrkje throws a push kick but Magomedov slaps the foot to one side.
Yrkje looks to land a left hand but Magomedov moved out of range nicely.
Magomedov takes one to the side of the head.
Good exchange - Yrkje coming out on top.
Magomedov misses with a right hand
and Yrkje counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magomedov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yrkje.
Nice defenses there by Yrkje.
Yrkje thows a left - swing and a miss!
Magomedov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Yrkje throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Yrkje fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Magomedov misses with a body shot.
Yrkje tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Magomedov was well out of range. Poor timing from Yrkje.
Magomedov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Yrkje tests Magomedov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A swing and a miss from Magomedov.
Yrkje tries a quick counter leg kick but Magomedov is wise to it.
Yrkje thuds his shin into the meat of Magomedov's side.
Magomedov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Magomedov ducks under a wild hook from Yrkje.
Yrkje looks to land a left hand but Magomedov moved out of range nicely.
Yrkje avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Yrkje connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Magomedov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Yrkje scores with a body shot.
Yrkje buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Magomedov looks to land a right hand but Yrkje moved out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Magomedov. Yrkje does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yrkje is looking for the big counter here.
Yrkje throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Magomedov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Magomedov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Yrkje lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Magomedov stuns Yrkje with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Magomedov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A big right from Yrkje misses.
Yrkje throws a leg kick but Magomedov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Magomedov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Magomedov misses with an uppercut. Yrkje saw that one coming.
Magomedov slips under a jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Yrkje.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yrkje lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut lands for Yrkje. That snapped Magomedov's head back.
Magomedov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Magomedov as he checks the leg kick.
It looked like Magomedov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yrkje takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Magomedov looks to land a left hand but Yrkje moved out of range nicely.
Magomedov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yrkje takes a swing at Magomedov's ribcage but misses.
Magomedov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yrkje moves away.
Yrkje was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Yrkje checks the leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Yrkje.
Magomedov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yrkje.
Yrkje comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Yrkje looks to throw the jab but Magomedov is out of range.
Magomedov throws a leg kick but Yrkje sees it coming and moves out of range.
Magomedov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Yrkje slips a jab from Magomedov.
The fighters circling - Yrkje throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Magomedov tried to counter with a leg kick but Yrkje avoided it.
Yrkje dips to his left and cracks Magomedov with an uppercut!
Toby Keith Yrkje is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Yrkje shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Magomedov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Magomedov throws a good cross that connects.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toby Keith Yrkje comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Yrkje 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toby Keith Yrkje!
During a confident post fight interview, Toby Keith Yrkje thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.