PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jushin Thunder (ranked 1628 p4p, 239 weight class) and Alexey Markov (ranked 3317 p4p, 437 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thunder
vs
Markov

170 cm
22
209 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

188 cm
23
223 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jushin Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Markov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Markov misses.
Thunder throws out a loose jab but Markov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thunder uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Markov.
Thunder swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thunder misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thunder looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Thunder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Markov loads up on a big right hand but Thunder slips the punch.
Thunder is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Markov slips under a jab from Thunder.
Markov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thunder checks it well.
Thunder throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Markov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A swing and a miss from Markov.
A swing and a miss from Markov.
Markov misses with a right hand
and Thunder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Markov throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Markov.
Thunder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Markov scores with a hook to the body. Thunder takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thunder throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Thunder.
Thunder ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A quick step to the side and Thunder tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thunder catches Markov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Alexey Markov has been cut.
Thunder throws a hook but Markov avoids it easily.
Thunder throws out a loose jab but Markov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Markov misses.
Thunder slips under a jab from Markov.
Markov misses with an uppercut. Thunder saw that one coming.
Markov slips a jab and a cross from Thunder.
Markov cracks Thunder with a right hand to the side of the head.
Markov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thunder looks to land a right hand but Markov moved out of range.
Markov misses with an uppercut. Thunder saw that one coming.
Markov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thunder.
Thunder blocks a jab.
Thunder misses the shot to the body.
Markov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thunder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Markov.
Thunder misses with a body shot.
Markov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Markov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Donk. Markov catches Thunder right on the button with a cross.
Alexey Markov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markov throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Thunder to counter with a crisp jab.
Thunder takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Markov tries to bum rush Thunder with a series of wild strikes but Thunder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Markov throws a hook but Thunder avoids it easily.
Markov catches Thunder with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thunder fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Markov on the side of the head.
Thunder keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Markov throws a lazy uppercut
and Thunder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thunder fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Markov on the side of the head.
Markov throws a looping overhand right but Thunder ducks down to avoid it.
Thunder ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thunder rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Markov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A lazy left from Markov finds it's target.
Thunder comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Markov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Thunder misses.
Markov throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Thunder to counter with a crisp jab.
Decent striking displayed by Markov there.
Markov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thunder counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Markov is rocked!
Nice shot by Thunder.
Markov is still on wobbly legs! Can Thunder finish him?
A swing and a miss from Markov.
Thunder batters Markov with a massive right followed by a huge left! Markov is out on his feet looking like a zombie as Thunder lands a final crushing right hand to drop Markov to the mat with a gruesome thud! Thunder is running around like a mad man after that fight and for good reason!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Jushin Thunder!