PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between steven gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artyom Linkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

gerrard
vs
Linkov

186 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, steven gerrard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artyom Linkov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Linkov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Linkov is keen to just control but gerrard is a slippery customer.
gerrard trying to hold on to Linkov's head to control him but Linkov postures up.
gerrard is trying to stand.
Linkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but gerrard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
It looks like Linkov is going to stand back up.
gerrard slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
gerrard has Linkov pulled in close to control his posture.
gerrard keeping moving, preventing Linkov from controlling successfully.
gerrard being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linkov trying to control the position from guard on top but gerrard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as gerrard holds on and takes a little breather.
gerrard strikes from his own guard.
gerrard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
gerrard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Linkov tries to hold on but gerrard pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
gerrard tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Linkov is looking to improve his position but gerrard isn't that keen on the idea.
gerrard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
gerrard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
gerrard landing strikes from the mount and Linkov is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linkov wants to control but gerrard is having none of it.
Linkov looks gassed!
gerrard content just to control the position here.
gerrard scoring with strikes but Linkov is staying in there.
gerrard landing shots from mount.
gerrard scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Linkov is squirming around, avoiding gerrard's attempts to control the action.
Linkov tries to hold on but gerrard pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
gerrard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
gerrard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Linkov is looking to escape.
gerrard controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linkov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steven gerrard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Linkov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

gerrard closes the distance and pushes Linkov back into the cage.
gerrard prevents a takedown attempt there.

Linkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

gerrard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
gerrard wants to pass the guard but Linkov is keeping the position.
Linkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Linkov is breathing heavily.
gerrard wants to pass the guard but Linkov is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linkov controlling gerrard's posture.
gerrard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

gerrard drops back looking for a leg! Linkov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linkov manages to kick gerrard off! gerrard jumps back into Linkov's guard.
Linkov trying to keep a closed guard but gerrard is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
gerrard tries to stand but Linkov is controlling from the bottom.
gerrard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Linkov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
gerrard tries to get to full guard but Linkov has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linkov postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for gerrard to stand up.
gerrard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Linkov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
gerrard pulls Linkov in close to prevent any damage.
Artyom Linkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
gerrard keeping full guard, as Linkov tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
gerrard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

gerrard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Linkov defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linkov wants to control from the top but gerrard keeps moving.
gerrard working a defensive guard here.
Linkov is looking to work some ground and pound but gerrard has wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Linkov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

gerrard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
gerrard content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artyom Linkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

gerrard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
gerrard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Linkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Linkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in gerrard's guard.
gerrard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Linkov trying to control but gerrard is working from the bottom.
Linkov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linkov trying to control but gerrard is working from the bottom.
gerrard tries to strike from the bottom.
Linkov tries to free his leg and advance position but gerrard is retaining full guard.
gerrard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Linkov manages to get himself to full guard.
Linkov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Linkov looking for a guillotine here but gerrard defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
gerrard is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Linkov wants to sweep here but gerrard controlling him for the moment.

Linkov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but gerrard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Linkov is trying to keep gerrard in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linkov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
gerrard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

gerrard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
gerrard slips a nice elbow through Linkov's hands, connecting with Linkov's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linkov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Still in half guard, gerrard seems content to control.
Linkov wants to control the action here but instead gerrard manages to pass to full mount!

gerrard wants to finish this one by submission but Linkov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from gerrard.
gerrard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linkov wants to hold on but gerrard pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
steven gerrard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think gerrard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... steven gerrard!