PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Branton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yakiv Plushenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Branton's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Face the Pain by Stemm. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Branton
vs
Plushenko

194 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
222 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Branton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yakiv Plushenko!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Plushenko finds it's way through Branton's defenses.
A punch combination from Plushenko misses.
Branton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Branton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Branton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Plushenko throws out the jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Plushenko scores with a four punch combination!
Branton is looking to land body kicks.

Branton feints and as Plushenko raises his hands in defense, Branton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Plushenko keeping moving, preventing Branton from controlling successfully.
Plushenko throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Plushenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Plushenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Branton's guard.
Plushenko stopping the sweep attempt from Branton.
Branton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Plushenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branton trying to keep a closed guard but Plushenko is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branton keeping moving, preventing Plushenko from controlling successfully.
Branton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Plushenko throwing strikes from guard but Branton blocks nicely.
Branton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Plushenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Plushenko lands a couple of elbows.
Branton keeping moving, preventing Plushenko from controlling successfully.
Branton on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Branton tries to get out of the position.
Plushenko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Plushenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Plushenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branton looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plushenko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Plushenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Branton tries to clinch but Plushenko moves away
and Plushenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Branton tries to clinch but Plushenko is having none of it.
Branton closes the distance looking to clinch
and Plushenko counters with a nice uppercut.
Branton doesn't manage to clinch there - Plushenko circles away.
Billy Branton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branton moves in looking to clinch but Plushenko pushes him off.
Plushenko cracks Branton with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plushenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice body punch from Plushenko.

Plushenko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Plushenko showed some decent athleticism there.
Branton wants to improve his position but Plushenko is controlling well.
Branton is trying to maintain the position but Plushenko is very close to passing his half guard.
Plushenko prevents Branton from improving his position.
Plushenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Plushenko wants to take a breather but Branton is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plushenko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Branton!
Plushenko looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Plushenko lands a nice shot to the head.
Plushenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Plushenko connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Branton is rocked!

Plushenko looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Oh Branton is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Plushenko content just to control the position here.
Plushenko postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Branton bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Plushenko and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yakiv Plushenko!