PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Porter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yurgi Invokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Porter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Porter
vs
Invokov

171 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
113 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Porter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yurgi Invokov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Invokov. No joy for Porter on that attempt.
Porter doesn't manage to clinch there - Invokov circles away.
Invokov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Invokov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Invokov advances position into side control!
Invokov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Invokov.
Invokov controls the position from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Invokov.

Invokov decides to stand back up. Invokov steps back and let's Porter get back to his feet.

Porter closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Porter tries to score a body lock takedown but Invokov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Invokov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Porter's elbow.
Porter stalling against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Invokov is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Porter has denied him.
Porter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Invokov has him pressed against the cage.
Porter has Invokov pushed against the cage.

Porter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Invokov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Porter moves away.
Mike Porter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Porter is looking to clinch but Invokov is avoiding it.
Invokov takes a swing at Porter's ribcage but misses.
Porter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Invokov counters with a single leg into guard. Porter didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Porter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Porter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Invokov defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Invokov is looking to work some ground and pound but Porter has wrist control.
Invokov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Porter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Invokov throws a strike but Porter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Invokov is pulling down on Porter's head to control his posture.
Porter trying to control but Invokov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porter looking to sit in guard and control but Invokov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Porter keeping moving, preventing Invokov from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Invokov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Porter working for submissions but it's allowed Invokov to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Invokov slows the pace down in half guard.
Invokov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Porter throws a strike from the bottom but Invokov passes into side control!
Invokov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Invokov tries to score with some ground and pound. Porter controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Invokov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Porter can't do much from the bottom here.
Invokov is looking to take a break and control but Porter is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Porter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yurgi Invokov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Porter tries for a takedown but Invokov circles away easily

and Invokov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Porter's guard.
Invokov is looking to work some ground and pound but Porter has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Invokov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Invokov wants to control from the top but Porter keeps moving.
Invokov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Porter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Invokov.
Invokov trying to control the position from guard on top but Porter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Porter tries to clinch up.
Porter throws a hook but Invokov blocks it.
Invokov just misses with a punch to the body.
Porter misses with a takedown attempt

and Invokov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Porter!
Porter is squirming around, avoiding Invokov's attempts to control the action.
Porter holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Invokov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Porter is looking to get to half guard.
Porter tries to hold on but Invokov pushes him away.
Porter working to try and regain half guard.
Invokov thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Invokov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Invokov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Porter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Invokov.
Invokov trying to control but Porter is having none of it.
Invokov throws some wild stikes that Porter manages to avoid easily.
Porter is desperately trying to improve his position but Invokov has a good base and remains in mount.
Invokov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Invokov tries to control but Porter wriggling away.
Porter is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Invokov punching from mount but Porter doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Porter tries to hold on but Invokov postures up.
Invokov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Invokov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Porter tries to hold on but Invokov pushes him away.
Invokov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Porter because Invokov loaded up on that one.
Invokov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Porter can't escape the position.
Invokov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Invokov unloads with some shots from mount but Porter bucks and avoids them well.
Porter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Invokov throws some wild stikes that Porter manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Invokov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Invokov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Invokov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Porter blocking the ground and pound.
Invokov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Invokov punching from mount but Porter doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Porter tries to lock up and control but Invokov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Invokov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Porter is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Porter tries to lock up and control but Invokov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Invokov looking to ground and pound but Porter is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yurgi Invokov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Porter just misses with a punch to the body.
Invokov throws a hook to the side of Porter's head but Porter sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Invokov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Porter has his takedown stuffed

and Invokov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Porter won't be happy with that.
Invokov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Porter is avoiding damage well.
Invokov slows the pace down.
Invokov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Invokov trying to control the action but Porter is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Invokov crashes against the mat.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Invokov throws a strike aimed at the side of Porter's head but Porter avoids it well.
Invokov working away.

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.
Invokov misses with a wild body shot.
Invokov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Porter manages to avoid it.
Porter tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Invokov counters with a shoot takedown. Porter fights it but they end up in guard.
Invokov thows a big elbow that misses.
Porter can't keep his opponent in guard - Invokov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Invokov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Porter wants to control but Invokov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Invokov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Porter has managed to free his arm - good work.
Porter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Invokov is working away from the top position though.
Invokov tries to pass to full mount but Porter defends it.
Yurgi Invokov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Still in half guard, Invokov seems content to control.
Invokov is thwarting Porter's attempts to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Porter wants to clinch up but Invokov keeps it at a distance.
Invokov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Porter was well out of range. Poor timing from Invokov.
Invokov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Porter.
Porter with a poor takedown

and Invokov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Yurgi Invokov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Invokov prevents Porter from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Porter is trying to get back to full guard.
Invokov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Porter pushes Invokov off looking to stand but Invokov dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Well, if Invokov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Porter trying to control but Invokov postures up.
Invokov controlling the action here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Yurgi Invokov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Porter wants to clinch but Invokov slips to the side
and Invokov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Porter darts in trying to clinch

and Invokov counters with a single leg into guard. Porter didn't expect that.
Mike Porter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Porter working for a triangle but Invokov defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yurgi Invokov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Invokov 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yurgi Invokov!