PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gosha Lopez (ranked 1602 p4p, 24 weight class) and Alexey Markov (ranked 4030 p4p, 84 weight class). Lopez comes to the cage accompanied by Sho Z-pod duba. Gosha Lopez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alexey Markov's chin.

Lopez
vs
Markov

165 cm
25
135 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

188 cm
26
223 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

RESISTANCE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gosha Lopez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Markov!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Markov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Markov controls Lopez momentarily but Lopez frees himself.
Markov wants to sweep but no luck.
Lopez trying to control but Markov is working from the bottom.
Markov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lopez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Markov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lopez is working away from the top position though.

Lopez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Markov looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markov pushes Lopez off and gets back to his feet.
Lopez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A cross from Markov lands.
Lopez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Markov gets caught napping as Lopez dives in and scores a takedown. Markov manages to retain guard.
Markov trying to keep a closed guard but Lopez is proving a slippery customer.
Lopez trying to control the position from guard on top but Markov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Markov is keeping the position for now.
Markov is trying to keep Lopez in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Markov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Markov postures up.
Markov wants to pass the guard but Lopez is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Markov throws an elbow that misses. Lopez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Markov's guard. Nice move by Lopez!

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov keeping moving, preventing Lopez from controlling successfully.
Lopez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Markov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lopez advances position into side control!
Markov is trying to get back to half guard.
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Markov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lopez's best efforts.
Markov is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lopez trying to advance position but Markov counters by regaining guard.
Lopez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Markov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lopez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lopez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Markov wants to sweep but no luck.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Markov holds on and takes a little breather.
Lopez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Markov is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lopez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Markov is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gosha Lopez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Markov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lopez.
Markov keeps the fight on the outside.
Markov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lopez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Markov is just out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Markov misses the target.
Markov loads up on a big right hand but Lopez slips the punch.
Markov lands a two punch combo.
Markov throws a jab when Lopez was well out of range.
Markov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Markov scores with a jab to the head.

Lopez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Markov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gosha Lopez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Markov wants to sweep here but Lopez controlling him for the moment.
Lopez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Markov managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Markov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lopez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Markov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lopez advances position into side control!
Markov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Lopez wants to control but Markov is keeping him busy.
Markov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lopez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Markov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Markov prevents Lopez from improving position.
Markov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Markov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Markov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lopez is just riding it out for now. Markov eventually gives up the hold.
Markov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov trying to control the action but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Markov trying to pass the guard but Lopez defending well.
Markov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lopez wants to control but Markov is keeping busy.
Lopez tries to roll over but Markov keeps him under control.
Lopez is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Markov in particular looking to stall.

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.
Markov wants to take a breather but Lopez is having none of it.
Markov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Markov is looking for a kimura but Lopez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Markov to get the leverage.
Markov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Markov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Markov swinging wildly here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez lands a head shot.
Markov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lopez.
Markov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Markov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lopez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Markov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As Markov tries to get set, Lopez tries to push him back and clinch up but Markov manages to avoid the attempt.
Markov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Markov throws a shot from downtown. Lopez moves away and avoids it.

Markov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Markov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lopez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lopez is looking for a triangle but Markov pushes his legs off easily.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Markov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Markov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lopez is trying to control the position but Markov postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lopez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Markov.
A nice leg kick lands there from Markov.
Markov throws a hook to the side of Lopez's head but Lopez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Markov misses.
Alexey Markov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lopez takes one to the chin there.
Nice defenses there by Lopez.
Markov digs a good body shot into Lopez's ribs.
Markov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lopez.
Markov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A left lands for Markov.
Left hook, right uppercut from Markov.
Lopez looks to score with a jab to the body but Markov is just out of range.
A slow jab from Markov misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov misses with a body shot.
Lopez is looking to counter punch.
Markov throws a hook but Lopez blocks it.
Lopez seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Markov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Markov shoots in and gets a takedown into Lopez's guard.
Markov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lopez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lopez, not yet.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Markov from controlling successfully.
Markov controlling from the top position.

Lopez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Markov defends it easily.
Lopez keeping moving, preventing Markov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lopez is looking for a triangle but Markov pushes his legs off easily.
Markov trying to control but Lopez is working from the bottom.
Markov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lopez wants to control the position but Markov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Lopez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lopez wants to control but Markov is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Markov wants to control but Lopez is keeping him busy.
Markov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Markov trying to control the pace.
Lopez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Markov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lopez trying to control here.
Lopez is staying active underneath Markov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lopez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Markov passes into half guard.
Markov wants to take a breather but Lopez is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexey Markov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Markov 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexey Markov!
After the big win, Alexey Markov made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Organic Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.