PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fyodor Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Mareklidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steven Mareklidis is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Shlemenko
vs
Mareklidis

184 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fyodor Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steven Mareklidis!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shlemenko gets a clinch.
Mareklidis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Mareklidis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Shlemenko regains guard immediately.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shlemenko holds on and takes a little breather.
Shlemenko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mareklidis on the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mareklidis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mareklidis wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shlemenko 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.
Mareklidis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mareklidis 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.
Mareklidis wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mareklidis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mareklidis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shlemenko is looking to stand up but Mareklidis isn't so interested in that idea.
Mareklidis passes Shlemenko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Shlemenko tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Mareklidis manages to move to mount!

Mareklidis looking to secure an arm triangle but Shlemenko defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis tries to control but Shlemenko wriggling away.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mareklidis is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Shlemenko to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Shlemenko shrugs it off.
Shlemenko tries to buck Mareklidis off but Mareklidis takes his back!
Shlemenko can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Mareklidis has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shlemenko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Mareklidis looking to break Shlemenko's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Shlemenko remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mareklidis will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Mareklidis looks gassed!
Mareklidis is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Shlemenko up.
Will Mareklidis go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Mareklidis looking to hold on to the position here but Shlemenko rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mareklidis wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.
Mareklidis advances to half guard.

Mareklidis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shlemenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mareklidis.
Shlemenko is refusing to be controlled, as Mareklidis sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Mareklidis 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.

Shlemenko gets a clinch.
Shlemenko fails to pull guard.

Shlemenko pulls Mareklidis into guard.
Mareklidis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Mareklidis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mareklidis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shlemenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Mareklidis from controlling successfully.
Mareklidis content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mareklidis drops back looking for a leg! Shlemenko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shlemenko manages to kick Mareklidis off! Mareklidis jumps back into Shlemenko's guard.
Mareklidis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shlemenko trying his best to control but Mareklidis has mounted him.
Mareklidis working the ground and pound effectively.
Mareklidis controlling from the full mount.

Mareklidis looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis tries to control but Shlemenko wriggling away.
Shlemenko is bucking up trying to escape but Mareklidis cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mareklidis takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shlemenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Mareklidis has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mareklidis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shlemenko is looking to escape.
Steven Mareklidis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steven Mareklidis just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shlemenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four 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.
Shlemenko moves in looking to clinch but Mareklidis pushes him off.
Mareklidis darts in trying to clinch
enabling Shlemenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Shlemenko tries to clinch
and Mareklidis counters with a left and a right that stings Shlemenko.
Shlemenko scores with a one two! Mareklidis had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Mareklidis rushes Shlemenko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Shlemenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mareklidis wants to clinch.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mareklidis closes the distance but Shlemenko moves to the side

and Shlemenko moves into the clinch.

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

Steven Mareklidis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Mareklidis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mareklidis tries to clinch but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Shlemenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shlemenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shlemenko moves out of range of the body kick from Mareklidis.
Shlemenko feints and then cracks Mareklidis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mareklidis down.

Shlemenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mareklidis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Mareklidis jumps guard.
Mareklidis wants to sweep here but Shlemenko controlling him for the moment.

Mareklidis uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mareklidis on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mareklidis swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Shlemenko clinches up with Mareklidis and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mareklidis is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mareklidis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Shlemenko backwards.
Mareklidis lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Fyodor Shlemenko has been cut.
Shlemenko tries to stall but Mareklidis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Mareklidis gets control of Shlemenko's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mareklidis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mareklidis is on top in guard.
Shlemenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Mareklidis gets to his feet - Shlemenko follows without any prompting.
Mareklidis clinches but Shlemenko breaks the clinch

and Shlemenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Shlemenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Mareklidis drags the fight down to the ground.
Mareklidis pulls Shlemenko in to control the position.
Mareklidis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shlemenko's guard.
Mareklidis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mareklidis passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is trying to escape back to his feet but Mareklidis uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Mareklidis has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Shlemenko!

Mareklidis gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Mareklidis shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shlemenko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shlemenko is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Mareklidis dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mareklidis staying calm.

Mareklidis has an Americana. Shlemenko didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Mareklidis is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Mareklidis hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Steven Mareklidis!