PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pekker Cheker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mats Lindgraf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cheker
vs
Lindgraf

157 cm
25
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
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 Amsterdam, Pekker Cheker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mats Lindgraf!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lindgraf.
An elbow from Lindgraf crashes against the mat.
Lindgraf tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cheker's legs.

Lindgraf is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cheker has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cheker tries to improve position but can't.
Cheker wants to get back to his feet but Lindgraf drags him back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cheker tries to bench press Lindgraf off him but Lindgraf keeps the position.
Lindgraf is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lindgraf connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cheker some visible discomfort.
Cheker seems a little lost for a moment, as Lindgraf dominates the positioning.

Lindgraf is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cheker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Lindgraf working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Lindgraf tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cheker is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lindgraf's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cheker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two 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.
Lindgraf controlling the pace.
Lindgraf looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lindgraf sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cheker is looking to improve his position.
Lindgraf passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lindgraf thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lindgraf is looking to take a break and control but Cheker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lindgraf tries for a kimura but Cheker is defending well.
Lindgraf happy to just control the position for now.

Lindgraf is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cheker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Cheker explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Lindgraf fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cheker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Lindgraf looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cheker!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cheker gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Lindgraf dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cheker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lindgraf counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cheker is defended easily by Lindgraf.
Lindgraf feints the counter takedown.
Cheker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cheker shoots and misses

and Lindgraf counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pekker Cheker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lindgraf is trying to trip Cheker. He has hold of a leg but Cheker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Lindgraf persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lindgraf sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cheker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lindgraf stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cheker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lindgraf sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindgraf works over Cheker with some ground and pound from guard.
Cheker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lindgraf scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lindgraf has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lindgraf working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lindgraf works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lindgraf seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lindgraf wants to pass to mount but Cheker is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Lindgraf is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cheker is looking for a sweep. Lindgraf is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lindgraf sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cheker is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lindgraf scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindgraf is thwarting Cheker's attempts to control the position.
Lindgraf content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Cheker is defending against the submission attempts here by Lindgraf.
Cheker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lindgraf's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lindgraf's back!
You can see the frustration on Lindgraf's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Lindgraf looking very determined here, making life difficult for Cheker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cheker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Lindgraf's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Cheker is trying to stick to Lindgraf's back but Lindgraf is turning into Cheker. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cheker's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lindgraf.
Lindgraf looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Lindgraf stands and steps away. Cheker gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cheker tries for a takedown but Lindgraf circles away easily

and Lindgraf moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mats Lindgraf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lindgraf drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cheker keeping moving, preventing Lindgraf from controlling successfully.
Lindgraf lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lindgraf is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lindgraf is pushing down on Cheker's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cheker is fighting to maintain full guard but Lindgraf has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mats Lindgraf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lindgraf takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lindgraf wants to work for an arm triangle but Cheker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cheker wants to improve his position but Lindgraf is controlling well.
Lindgraf controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lindgraf seems to be working for a kimura but Cheker defends the submission attempt.

Lindgraf is looking for submissions but instead, Cheker has regained full guard.
Lindgraf is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lindgraf slips nicely into half guard.
Lindgraf sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cheker is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheker is looking to control Lindgraf's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cheker avoid being mounted?
Cheker wants to control but Lindgraf passes into side.

Lindgraf tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lindgraf has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Lindgraf tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cheker is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Lindgraf is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindgraf looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lindgraf fails to take his opponent's back.
Lindgraf controlling from the full mount.
Lindgraf is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Cheker is in real trouble.

Lindgraf is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cheker showing good submission defense here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mats Lindgraf comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lindgraf 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mats Lindgraf!
A very excited looking Mats Lindgraf made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.