PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Avery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigory Gukepshev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gukepshev has chosen Iron Man as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Avery
vs
Gukepshev

198 cm
24
275 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
300 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Avery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigory Gukepshev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avery tries a low kick but Gukepshev avoids it.
Avery lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gukepshev takes a step back to recover.
Avery chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gukepshev misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Gukepshev.
Avery throws a head kick that Gukepshev semi-blocks.
Avery shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gukepshev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Avery fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gukepshev checks it well.
A jab from Gukepshev misses.
Gukepshev misses the jab.
Avery takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both fighters circling a little - Avery finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Avery lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gukepshev's sensitive parts.
Avery throws the kick towards the body but Gukepshev avoids it.
Gukepshev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Avery sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gukepshev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Avery can pounce on him.
Gukepshev throws a hook to the side of Avery's head but Avery sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gukepshev uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Avery has time to react.
We've been hearing reports that Avery has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Avery ducks under a wild hook from Gukepshev.
A slow jab from Gukepshev misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery moves out of range of the strikes.
Gukepshev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gukepshev misses with a hook.
Avery lands with a thumping leg kick.
Avery ducks under a wild hook from Gukepshev.
Avery scores with a shot to the body.
Gukepshev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Avery can pounce on him.
Avery bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gukepshev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Avery throws a nice inside leg kick.
Avery feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gukepshev's calf.
Gukepshev misses with an uppercut
and Avery counters with a low kick, right behind Gukepshev 's knee.
Gukepshev looks winded!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gukepshev throws a lazy uppercut
and Avery connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Avery takes the fight into the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Avery crunches a lovely knee into Gukepshev's ribcage.
Avery's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avery lands a body punch.
Gukepshev's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Avery stalling.
Gukepshev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Avery throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gukepshevs head.
A left hand lands to the body for Avery.
Avery works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Avery working Gukepshev over with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Avery.
Avery scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Avery lands a body punch.
Avery dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Avery digs a right hand underneath Gukepshev's ribcage. Gukepshev let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Avery throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gukepshevs head.
Avery presses Gukepshev against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Avery stalling against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Avery.
Avery lands a hook that snaps the head of Gukepshev backwards.
Avery manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gukepshev has a couple of punches blocked by Avery.
Gukepshev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Avery is trying to pull guard but Gukepshev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gukepshev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Avery misses with a punch to the body.
Avery lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Avery lands a shoulder strike.
Avery landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avery lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Avery.
Gukepshev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Avery lands a shoulder strike.
Avery is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Avery lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Avery prevents Gukepshev from breaking the clinch.
Avery lands with a right to the head.
Gukepshev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gukepshev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Avery works on Gukepshev's body with a couple of short punches.
Avery connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Grigory Gukepshev has been cut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Avery.
Avery utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Avery goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Avery.
Gukepshev misses with a punch on the inside.
A short left from Avery.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Avery lands with a short shot to the head.
Gukepshev misses with the head strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Avery.
Gukepshev is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A short right from Avery.
Come on Avery - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Avery dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Grigory Gukepshev's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Avery connects with a crisp jab.
Gukepshev misses with a left hand
and Avery counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
No joy there for Gukepshev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gukepshev might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Avery lands a right hook to the body.
Avery feints and then cracks Gukepshev's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gukepshev down.

Avery has Gukepshev up against the cage in a clinch.
Avery lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gukepshev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Avery lands a nice uppercut.
Avery throws a knee to the head but misses.
Avery tries to work over Gukepshev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Avery lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gukepshev is breathing heavily.
Avery misses with a punch to the body.
Marcus Avery has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gukepshev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Avery blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gukepshev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gukepshev throws an off balance right hand
and Avery counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Avery fakes the leg kick and cracks Gukepshev in the body.
Gukepshev throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Avery lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Avery lands with a kick to the temple. Gukepshev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avery turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Avery moves into range and connects with a jab.

Avery clinches.
Avery makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A short body shot lands from Avery as the two fighters clinch.
Nice body punch from Avery - that landed with a thud.
Avery lands a right hand.
Avery unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gukepshev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Avery lands a hook that snaps the head of Gukepshev backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Avery.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avery unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A right hand to the body from Avery.
Avery content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Avery.
Avery dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Avery tries to throw a body punch but Gukepshev avoids it by throwing Avery back against the cage.
Avery is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gukepshev can do to turn this around?
Gukepshev tries to break free but Avery pushes him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Avery.
Gukepshev tries to circle away but Avery has him pinned against the cage.
Avery tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Avery lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Avery gets through Gukepshev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gukepshev misses with a punch on the inside.
Gukepshev is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Avery connects with a knee to the head.
Avery lands with a short shot to the head.
Avery tries to work over Gukepshev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gukepshev misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery lands with a right to the head.
Avery utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Avery content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Avery gets through Gukepshev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gukepshev wants to break free but Avery has control.

Avery gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gukepshev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Avery.
Avery seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gukepshev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Avery is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Avery tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gukepshev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Avery sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gukepshev defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avery working Gukepshev over with strikes.
Avery keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Avery prevents Gukepshev from improving his position.
Avery thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gukepshev's head.
Gukepshev is staying active underneath Avery, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gukepshev trying to control from the bottom.
Avery working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Avery landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Avery wants to pass the guard but Gukepshev is defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Avery is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gukepshev wants to improve his position but Avery is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Avery dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Grigory Gukepshev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Avery misses with a low kick.
Avery scores with a jab to the body.
Gukepshev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Avery.

Avery takes the fight into the clinch.

Avery works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Avery chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Avery's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gukepshev wants to sweep but no luck.
Gukepshev is looking to stand up but Avery isn't so interested in that idea.
Avery wants to control from the top but Gukepshev keeps moving.
Avery postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gukepshev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gukepshev is looking to stand up but Avery isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gukepshev keeping moving, preventing Avery from controlling successfully.
Avery stands up over Gukepshev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Avery stopping the sweep attempt from Gukepshev.
Avery stops Gukepshev from standing up.
Avery is working Gukepshev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Avery is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Avery postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Avery wants to control from the top but Gukepshev keeps moving.
Grigory Gukepshev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gukepshev is controlling Avery's posture.
Marcus Avery overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Avery postures up in Gukepshev's guard and throws a big left but Gukepshev blocks it.
Gukepshev wants to sweep here but Avery controlling him for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avery trying to control but Gukepshev is working from the bottom.
Avery has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

We're going to have a standup here because Marcus Avery wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gukepshev throws a lazy right hand but Avery sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Grigory Gukepshev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gukepshev tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avery lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gukepshev misses with an uppercut. Avery saw that one coming.
Avery throws a head kick that half lands.
A combination from Gukepshev does no damage.
Avery lands a head kick. Gukepshev smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Avery fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gukepshev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A jab from Gukepshev misses.
Avery blocks a jab.
Marcus Avery is winning the standup battle so far.
Gukepshev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Avery.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Avery scoring well with a low kick there.
Avery lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gukepshev's sensitive parts.
Avery scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Avery lands a head shot.
Gukepshev throws the left hand but Avery avoids the punch easily.
Gukepshev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Avery - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gukepshev tries to bum rush Avery with a series of wild strikes but Avery uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gukepshev takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Avery chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gukepshev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Avery clinches.
Gukepshev throws a punch but it's blocked by Avery.
Avery is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gukepshev working aggressively here.
Avery blocks an uppercut.
Avery landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Avery misses with a hook to the ribs.
Avery throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Avery lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Avery.
A right hand to the body from Avery.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Avery lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gukepshev backwards.
Avery is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gukepshev is keeping busy.
Avery cracks Gukepshev with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Avery showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Avery 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Avery!
Post fight, Marcus Avery stared into the camera and said 'I am Back baby ,I can't be beat, I won't be beat, had a great camp, thanks to Taco and the boys, Steel and all my fans. I know everyone in the UK was watching me kick some ass. It doesn't stop here, I'm gonna be pound for pound number one, Steel and Assasi know it, I'm hung too!'.