PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Artem Markov (ranked 4456 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Stronghold (ranked 6799 p4p, 0 weight class). Markov comes to the cage accompanied by Jay Bling - Aye. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Markov
vs
Stronghold

172 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Artem Markov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Stronghold!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Markov.
Markov fakes the leg kick and cracks Stronghold in the body.
Markov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Stronghold under the eye.
Stronghold moves away from the strike by Markov.
Stronghold moves to clinch but Markov breaks away
enabling Markov to counter with a crisp jab.
Markov scores with a nice head shot.
Stronghold wants to clinch up but Markov keeps it at a distance.
Stronghold tries to clinch but Markov moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stronghold chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Markov can pounce on him.

Stronghold gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Markov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Markov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stronghold's efforts to push away.
Stronghold taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Stronghold presses Markov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stronghold gets through Markov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stronghold wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Markov has him pressed against the cage.
Stronghold lands a left hand that snaps the head of Markov backwards.
Markov working aggressively here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Markov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stronghold wants to get back to striking at distance but Markov won't allow it.
Markov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stronghold backwards.
Stronghold misses with some punches.
Stronghold lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stronghold lands with a right to the head.
Stronghold scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stronghold is trying to break the clinch but Markov is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold tries to throw a body punch but Markov avoids it by throwing Stronghold back against the cage.
Stronghold wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Markov.
Stronghold is trying to break free.
Markov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stronghold is trying to force a seperation but Markov has the dominant position.
Markov tries to throw a body punch but Stronghold avoids it by throwing Markov back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Markov fails to land.
Markov misses with the head strike.
Stronghold lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Markov or not.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Come on Stronghold - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stronghold blocks an uppercut.
I was talking to Markov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Markov takes a shot to the head.
Stronghold lands a hook that snaps the head of Markov backwards.

Markov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Markov connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stronghold gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Markov lands a body shot.
A frustrated look appears on Stronghold's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stronghold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Markov stalling the fight.
Stronghold tries to break free but Markov pushes him back against the cage.

Markov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Stronghold has closed the distance and engaged Markov in a clinch.
Markov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Markov wants to get back to striking at distance but Stronghold won't allow it.
Markov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stronghold backwards.

Markov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Stronghold darts in and clinches Markov up against the cage.
Markov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stronghold backwards.
Stronghold lands a hook to the side of the head.
Markov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Markov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Markov lands with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Markov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Markov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A chopping leg kick lands by Markov.
Artem Markov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Markov stuns Stronghold with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stronghold wants to clinch.
Markov delivers a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Markov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Markov pushes Stronghold away with a front kick.
Markov explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Stronghold clinches.
Markov throws a punch but it's blocked by Stronghold.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Markov.
Markov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stronghold throws a head punch that misses.
Stronghold presses Markov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Markov has a couple of punches blocked by Stronghold.
Markov misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stronghold wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Markov has him pressed against the cage.
Stronghold scores with a shot to the side of Markov's head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Stronghold lands with a left to the head.
Stronghold lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stronghold is trying to break the clinch but Markov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stronghold working hard to break the clinch.
Stronghold is trying to break the clinch but Markov has him pressed against the cage.
Stronghold lands with a short shot to the head.
Markov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Markov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stronghold can do to turn this around?
Markov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Good body shot from Stronghold.
Markov scores with a shoulder strike.
Markov swings wildly with an uppercut but Stronghold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Markov trying to stall but Stronghold improves his position.
Markov lands a right hand.

Markov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stronghold fails with an attempt to clinch.
Markov scores with a jab.
A head kick misses from Markov.
Sloppy strikes from Markov. Those never looked like landing.
Markov sets himself, and Stronghold steps forward looking for the clinch! Markov avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Markov does no damage.
Markov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Stronghold holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Stronghold tries to break free but Markov pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stronghold scores with a hook to the body.
Stronghold prevents a body shot from Markov.
Stronghold takes a shot to the head.
Stronghold misses with a body punch.
Markov keeps control of Stronghold as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Markov breaks the clinch.
Stronghold is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov thuds his shin into the meat of Stronghold's side.
Markov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stronghold takes one on the button.
Markov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Artem Markov is winning the standup battle so far.
Markov connects with a jab.
Stronghold is looking to clinch.
Markov lands a lovely overhand right.
Stronghold tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Markov counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Markov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Markov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stronghold connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Markov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Stronghold is rocked!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Markov - that will leave a mark!
Stronghold on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Markov.
Stronghold wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Markov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Markov throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Stronghold on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Markov with a nice cross.
Stronghold tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Markov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stronghold tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Markov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stronghold has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Markov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Markov.
Stronghold closes the distance looking to clinch
and Markov counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stronghold slips a jab and a cross from Markov.
Stronghold wants to clinch but Markov slips to the side
enabling Markov to counter with a crisp jab.
Markov throws a head kick that half lands.
Stronghold is still on wobbly legs! Can Markov finish him?
Markov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Stronghold stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Markov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Stronghold seems to have recovered his senses.
Markov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Stronghold under the eye.
Markov scores with a push kick.
Markov lands a front kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold misses with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Markov throws a right and a left that Stronghold avoids nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markov lands a jab to Stronghold's midsection.
A shot to the liver by Markov. Beautiful body shot.
Markov tests Stronghold's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A solid body kick from Markov.
Stronghold takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stronghold on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stronghold moves to clinch but Markov breaks away
and Stronghold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A left lands for Markov.
Markov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Markov clobbers Stronghold with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Markov cracks Stronghold with an open hand slap.
Stronghold gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Markov gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Artem Markov!
Artem Markov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.