PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Art Vandelay (ranked 7428 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Markov (ranked 5408 p4p, 0 weight class). Vandelay's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Answering Machine. Markov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Blackway & Black Caviar - What's Up Danger. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Vandelay
vs
Markov

180 cm
29
153 lbs
19 - 3 - 0

172 cm
24
158 lbs
4 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Art Vandelay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alan Markov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vandelay misses the shot to the body.
Markov misses with a straight left.
Markov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Vandelay is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Markov misses with a hook.
Vandelay throws the kick towards the body but Markov avoids it.
Markov misses with a lunging right hand
and Vandelay counters with a stiff right hand.
Markov staying out of range there.
Markov cracks Vandelay with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Markov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vandelay takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Markov scores with a jab to the head.
Vandelay lands a front kick.
Vandelay misses with an uppercut.
Markov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markov throws a big shot that misses.
Markov looks to land a left hand but Vandelay moved out of range nicely.
Vandelay misses with a body shot
and Markov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Vandelay throws a right hand that misses
and Vandelay takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Vandelay.
Markov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vandelay swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vandelay takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vandelay slips a straight right by Markov.
Vandelay swings for the body but Markov moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay misses with a wild body shot.
Markov throws a series of punches but Vandelay avoids them all with ease.
Markov moves away from the strike by Vandelay.
A slow jab from Markov misses its intended target.
Vandelay steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Markov.
A big right from Markov misses.
Vandelay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick by Vandelay misses
and Markov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vandelay thinking.
Markov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Markov throws a hook to the side of Vandelay's head but Vandelay sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Markov.
Vandelay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov throws a body shot but no joy.
Markov throws a push kick but Vandelay slaps the foot to one side.
Markov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alan Markov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Markov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Vandelay counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Vandelay.
Vandelay lands a nice looking body kick.
Markov misses with a body kick.
Vandelay throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Markov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good standup being displayed there by Vandelay as he connects with a hook.
Markov wants to land a leg kick but Vandelay is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov avoids the head kick by Vandelay.
A chopping leg kick lands by Markov.
Markov loads up on a big right hand but Vandelay slips the punch.
Markov slips under a jab.
A little jabbing left from Markov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vandelay.
Markov throws the kick towards the body but Vandelay avoids it.
Markov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vandelay's sensitive parts.
Markov checks a leg kick.
Markov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vandelay can pounce on him.
Markov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vandelay.
Markov scores with a spinning back kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alan Markov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vandelay slips under a jab.
Vandelay takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Markov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vandelay stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Markov.
Vandelay misses with a hook.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Markov! But no joy.
Markov throws a leg kick but Vandelay moved away.
Vandelay throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vandelay throws an overhand right that lands on Markov's shoulder, as Markov tries to avoid the shot.
Markov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vandelay avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vandelay throws out a loose jab but Markov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vandelay tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Markov is able to avoid easily.
Markov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vandelay momentarily.
Markov throws a body punch but Vandelay moves out of range.
Vandelay lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Markov moves out of range as Vandelay strikes.
Vandelay uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Markov.
Markov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vandelay doesn't seem bothered though.
Vandelay takes one to the side of the head.
Vandelay slips under a jab from Markov.
Vandelay lunges at Markov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Markov's hand.
Vandelay lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markov misses with a hook
and Vandelay counters with a straight right hand.
Vandelay tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vandelay tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vandelay scores with a push kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Markov lands with an overhand left.
Markov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Markov staying out of range there.
Markov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Markov throws a body punch but Vandelay moves out of range.
And Vandelay counters with a quick kick to the body but Markov blocks it.
Markov throws out a loose jab but Vandelay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vandelay is looking to counter with head kicks.
Vandelay misses with an uppercut. Markov saw that one coming.
Markov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay misses the shot to the body.
Markov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Markov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vandelay counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Markov throws a looping overhand right but Vandelay ducks down to avoid it.
A big left from Vandelay misses.
Nice shot by Markov.
A low kick from Markov is predictable there
and Vandelay counters with a thumping low kick.
Donk. Markov catches Vandelay right on the button with a cross.
A head kick misses from Markov.
And Vandelay counters with a quick kick to the body but Markov blocks it.
Markov thuds his right hand into Vandelay's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Markov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vandelay at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov misses with a straight right.
Markov throws the kick towards the body but Vandelay avoids it.
Vandelay misses with the combination.
A little jabbing left from Markov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Alan Markov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vandelay. Markov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
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!
Markov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vandelay momentarily.
Vandelay moves into range and connects with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Markov.
Markov missing with a left hand there. Vandelay was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alan Markov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Markov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vandelay is able to avoid easily.
Vandelay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slow jab from Vandelay misses its intended target.
Vandelay tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vandelay moves away from the strike by Markov.
Markov scores with a push kick.
Markov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markov throws a leg kick but Vandelay sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vandelay moves out of range of the strikes.
Vandelay was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vandelay throws a front kick that sends Markov stumbling back into the cage.
Vandelay uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Markov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vandelay throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Markov stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Vandelay follows into mount!

Markov is rocked!

It looks like Alan Markov has been cut.
Markov is looking to get to half guard.
Markov is still in real trouble! Can Vandelay finish him?
Vandelay misses with a head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vandelay controlling from mount.
Markov seems to have recovered his senses.
Markov tries to hold on but Vandelay postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vandelay controlling the position easily from mount.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Markov manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markov wants to get back to his feet.

Vandelay stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Markov to get to his feet.
Vandelay lands a front kick.
Vandelay throws a poor cross that misses
and Markov counters with a left and a right that stings Vandelay.
Markov misses with a kick to the body.
A quick step to the side and Vandelay tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vandelay.
Markov throws the left hand but Vandelay avoids the punch easily.
Markov has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Vandelay.
Markov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Vandelay misses the shot to the body.
Alan Markov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Markov swings for the body but Vandelay moves out of range.
A jab from Markov does it's job there.
Art Vandelay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markov throws a lazy right hand but Vandelay sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vandelay rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Markov counters with a thumping low kick.
Vandelay swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Markov throws out a counter right but Vandelay avoids it with no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Art Vandelay showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Markov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Markov!
During a confident post fight interview, Alan Markov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.