PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bash Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milosh Markovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Markovic is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ready for war. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Malik
vs
Markovic

178 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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, Bash Malik!
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, Milosh Markovic!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malik dives in and grabs Markovic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Markovic pushes down on Malik's head and hops out.
Malik looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Markovic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Malik.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bash Malik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Malik swivels and escapes.
Markovic looks to land a combination but Malik avoids it well.
Markovic fails to land the takedown.
Markovic scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Markovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Milosh Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik avoids a punch combination nicely.
No luck for Markovic with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markovic pushes Malik up against the cage in a clinch.
Markovic prevents the takedown attempt.

Markovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik shoots in and drives through. Markovic sprawls well.
Markovic tries for a takedown but Malik sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Markovic looks gassed!
Malik misses with a takedown attempt - Markovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Malik shoots in for a takedown but Markovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Markovic shoots in looking for a takedown. Malik tries to sprawl out of it but Markovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Malik manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik shoots for a double leg takedown but Markovic sprawls well. He's pushed Malik's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Malik shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Markovic but Markovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Markovic clinches.

Malik is fighting off a takedown attempt but Markovic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Malik to the mat. Malik regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markovic looking to sit in guard and control but Malik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Markovic trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic keeping moving, preventing Malik from controlling successfully.
Malik is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Markovic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Markovic is looking to stand up but Malik isn't so interested in that idea.

Markovic has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Malik off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Malik has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Malik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Markovic tries to avoid it but Malik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Markovic to the ground. Markovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Markovic misses with a takedown attempt

and Malik counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Malik seems content to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Markovic wants to get back to full guard.
Malik seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Markovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malik stalling.
Malik trying to control from half guard but Markovic is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Milosh Markovic will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Markovic keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Malik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Markovic circles away.

Markovic closes the distance and pushes Malik back into the cage.
Markovic is trying to pull guard but Malik has him pressed against the cage.

Markovic breaks the clinch.
Markovic shoots in and drives through. Malik sprawls well.
Markovic is breathing heavily.
Malik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Markovic circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bash Malik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Malik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik fails to land the takedown.
Malik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Malik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Markovic circles away.
Markovic misses with a body shot.

Malik gets tackled into the cage by Markovic. Markovic maintains the clinch.
Markovic is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Malik is defending well.
Malik tries to score a body lock takedown but Markovic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Markovic leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Markovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Markovic forces Malik back against the cage and clinches.

Markovic successfully pulls guard.
Malik trying to control the position from guard on top but Markovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malik looking to pass the guard.
Malik trying to control the position from guard on top but Markovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Markovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Markovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Malik's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markovic throws a big right hand that misses.
Malik keeping moving, preventing Markovic from controlling successfully.

Malik is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Markovic wants to control from the top but Malik keeps moving.
Markovic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malik. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Markovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Milosh Markovic was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Markovic gets a clinch.

Markovic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Markovic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Malik trying to control but Markovic is working from the bottom.
Markovic is trying to keep Malik in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Markovic keeping moving, preventing Malik from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milosh Markovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Malik shoots in for a double leg but Markovic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Markovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Malik sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Markovic somewhat.
Markovic dives in and grabs Malik's left leg, looking for a takedown. Malik pushes down on Markovic's head and hops out.
Markovic stuffs the takedown.
Markovic leaves Malik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bash Malik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Malik gets a double leg takedown into Markovic's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik trying to control but Markovic is working from the bottom.
Markovic wants to sweep here but Malik controlling him for the moment.

Malik gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Malik shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Markovic but Markovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Markovic throws a head kick that misses.
Markovic fails with the takedown.

Malik closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Markovic did well to prevent Malik getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Markovic is trying to stand back up but Malik is controlling him

Malik is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Markovic is refusing to be controlled, as Malik sits in half guard.
Markovic wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malik seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Markovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Markovic kicks Malik off and gets back to his feet.

Malik drives through with a takedown into Markovic's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Markovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Malik wants to control from the top but Markovic keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bash Malik just wasn't active enough.
Markovic fails to land the takedown.
Markovic stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Malik is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Markovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Markovic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Malik manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Markovic tries to clinch but Malik is having none of it.
Markovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bash Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Milosh Markovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malik misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bash Malik showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Markovic 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milosh Markovic!
Milosh Markovic looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Mess with Bushido.'.