PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Irhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricci Morocco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Irhin
vs
Morocco

180 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

191 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Irhin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricci Morocco!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morocco tries to land a leg kick but Irhin saw it coming and moves away.
An inside leg kick from Morocco misses.
Ricci Morocco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Irhin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Irhin instigates a clinch.
Morocco stalling in the clinch but Irhin improves position.
Morocco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Irhin's efforts to push away.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Irhin landing knees to the body.
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
Morocco blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Irhin is trying to force a seperation but Morocco has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin throws a punch but it's blocked by Morocco.
Irhin blocks a body shot from Morocco.
Irhin landing knees to the body.
Morocco can't find room to land a body shot as Irhin controls the action.
Irhin lands with a short shot to the head.

Irhin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Irhin has been working on his boxing with his coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morocco darts in and clinches Irhin up against the ropes.
Irhin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Irhin wants to break free but Morocco has control.
Irhin misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morocco.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Morocco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Irhin lands a right hand.
Irhin tries to break the clinch but Morocco is controlling the position.
Morocco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Irhin.
Irhin scores a nice knee to the body.
Irhin looking to throw knees to the head but Morocco is blocking nicely.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Irhin.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morocco lands a hook to the side of the head.
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
Irhin lands a hook that snaps the head of Morocco backwards.
Irhin tries to circle away but Morocco has him pinned against the ropes.
Irhin prevents a body shot from Morocco.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
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!
Irhin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Morocco has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Irhin seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Morocco can turn it around.
Morocco misses with some punches.
Morocco lands a right hand.
Irhin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Morocco.

Irhin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Morocco.
The crowd cheers as Irhin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Morocco doesn't seem phased though.
Morocco throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Irhin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morocco throws out the jab.
Irhin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Morocco throws the kick towards the body but Irhin avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irhin throws a sloppy head kick and Morocco moves out of range easily.
Morocco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Morocco walks into a jab.
Morocco connects with an inside leg kick.

Morocco gets tackled into the ropes by Irhin. Irhin maintains the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Irhin.
Morocco stalls.
Irhin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Irhin blocking some punches.
Irhin slows down the pace here.
Morocco avoids the elbow strike from Irhin, against the ropes.
Irhin working aggressively here.
Morocco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Irhin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morocco throws a half hearted mid kick.

Irhin gets a clinch.
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!
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
Morocco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morocco has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin stalling against the ropes.
Morocco lands a hook that snaps the head of Irhin backwards.
Morocco lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Morocco creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Morocco lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Irhin backwards.
Morocco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Irhin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Morocco throws a wild body kick that Irhin sees coming a mile off.
Morocco throws a head kick but Irhin moves out of range.
Morocco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Irhin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Donk. Morocco catches Irhin right on the button with a cross.
An inside leg kick from Morocco misses.

Irhin drives through and clinches with Morocco against the ropes.
Morocco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Irhin lands a left hand.
Morocco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Morocco - that landed with a thud.
A short right from Morocco on the inside.
Morocco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Morocco misses with a body punch.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morocco has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Morocco in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Morocco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morocco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Irhin's efforts to push away.
Irhin tries to throw a body punch but Morocco avoids it by throwing Irhin back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morocco taking a breather.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Irhin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Morocco's brow.
Morocco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Irhin blocks an uppercut.
Irhin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Irhin blocks an uppercut.
Irhin blocks an uppercut.
Irhin has a couple of punches blocked by Morocco.
Irhin prevents a body shot from Morocco.
Irhin is trying to maintain a safe position but Morocco gets an underhook and turns Irhin into the ropes.
Irhin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Morocco swings wildly with an uppercut but Irhin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Irhin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Morocco avoiding damage as Irhin throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morocco scores with a shoulder strike.
Irhin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Morocco has him pressed against the ropes.
Morocco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Irhin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Morocco lands with a light punch inside.
Irhin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Morocco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Irhin taking a breather.
Irhin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Irhin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Morocco is defending well for now.
Morocco is struggling to control the position.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Irhin.
Irhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Morocco on the inside.
Morocco leaning his opponent against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morocco wants to stall.
Morocco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morocco.
Irhin wants to get back to striking at distance but Morocco won't allow it.
Morocco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Morocco cracks Irhin with a nice body shot.
Irhin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Morocco avoids it.
Irhin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morocco is keeping busy.
Morocco tries a body shot but Irhin blocks it.
Morocco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
Irhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Morocco has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Irhin.
Irhin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Morocco misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Morocco tries a knee to the head but Irhin blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Morocco.
Morocco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morocco throws a head punch that misses.
Irhin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Morocco backwards.
Morocco looking to slow down the pace here.
Irhin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Irhin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Irhin scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
Irhin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Morocco is leaning against Irhin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricci Morocco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Irhin misses with the combination.

Morocco has managed to clinch.
Morocco prevents Irhin from breaking the clinch.
Irhin is pushing Morocco up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Morocco wants to stall.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Morocco scores with a nice short uppercut.
Irhin blocks an uppercut.
Morocco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Irhin backwards.
Morocco lands with a light punch inside.
Morocco misses with some punches.
Irhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Irhin.

Irhin breaks from the clinch.
Irhin with a nice cross.
Morocco throws a low kick, looking for Irhin's leg but Irhin calmly moves out of range.
Irhin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Morocco moves away.
Morocco swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Irhin.
Morocco lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Morocco clinches.
A short left from Morocco.
Stalling in the clinch from Morocco.
Morocco can't find room to land a body shot as Irhin controls the action.
Morocco struggles to land a body shot inside as Irhin controls his hands.
Irhin trying to stall but Morocco improves his position.
Irhin lands a shoulder strike.
Morocco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morocco lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morocco tries to work over Irhin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Morocco has a couple of punches blocked by Irhin.

Irhin breaks from the clinch.

Irhin clinches up against the ropes.
A short uppercut from Morocco.
Morocco lands with a light punch inside.
Morocco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Irhin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Irhin missing with knees to the body.
Morocco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Irhin backwards.
Irhin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Morocco.
Irhin is trying to maintain a safe position but Morocco gets an underhook and turns Irhin into the ropes.
Irhin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Morocco backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Irhin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Morocco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morocco lands a shoulder strike.
Morocco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Morocco.
Morocco misses with a punch to the body.
Morocco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice right hand lands inside from Morocco.
Irhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Irhin stalling in the clinch but Morocco improves position.
Irhin wants to stall.
Morocco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Irhin's elbow.
Morocco misses with a punch on the inside.
Irhin misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Morocco managing to block the knees to the body from Irhin.
Irhin taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irhin is trying to force a seperation but Morocco has the dominant position.
Morocco lands a shot to the body.
Irhin can't find room to land a body shot as Morocco controls the action.
Irhin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Morocco is keeping busy.
Irhin prevents a body shot from Morocco.
Irhin is trying to break the clinch but Morocco has him pressed against the ropes.
Morocco blocks the elbow strike.
Morocco misses with some punches.
Morocco is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Morocco lands with a light punch inside.
Morocco has a couple of punches blocked by Irhin.
Irhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Morocco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morocco lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricci Morocco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morocco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricci Morocco!
In defeat, Artem Irhin stepped up to the mic, saying 'Kill me... That was so stupid!'.