PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Friedrich Siedenkranz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Morko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Siedenkranz's entrance music is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRxHHZEqwpw. A fine choice. Morko has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Esko Morko will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Siedenkranz
vs
Morko

194 cm
21
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Friedrich Siedenkranz!
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, Esko Morko!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Siedenkranz decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Morko looks gassed!
Siedenkranz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Siedenkranz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Siedenkranz landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Siedenkranz is nestled in close to Morko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Siedenkranz seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Siedenkranz drops an elbow to the side of Morko's head.
Siedenkranz not doing much here.
Siedenkranz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Siedenkranz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siedenkranz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Siedenkranz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Siedenkranz decides to stand and escape the position.
Siedenkranz tries to clinch but Morko is having none of it.
Morko throws a nice looking combination but Siedenkranz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Siedenkranz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Siedenkranz advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siedenkranz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Morko tries to roll over but Siedenkranz keeps him under control.
Morko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Siedenkranz.
Morko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Morko is staying active underneath Siedenkranz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Siedenkranz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Siedenkranz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Morko for as long as he can get away with.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Siedenkranz drops an elbow to the side of Morko's head.
Morko is staying active underneath Siedenkranz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Siedenkranz decides to return to a standing position.
Morko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Morko with a poor takedown

and Siedenkranz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morko won't be happy with that.
Siedenkranz lands a decent elbow from side control.
Siedenkranz scoring with punches from side control.
Morko is trying to control Siedenkranz's posture but Siedenkranz avoids it.
Siedenkranz misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Siedenkranz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Morko to his feet.
Siedenkranz fails to land the takedown.
Morko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Siedenkranz counters with a shoot takedown. Morko fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Siedenkranz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Morko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Morko is working an open guard so Siedenkranz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Morko blocks a head kick by Siedenkranz.
Morko scores with a jab to the body.
Morko tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Siedenkranz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Siedenkranz manages to get himself to full guard.
Siedenkranz lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Morko!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friedrich Siedenkranz dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Morko fails with the takedown

so Siedenkranz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Siedenkranz looking to pass the guard.

Morko working for a triangle but Siedenkranz defends it easily.
Morko wants to stand but Siedenkranz is controlling the position.
Siedenkranz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Morko's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Siedenkranz wants to control from the top but Morko keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siedenkranz won't allow Morko to sweep him here.
Siedenkranz postures up and lands a big shot to Morko's brow.
Morko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Friedrich Siedenkranz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Siedenkranz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Siedenkranz postures up.
Siedenkranz throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morko trying to keep a closed guard but Siedenkranz is proving a slippery customer.
Siedenkranz throws a strike but Morko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Morko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Siedenkranz is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Siedenkranz working for a triangle but Morko defends it easily.
Siedenkranz wants to sweep but no luck.
Siedenkranz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morko can do to turn this around?
Morko wants to pass the guard but Siedenkranz is keeping the position.
Siedenkranz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Siedenkranz thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morko postures up.
Siedenkranz keeping moving, preventing Morko from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Morko misses with a takedown attempt

and Siedenkranz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Morko won't be happy with that.
Morko throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Morko can't do much from the bottom here.
Siedenkranz cracks Morko with a big elbow.
Siedenkranz throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Siedenkranz lands a nice forearm strike.
Morko tries to bench press Siedenkranz off him but Siedenkranz keeps the position.
Siedenkranz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Morko keeps working.
Siedenkranz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Siedenkranz could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Morko wants to clinch

and Siedenkranz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Siedenkranz prevents Morko from improving his position.
Morko trying to hold on to Siedenkranz's head to control him but Siedenkranz postures up.
Morko is staying active underneath Siedenkranz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Siedenkranz there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Siedenkranz wants to control but Morko is keeping him busy.
Morko taking some punishment here, with Siedenkranz in his half guard.
Siedenkranz blocks the strikes from Morko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friedrich Siedenkranz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Morko with a poor takedown

and Siedenkranz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Morko's guard now.
Siedenkranz trying to control the position from guard on top but Morko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Siedenkranz stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Siedenkranz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Siedenkranz showed some decent athleticism there.
Morko tries to get to full guard but Siedenkranz has control of the leg.
Morko is refusing to be controlled, as Siedenkranz sits in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siedenkranz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Morko's head.
Siedenkranz prevents Morko from improving his position.
Morko wants to get back to his feet.
Siedenkranz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Siedenkranz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Morko with a poor takedown

and Siedenkranz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Morko's guard.
Morko trying to strike off his back.
Siedenkranz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Siedenkranz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Siedenkranz trying to control the position from guard on top but Morko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Morko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morko is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Morko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Morko had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Siedenkranz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Morko Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Siedenkranz's back instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morko wants to control but Siedenkranz is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siedenkranz manages to reverse the position and now he's in Morko's guard. Nice work there by Siedenkranz.
Siedenkranz advances position into side control!
Siedenkranz working the ground and pound.
Siedenkranz scoring with punches and elbows.
Morko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Morko wants to control but Siedenkranz postures up.
Morko stops Siedenkranz from passing to mount.

Siedenkranz tries for a kimura but Morko is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Morko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Siedenkranz is controlling him well.
Siedenkranz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Morko down.
Morko is trying to buck Siedenkranz off.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Morko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Morko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Esko Morko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Friedrich Siedenkranz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morko wants to stand up but Siedenkranz is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Friedrich Siedenkranz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Siedenkranz, 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Friedrich Siedenkranz!