PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yatta Yankuba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slava Tikhonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slava Tikhonov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Yankuba
vs
Tikhonov

180 cm
23
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
177 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yatta Yankuba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Slava Tikhonov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yankuba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tikhonov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tikhonov moves out of range of the body kick from Yankuba.
Tikhonov moves out of range of the body kick.
Tikhonov tries to close the distance and clinch but Yankuba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Yankuba shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Yankuba showed some decent athleticism there.

Yankuba is working for a kimura but Tikhonov is defending it quite comfortably.
Yankuba sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tikhonov defending well though.
Tikhonov tries to roll over but Yankuba keeps him under control.

Tikhonov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tikhonov is looking for a sweep. Yankuba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tikhonov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Yankuba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Yankuba's back!
Yankuba rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Yankuba is defending against the submission attempts here by Tikhonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yankuba works his way to full guard. Good work.

Tikhonov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Yankuba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tikhonov is aware though and is defending well.

Yankuba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tikhonov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Yankuba working for a triangle but Tikhonov defends it easily.
Yankuba is breathing heavily.
Yankuba working a defensive guard here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tikhonov 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yankuba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Tikhonov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tikhonov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tikhonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Yankuba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yankuba is on top in guard.
Yankuba is pushing down on Tikhonov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tikhonov is fighting to maintain full guard but Yankuba has managed to sneak the leg through.

Tikhonov actively working from the bottom here.
Tikhonov is looking for a sweep. Yankuba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Yankuba is trying to work for a kimura but Tikhonov is defending well.

Yankuba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Yankuba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tikhonov is just riding it out for now. Yankuba eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov regains full guard. Nicely done.

Tikhonov is looking for a triangle but Yankuba pushes his legs off easily.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Yankuba from controlling successfully.
Yankuba loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tikhonov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Yankuba is working to get back to half guard.
Tikhonov is landing with some decent strikes but Yankuba is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Yankuba regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yankuba wants to get back to full guard but Tikhonov has passed into side control.
Tikhonov moves to the back position.

Tikhonov looking to break Yankuba's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Yankuba remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tikhonov will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Yankuba trying to control the hands but Tikhonov breaks the grip.

Tikhonov looking for the RNC.
Yankuba can't escape the position.
Tikhonov doesn't have the hooks in and Yankuba manages to turn into his guard.
Tikhonov keeping full guard, as Yankuba tries to pass.

Tikhonov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yankuba can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yankuba postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Slava Tikhonov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tikhonov blocks a low kick nicely.
Tikhonov tries to clinch up but Yankuba circles away and keeps his distance.
Slava Tikhonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yankuba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tikhonov tries to avoid it but Yankuba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tikhonov to the ground. Tikhonov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tikhonov slaps away a takedown attempt from Yankuba, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tikhonov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tikhonov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Tikhonov misses the target.
Tikhonov throws a hook to the side of Yankuba's head but Yankuba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tikhonov stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yatta Yankuba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tikhonov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Yankuba was covering up waiting for the punch and Tikhonov finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Tikhonov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tikhonov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tikhonov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tikhonov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov throwing strikes from guard but Yankuba blocks nicely.

Yankuba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yankuba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tikhonov wants to control from the top but Yankuba keeps moving.
Slava Tikhonov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yankuba looking for a guillotine here but Tikhonov defends easily.

Tikhonov drops back looking for a leg! Yankuba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yankuba manages to kick Tikhonov off! Tikhonov jumps back into Yankuba's guard.

Tikhonov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tikhonov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Yankuba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tikhonov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Yankuba has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Tikhonov doesn't defend quickly enough and Yankuba has managed to lock this one up! Can Tikhonov escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Yankuba on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Yatta Yankuba!