PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladmir Chekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Markovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Chekov
vs
Markovic

225 cm
24
245 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

205 cm
26
265 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladmir Chekov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Markovic!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markovic throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Markovic looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Markovic tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Chekov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Markovic's guard.
Our spies down at at Main Event Gym inform us that Markovic has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Chekov trying to control but Markovic is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Markovic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Chekov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chekov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Markovic's guard.
Chekov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chekov in side control lands a decent elbow.

Chekov stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chekov throws a series of punches but Markovic moves out of range.
Markovic avoids the head kick by Chekov.

Chekov clinches with his opponent.
Chekov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Markovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chekov has him pressed against the cage.
Markovic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Chekov avoids it.
The referee calls for Chekov to work.

Chekov manages to break the clinch.
Chekov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Markovic avoids it really well and circles away.
Chekov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Markovic checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markovic is looking to clinch but Chekov is avoiding it.

Chekov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Chekov gets control of Markovic's arms and successfully pulls guard. Chekov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Chekov keeping moving, preventing Markovic from controlling successfully.

Chekov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Markovic defends well.

Chekov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Markovic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Chekov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Markovic controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Chekov trying to keep a closed guard but Markovic is proving a slippery customer.
Chekov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Markovic manages to get himself to full guard.

Chekov wants to get up but he can't break Markovic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Chekov is pushing down on Markovic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Markovic is fighting to maintain full guard but Chekov has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Chekov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Chekov seems to be looking for submissions.
Markovic is staying active underneath Chekov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Chekov drops an elbow to the side of Markovic's head.
Chekov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Chekov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Markovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Chekov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chekov trying to control the action but Markovic is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladmir Chekov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A slow jab from Chekov misses its intended target.
Chekov shoots in looking for a takedown but Markovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chekov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Markovic replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Chekov blocks it well.
Markovic stuffs the takedown.
Markovic throws a head kick that misses.
Alexei Markovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chekov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Markovic with the counter takedown but Chekov avoids it easily.
Chekov shoots in looking for a takedown. Markovic tries to sprawl out of it but Chekov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Markovic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Markovic appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladmir Chekov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chekov clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chekov wants a takedown.
Markovic managing to block the knees to the body from Chekov.
Markovic is breathing heavily.
Markovic is trying to push Chekov away but Chekov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markovic manages to break the clinch.
Markovic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Chekov sprawls well. Chekov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Markovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Chekov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Markovic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Markovic keeping moving, preventing Chekov from controlling successfully.
Chekov passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chekov decides to stand up.

Chekov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Chekov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Chekov drops an elbow to the side of Markovic's head.
Chekov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekov trying to control but Markovic is having none of it.
BOOM! Chekov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Chekov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Markovic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Markovic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Chekov looking to control but Markovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Chekov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Markovic to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Markovic shrugs it off.
Vladmir Chekov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markovic is squirming around, avoiding Chekov's attempts to control the action.

Chekov stands up from mount. Strange move.
Chekov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Markovic pinned against the cage. Markovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Chekov instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladmir Chekov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Chekov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Markovic blocks a head kick by Chekov.
Chekov blocks a head kick by Markovic.
Chekov is looking to counter the offense by Markovic and move into the clinch.
Markovic throws a head kick but Chekov moves out of range.

Chekov shoots in and bounces Markovic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Chekov wants to control from the top but Markovic keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Markovic can't keep his opponent in guard - Chekov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekov is trying to control. Markovic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chekov works his way into side control.

Chekov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Chekov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Chekov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Markovic!
Chekov breaks from Markovic's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekov breaks from Markovic's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Chekov cracks Markovic with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

It looks like Alexei Markovic has been cut.
Chekov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chekov cracks Markovic with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chekov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Chekov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Markovic hang on?
Markovic is squirming around, avoiding Chekov's attempts to control the action.
Chekov is landing with some decent strikes but Markovic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekov working the ground and pound effectively.
Chekov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chekov with shots to the head and body - Markovic looks very uncomfortable down there.

Chekov has hold of Markovic's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Markovic manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Chekov wants to control the pace but Markovic is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Chekov landing strikes from the mount and Markovic is in trouble!

That has opened up Alexei Markovic's cut even more.
Chekov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Markovic is rocked!

Alexei Markovic's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Chekov looking to secure an arm triangle but Markovic defends it well.
Markovic is still in real trouble! Can Chekov finish him?

Chekov has control of Markovic's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Markovic regains control of the situation pretty easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladmir Chekov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Chekov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

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