PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Makarov (ranked 758 p4p, 608 weight class) and Scott John (ranked 95 p4p, 77 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Makarov
vs
John

200 cm
24
250
6 - 2 - 0

203 cm
38
256
27 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Core Combat

Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Makarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Scott John!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makarov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Makarov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
John uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Makarov.
John feints a counter leg kick.

Makarov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Makarov is working John over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Makarov lands a couple of digs.
Makarov throws a big elbow that misses.
We've been hearing good reports from Makarov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Makarov trying to control the position from guard on top but John is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makarov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.
Makarov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Makarov throws a big right hand that misses.
Makarov distracts John with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John trying to keep a closed guard but Makarov is proving a slippery customer.
John utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makarov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
John looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Makarov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Makarov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
John slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
John looking for a sweep. Not yet John, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
John has control of Makarov's left arm, preventing Makarov from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Makarov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
John wants to control but Makarov postures up.

Makarov is trying to get an arm triangle but John is defending well.
John is trying to get back to half guard.
Makarov wants to control but John is keeping him busy.
Makarov cracks John with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Makarov.
John defending against the ground and pound.
John manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
John gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Makarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
John looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Makarov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makarov scoring with some ground and pound.
Makarov wants to control from the top but John keeps moving.
John controlling the position.

John working for a triangle but Makarov defends it easily.
John keeping moving, preventing Makarov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makarov working some strikes from top position.
Makarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Makarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Makarov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
John has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
John keeping moving, preventing Makarov from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makarov looking to sit in guard and control but John gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Makarov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

John lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Makarov lands with a nice body kick.
John steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Makarov.
John swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Makarov tries to score a power double leg takedown but John sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Makarov somewhat.
John lands a leg kick that knocks Makarov off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John swings for the body but Makarov moves out of range.
A lazy left from Makarov finds it's target.
Makarov throws a push kick but John slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John throws a leg kick but Makarov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Scott John is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
John throws a hook but Makarov avoids it easily.

Makarov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Makarov lands in his opponent's guard.
Makarov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
John pulls Makarov in close to prevent any damage.
Makarov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
John is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Makarov moves into full guard.
John wants to get up but he can't break Makarov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John stands up and waves to Makarov to follow him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Makarov. That's going to slow John down.
Makarov fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Makarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
John takes a swing at Makarov's ribcage but misses.
A jab from Makarov misses.
John swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Makarov throws a leg kick but John moved away.
Makarov looks to land a left hand but John moved out of range nicely.
John slips a straight right by Makarov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makarov avoids the body shot from John.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and John counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Makarov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
John swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Horrible takedown attempt by Makarov or perhaps it was just good defense by John, which made it look bad.
John feints a counter leg kick.
Makarov has his takedown stuffed
and John cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Makarov throws a chopping leg kick but John manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
John cracks Makarov with an open hand slap.
Makarov throws the left hand but John avoids the punch easily.
John takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
John scores with a leg kick.
John scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Makarov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. John was covering up waiting for the punch and Makarov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now John is on top in guard.

Makarov looking for a sweep. Not yet Makarov, not yet.
John trying to control but Makarov is working from the bottom.
John is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Makarov looking for a guillotine here but John defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott John showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Makarov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and John counters with an inside leg kick.
Makarov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has John pinned against the cage. John gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
John is looking for the big counter here.
Makarov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Makarov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and John counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarov scores with a punch to the head.
Makarov swings widly with a right hand
letting John counter with a right hand.
Makarov throws a leg kick that is checked
and John counters with a straight right hand.
Makarov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarov thows a left - swing and a miss!
John throws a jab but it's blocked by Makarov.
Nice uppercut there from John.
John lands a nice looking kick to the body. Makarov takes a step back to recover.
John scores with a jab to the head.
Scott John seems to be getting the better of the standup.
John lands with a good body shot.
Makarov misses with a low kick.
John chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Makarov is looking to chop away at John's legs.
Makarov swings away with a body shot that misses
and John counters with a good low kick that Makarov was not able to check.
Makarov has a takedown stuffed.
John was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Makarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makarov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and John counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sergey Makarov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice cross by John.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
John throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
John is looking to clinch.
John scores with a hook.
John keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Makarov.
John moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A big right from Makarov misses.
Makarov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and John counters with a nice body shot.
A shot to the liver by John. Beautiful body shot.
John misses with a low kick.
Makarov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John avoids a punch combination nicely.
Makarov misses with an uppercut
letting John counter with a right hand.
Makarov misses with a right hand
and John counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Makarov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Makarov throws a body kick that misses
and John counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Makarov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
John throws a hook but Makarov avoids it easily.
John has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
John uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Makarov.
John misses with a straight right.
Makarov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A nice side step and John releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
John lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Makarov at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makarov misses with a straight right.
Nice straight punches there by John. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of John.
John walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his 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!
John feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Makarovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
John is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
John lands with a nice body punch.
Makarov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by John.
John misses the shot to the body.
Makarov misses with a double jab
enabling John to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think John has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott John!
A very excited looking Scott John made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.