PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michel Skobrev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Skobrev
vs
Alexander

191 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michel Skobrev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcus Alexander!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skobrev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Alexander's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Skobrev stands up.
Skobrev scores with a nice right hand.
Alexander shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Skobrev counters with a single leg into guard. Alexander didn't expect that.
Skobrev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alexander swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Skobrev won't allow Alexander to sweep him here.
Alexander looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Skobrev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is looking for a sweep. Skobrev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alexander trying to control from the bottom.
Skobrev trying to advance position but Alexander counters by regaining guard.
Alexander is trying to keep Skobrev in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Skobrev throws a series of punches but Alexander moves out of range.
Alexander displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Skobrev throws out the jab.
Skobrev has his takedown stuffed

and Alexander counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alexander.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skobrev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Skobrev doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Alexander looking to pass the guard.
Alexander trying to control but Skobrev is working from the bottom.
Skobrev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Alexander is controlling him.
Alexander trying to control but Skobrev is working from the bottom.
Alexander is fighting to break Skobrev's control of his arms but Skobrev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Skobrev throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexander wants to clinch.

Alexander drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Alexander looks gassed!
Alexander wants to get up but he can't break Skobrev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Alexander being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alexander missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Skobrev keeping moving, preventing Alexander from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skobrev controlling the position.
Alexander trying to control but Skobrev is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Skobrev fails with the takedown

and Alexander counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Skobrev!
Alexander avoids the attempt from Skobrev to control.
Alexander wants to control the pace but Skobrev is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alexander thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michel Skobrev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Skobrev takes the fight into the clinch.
Skobrev tries to pull guard but Alexander won't allow it.
Alexander wants a takedown but no success here.

Skobrev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Skobrev throws a push kick but Alexander slaps the foot to one side.

Alexander drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Skobrev defending against the ground and pound.
Skobrev is trying to improve his position.
Alexander works to advance to full mount. Skobrev defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skobrev is looking to improve his position but Alexander isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander trying to control but Skobrev is having none of it.
Alexander with the ground and pound from mount.

Alexander has control of Skobrev's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Skobrev regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Skobrev tries to reverse the position but Alexander maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Skobrev is working hard here to advance position.
Alexander takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alexander misses with a head shot.
Skobrev is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Alexander tries to control but Skobrev wriggling away.
Skobrev is desperately trying to improve his position but Alexander has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alexander looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Skobrev wants to hold on but Alexander pushes him away.
Alexander trying to control but Skobrev is having none of it.
Skobrev keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Alexander looking to land elbow strikes but Skobrev uses the position to regain half guard.
Skobrev is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four 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.
Skobrev is trying to stand.
Skobrev tries to get to full guard but Alexander has control of the leg.

Skobrev looking for submissions off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Alexander doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Skobrev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Skobrev.
Alexander can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Skobrev controls the pace.
Alexander looking for a sweep. Not yet Alexander, not yet.
Alexander is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Skobrev dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alexander is defended easily by Skobrev.
Alexander shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michel Skobrev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skobrev tries to close the distance and clinch but Alexander swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Alexander shoots in for a double leg but Skobrev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Michel Skobrev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Alexander.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skobrev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alexander counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Skobrev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Skobrev controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skobrev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Skobrev is controlling the pace.
Skobrev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Skobrev is pressing down on Alexander's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alexander is holding on for now.
Alexander is trying to maintain the position but Skobrev is very close to passing his half guard.
Alexander is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skobrev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skobrev works his way into side control.
Alexander is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Alexander wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Skobrev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Alexander is looking to reverse the position.
Skobrev cracks Alexander with a big right hand but Alexander just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Skobrev in side control, throwing shots but Alexander defends.

Skobrev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Alexander misses with a takedown

and Skobrev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Alexander!

Skobrev is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Alexander has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Alexander!
Skobrev keeping moving, preventing Alexander from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michel Skobrev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Skobrev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michel Skobrev!