PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Sweat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kela Molotok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Mike Sweat has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Sweat
vs
Kela Molotok

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Mike Sweat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kela Molotok!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sweat tries to clinch but Molotok moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Molotok or perhaps it was just good defense by Sweat, which made it look bad.
Molotok throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sweat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sweat or perhaps it was just good defense by Molotok, which made it look bad.
Molotok leaves Sweat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Molotok gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweat tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Molotok smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sweat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sweat misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Molotok tries to counter with a clinch but Sweat shakes him off and moves away.
A punch combination from Sweat misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweat misses with a takedown attempt - Molotok sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Molotok is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sweat has his takedown stuffed
and Molotok counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sweat shoots and misses
enabling Molotok to counter with a crisp jab.

Molotok has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sweat tries to circle away but Molotok has him pinned against the cage.
Molotok is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Molotok keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sweat's efforts to push away.
A left hand lands to the body for Sweat.
Molotok tries to score a body lock takedown but Sweat shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sweat tries to pull guard but Molotok holds him up against the cage and eventually Sweat drops back down to his feet.

Molotok breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotok throws a nice looking combination but Sweat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Molotok tries for a takedown but Sweat sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Molotok throws a sloppy head kick and Sweat moves out of range easily.
Molotok looks winded!
Sweat changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Molotok tries to avoid it but Sweat manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Molotok to the ground. Molotok escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Molotok lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sweat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sweat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Molotok avoids it really well and circles away.
Sweat misses with a takedown attempt
and Molotok counters with a series of strikes. Sweat will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sweat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Molotok sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sweat somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Molotok tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sweat defends well and Molotok ends up having to push Sweat into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sweat fails with the takedown

and Molotok counters by moving into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sweat's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've been informed that Molotok has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Molotok trying to land knees to the body.
Molotok is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sweat pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sweat tries to circle away but Molotok has him pinned against the cage.
Molotok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sweat trying to stall but Molotok improves his position.
Sweat has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Molotok avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sweat trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotok fails to pull guard.
Sweat is trying to pull guard but Molotok turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sweat is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Molotok is keeping busy.
Sweat has Molotok pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Molotok manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sweat gets underhooks to prevent Molotok's takedown attempt.
Sweat jumps guard but Molotok turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sweat tries to break free but Molotok pushes him back against the cage.
Sweat tries to break the clinch but Molotok is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Molotok is working for takedown but Sweat is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sweat tries to circle away but Molotok has him pinned against the cage.
Sweat can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kela Molotok dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sweat fails with the takedown

and Molotok counters by moving into the clinch.
Sweat tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sweat has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Molotok avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sweat wants to stall.
Molotok has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Molotok breaks the clinch.
Molotok shoots for a double leg takedown but Sweat sprawls well. He's pushed Molotok's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sweat throws a right and a left that both miss.
Molotok steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sweat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweat shoots in and drives through. Molotok sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sweat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Molotok. No joy for Sweat on that attempt.
Kela Molotok seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sweat doesn't manage to clinch there - Molotok circles away.
Sweat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Molotok defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweat fails with a takedown attempt.
Molotok goes for a double leg but Sweat avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sweat continues to drive forward.
Sweat goes for a double leg but Molotok avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Molotok continues to drive forward.
Sweat misses with a double jab

and Molotok counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Molotok.
Molotok tries to pull guard but Sweat won't allow it.
Molotok is breathing heavily.
Molotok jumps guard but Sweat turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotok drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sweat cracks Molotok with a nice body shot.
Molotok tries to pull guard but Sweat holds him up against the cage and eventually Molotok drops back down to his feet.
Molotok prevents a takedown attempt there.

Molotok breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sweat shoots for a double leg takedown but Molotok sprawls well. He's pushed Sweat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sweat throws a wild body kick that Molotok sees coming a mile off.

Molotok instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweat is looking to control Molotok's arms but Molotok gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sweat has his back to the cage.
Sweat lands a right hand.

Molotok pulls guard effortlessly.
Molotok wants to sweep here but Sweat controlling him for the moment.
Sweat trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Molotok uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Molotok throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sweat's waist but Sweat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Molotok off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sweat.
Molotok uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sweat.
Sweat shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Molotok eats them both and turns towards Sweat to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweat tries to work over Molotok's front leg with a kick but Molotok checks it.
Sweat moves out of range of the body kick from Molotok.
Sweat shoots for a takedown but Molotok saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Molotok drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sweat defends it well.
Molotok stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Molotok wants it to stay on the feet.
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!
Molotok checks a leg kick nicely.
Sweat tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Molotok manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Molotok clinches up against the cage.
Kela Molotok seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sweat is trying to pull guard but Molotok has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweat is working for takedown but Molotok is calmly controlling the position for now.
Molotok keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sweat's efforts to push away.
Molotok tries for a takedown but Sweat manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kela Molotok 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! This is the final round!

Sweat wants to clinch up but Molotok keeps it at a distance.
Molotok throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Molotok looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sweat is fending him off so far but Molotok persists. Nope, Sweat circles away and we're back to standing.
Sweat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Molotok sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sweat somewhat.
Sweat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweat fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Molotok.
Molotok takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sweat fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sweat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweat tries to clinch up.
Molotok is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Sweat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Molotok wants to counter the offense by Sweat and move into the clinch position.
Molotok changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sweat tries to avoid it but Molotok manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sweat to the ground. Sweat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sweat fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sweat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Molotok is fending him off so far but Sweat persists. Nope, Molotok circles away and we're back to standing.
Molotok let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sweat moves to clinch but Molotok breaks away
and Molotok counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Molotok moves into the clinch successfully.
Sweat tries to pull guard but Molotok forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Molotok jumps guard but Sweat turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sweat has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Molotok after a bit of a struggle.
Sweat is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotok is looking to take this one to the mat.
Sweat has had enough of the clinch but Molotok keeps him there for the moment.
Sweat looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sweat gets underhooks to prevent Molotok's takedown attempt.
Sweat jumps guard but Molotok stands there with Sweat around his waist. Sweat gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Molotok as Sweat tries to tie him up.
Sweat is looking to control Molotok's arms but Molotok gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sweat has his back to the cage.

Molotok breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweat fails with the takedown.
Molotok slaps away a takedown attempt from Sweat, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sweat tries to clinch up but Molotok circles away and keeps his distance.
Sweat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Molotok shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sweat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Molotok stuffs the takedown attempt from Sweat. Sweat gets slowly back to his feet.
Sweat keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweat looks for a takedown but Molotok sprawls well.
Sweat misses with a body kick.
Molotok jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sweat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Molotok fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sweat tries to close the distance and clinch but Molotok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sweat tries to close the distance and clinch but Molotok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sweat fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mike Sweat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kela Molotok is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A combination from Sweat does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kela Molotok comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Molotok 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kela Molotok!
A relieved looking Kela Molotok thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.