PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esko Morko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregoric Chekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Arch Enemy - Nemesis. Esko Morko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Morko
vs
Chekov

176 cm
20
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esko Morko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gregoric Chekov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chekov scores with a body shot.
Chekov lands a glancing blow to the side of Morko's head.
Chekov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chekov throws a leg kick which misses Morko's front leg but catches the back leg as Morko tries to avoid it.
Gregoric Chekov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chekov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Morko doesn't manage to clinch there - Chekov circles away.
Morko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Morko tries to clinch up.
Chekov closes the distance but Morko moves to the side

and Morko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Morko.

Morko decides to pull guard.
Chekov stopping the sweep attempt from Morko.
Morko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chekov manages to get himself to full guard.
Morko passes Chekov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Chekov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Morko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Morko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Chekov controls Morko momentarily but Morko frees himself.
Morko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Morko wants to pass the guard but Chekov is keeping the position.
Morko trying to control but Chekov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chekov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morko is one step ahead there.

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

Chekov clinches up against the cage.
Chekov pushes off an throws an elbow but Morko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Chekov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right from Morko on the inside.
Morko managing to block the knees to the body from Chekov.
Chekov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Morko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Chekov up against the cage.
Chekov works on Morko's body with a couple of short punches.
Chekov is trying to break the clinch but Morko has him pressed against the cage.
Morko blocks the elbow strike.
Chekov wants to get back to striking at distance but Morko won't allow it.
Morko scores with a shot to the side of Chekov's head.

Morko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Chekov regains guard immediately.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Morko is one step ahead there.
Morko wants to control from the top but Chekov keeps moving.
Chekov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Morko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Morko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Chekov is working an open guard so Morko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Chekov clinches but Morko breaks the clinch

and Morko moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morko prevents Chekov from breaking the clinch.

Morko breaks from the clinch.
Gregoric Chekov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Morko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Morko throws a looping overhand right but Chekov ducks down to avoid it.
Morko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chekov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Chekov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Chekov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Morko. That did some damage!
Chekov darts in trying to clinch

and Morko counters by clinching up.
Chekov looking to throw knees to the head but Morko is blocking nicely.
Chekov is trying to maintain a safe position but Morko gets an underhook and turns Chekov into the cage.
Morko managing to block the knees to the body from Chekov.
Chekov is looking to control Morko's arms but Morko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Chekov has his back to the cage.
Morko lands a hook that snaps the head of Chekov backwards.

Morko jumps into guard, dragging Chekov to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gregoric Chekov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Morko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chekov lands with a straight right. Morko didn't see that one coming.
Chekov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Chekov stalks Morko and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Morko's face. Morko staggers backwards, shaken.
Chekov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Morko backs up against the cage.
Esko Morko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chekov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Morko. That did some damage!
Chekov looks to clinch

and Morko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Chekov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Morko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Chekov to the mat. Chekov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Chekov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Morko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Chekov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Morko is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Chekov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chekov stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chekov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Chekov scores with a jab. Morko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Chekov moves into range and clinches up with Morko.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Chekov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morko's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekov lands a left hand.
Chekov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Morko blocks an elbow strike from Chekov.
Chekov tries to stall but Morko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Chekov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Morko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chekov has him pressed against the cage.
Chekov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Morko has had enough of the clinch but Chekov keeps him there for the moment.
Morko dodges an elbow strike from Chekov.
Morko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Chekov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Chekov lands a shoulder strike.
Morko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chekov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Morko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chekov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chekov has had enough of the clinch but Morko keeps him there for the moment.
Morko avoids the elbow strike from Chekov, against the cage.
Chekov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Chekov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Morko is working for takedown but Chekov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Chekov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Chekov both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekov wants to clinch but Morko slips to the side

and Morko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Chekov's guard now.
Morko won't allow Chekov to sweep him here.
Chekov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Morko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Chekov pulls Morko in close to prevent any damage.
Morko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chekov is keeping the position for now.

Chekov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Morko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Morko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Chekov keeping moving, preventing Morko from controlling successfully.
Morko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chekov is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekov wants to sweep here but Morko controlling him for the moment.
Chekov trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Morko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Chekov but Chekov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Morko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Chekov scores with a three punch combo!
Morko walks into a jab.
Chekov lands with an overhand left.
Gregoric Chekov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Chekov tries to clinch but Morko moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekov cracks Morko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Chekov is looking to clinch but Morko is avoiding it.
A jab from Chekov does it's job there.
A good leg kick by Chekov.
Chekov tries to clinch but Morko is having none of it.

Morko forces Chekov back against the cage and clinches.
Morko lands a hook that snaps the head of Chekov backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morko.
Morko is trying to break free.

Morko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Morko is looking to clinch.
Morko fails with the takedown.
Chekov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morko tries to clinch but Chekov moves out of range.
Chekov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chekov lands a front kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregoric Chekov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Morko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Morko moves into the clinch.
Chekov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Chekov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morko's brow.
Chekov misses with an elbow over the top.
Chekov is looking to control Morko's arms but Morko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Chekov has his back to the cage.
Chekov wants to get back to striking at distance but Morko won't allow it.

Morko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Morko clinches.

Morko decides to pull guard.
Chekov wants to pass the guard but Morko is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Morko holds on and takes a little breather.
Chekov stopping the sweep attempt from Morko.
Morko is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morko keeping moving, preventing Chekov from controlling successfully.
Chekov controlling from the top position.
Chekov preventing the sweep.

Morko manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Morko closes the distance and clinches.

Chekov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Morko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Chekov to the mat. Chekov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Chekov keeping full guard, as Morko tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chekov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Morko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morko won't allow Chekov to get back to his feet.
Morko throws a big right hand that misses.
Morko postures up in Chekov's guard and throws a big left but Chekov blocks it.
Morko wants to pass the guard but Chekov is keeping the position.
Morko throws a big right hand that misses.
Chekov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Chekov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Morko walks into a straight right hand from Chekov.
Chekov scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morko tries to clinch up but Chekov circles away and keeps his distance.
Chekov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Morko tries for a takedown but Chekov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Morko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Chekov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Chekov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Chekov's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Chekov duly obliges.
Chekov cracks Morko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Morko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Morko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Chekov clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chekov throws an elbow but misses.
Chekov looking to slow down the pace here.
Chekov controlling the action here for a moment.
Chekov throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekov pushes off an throws an elbow but Morko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Morko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chekov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esko Morko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morko avoiding damage as Chekov throws knees to the body.
Chekov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Chekov misses with an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chekov throws an elbow but misses.
Morko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Morko tries to break the clinch but Chekov is controlling the position.
Morko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Chekov prevents it.
Morko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Chekov misses with an elbow strike.
Morko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Chekov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Morko prevents Chekov from breaking the clinch.
Esko Morko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morko blocks the elbow strike.
Chekov trying to stall but Morko improves his position.
Chekov misses with an elbow strike.
Chekov looking to throw knees to the head but Morko is blocking nicely.
Chekov misses with a knee to the head.
Morko jumps guard but Chekov stands there with Morko around his waist. Morko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gregoric Chekov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gregoric Chekov.
I've got Chekov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregoric Chekov!