PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yurij Stasyuk (ranked 3850 p4p, 3429 weight class) and Ja Maica (ranked 464 p4p, 429 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Stasyuk
vs
Maica

175 cm
20
164
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
163
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yurij Stasyuk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ja Maica!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stasyuk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Stasyuk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Maica is refusing to be controlled, as Stasyuk sits in half guard.
Maica trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stasyuk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stasyuk is looking to take a break and control but Maica is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Stasyuk is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stasyuk is trying to control. Maica wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maica is defending against the submission attempts here by Stasyuk.

Stasyuk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maica controlling the position for now.
Stasyuk is trying to control. Maica wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stasyuk is really struggling to control Maica but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Maica is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Stasyuk looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Stasyuk is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maica sees it coming and defends easily.
Maica is concentrating on defense, preventing Stasyuk from advancing position.
Maica really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stasyuk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stasyuk is trying to control the action in half guard but Maica is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stasyuk content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maica won't allow Stasyuk to pass to mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Maica thumps Stasyuk with a low kick.
Maica's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Maica duly obliges.
Stasyuk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maica swivels and escapes.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maica enables Stasyuk to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maica manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Stasyuk looking to pass the guard.
Maica is pulling down on Stasyuk's head to control his posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stasyuk wants to pass the guard but Maica is keeping the position.
Stasyuk is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maica trying to control the position here.
Stasyuk sitting in guard here, content to control.
Stasyuk preventing the sweep.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stasyuk trying to control but Maica is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stasyuk throws a body shot but no joy.
Maica is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yurij Stasyuk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Stasyuk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Stasyuk misses the jab.
Maica throws a nice outside leg kick.
Stasyuk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maica looks to land a combination. Stasyuk sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
No luck for Stasyuk with that takedown attempt.
Maica scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stasyuk dives in for a single leg takedown but Maica sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yurij Stasyuk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stasyuk has Maica pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Maica manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Maica breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stasyuk fails with the takedown
and Maica counters with a low kick, right behind Stasyuk 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stasyuk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stasyuk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maica swivels and escapes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stasyuk is defended easily by Maica.
Maica wants to counter with a clinch but Stasyuk pushes him away.
Maica has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stasyuk.
We've been informed that Maica has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Stasyuk throws a right hand that misses
and Maica counters with an outside leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Maica.
Stasyuk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maica defends well and Stasyuk ends up having to push Maica into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Maica manages to break the clinch.
Maica with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ja Maica is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stasyuk shoots for a takedown but Maica saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stasyuk misses with a takedown
and Maica counters with a left and a right that stings Stasyuk.
Yurij Stasyuk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A cross from Maica lands.

Stasyuk is rocked!
Nice uppercut there from Maica.
Oh Stasyuk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice inside leg kick there by Maica. That's going to slow Stasyuk down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Maica.
Stasyuk seems to have got his legs back now.
Maica listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Maica cracks Stasyuk with a right hand to the side of the head.
A big right followed by a crushing left from Maica knocks Stasyuk out cold! Ouch - that one's going to be featured in highlight reels for years to come!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ja Maica!
During a confident post fight interview, Ja Maica thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.