PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Alkofer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Polo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Polo acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Alkofer
vs
Polo

225 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Alkofer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polo tries to clinch but Alkofer moves out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Alkofer.
Alkofer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polo keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Polo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Polo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Polo struggling a bit here.
Alkofer prevents Polo from escaping the position.
Alkofer working the ground and pound.
Alkofer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Polo wants to control but Alkofer postures up.
Polo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Polo is trying is best to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Alkofer 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.
Polo trying to hold on to Alkofer's head to control him but Alkofer postures up.
Polo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Polo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Alkofer is working for a kimura but Polo is defending it quite comfortably.
Alkofer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Polo keeps working.
Alkofer is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.

Polo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Polo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Polo trying to control the position from guard on top but Alkofer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alkofer is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Polo drops back looking for a leg! Alkofer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Alkofer manages to kick Polo off! Polo jumps back into Alkofer's guard.
Alkofer has momentary wrist control but Polo slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Alkofer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Polo throws a big right hand that misses.

Polo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Polo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Polo throws a big right hand that misses.

Polo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Alkofer looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Alkofer looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Alkofer!

Alkofer decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Polo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Polo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Alkofer is defending against the submission attempts here by Polo.
Polo lands strikes from half guard.
Alkofer is trying to get back to full guard.
Polo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo dominated that round.
That's time! Alkofer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Polo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Polo pulls Alkofer into guard.
Polo looking for a sweep. Not yet Polo, not yet.
Polo is trying to hold Alkofer in close to prevent damage but Alkofer has managed to pass into half guard.
Polo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Polo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Alkofer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Polo looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Alkofer passes into side control.
Polo tries to bench press Alkofer off him but Alkofer keeps the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo is trying to control Alkofer's posture but Alkofer avoids it.
Polo tries to bench press Alkofer off him but Alkofer keeps the position.
Polo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Polo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Polo keeping control of the position.
Polo wants to control but Alkofer is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Polo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Polo is looking to control Alkofer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Polo avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Polo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Alkofer wants to control from the top but Polo keeps moving.
Alkofer postures up.
Polo is pulling down on Alkofer's head. It's preventing any offense from Alkofer, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Polo working Alkofer over with strikes here.
Alkofer tries to control Polo's body but Polo pushes him off. Alkofer squirms to his side and now Polo has his back!
Alkofer is covering up but some of the strikes from Polo are getting through and doing damage.
Polo gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Polo sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Alkofer taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Marco Polo!