PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Sykov (ranked 988 p4p, 3568 weight class) and Darby Ellington (ranked 136 p4p, 436 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Sykov
vs
Ellington

186 cm
21
182
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
180
1 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexei Sykov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darby Ellington!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sykov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sykov lands in his opponent's guard.
Sykov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ellington wants to sweep but no luck.
Ellington has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Sykov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykov wants to control from the top but Ellington keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ellington throws a hook to the side of Sykov's head but Sykov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sykov moves into the clinch.

Sykov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ellington not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sykov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sykov looking for a guillotine here but Ellington defends easily.
Sykov is trying to control the position but Ellington postures up.
Ellington tries to free his leg and advance position but Sykov is retaining full guard.

Sykov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ellington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ellington controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykov keeping full guard, as Ellington tries to pass.
Sykov keeping moving, preventing Ellington from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ellington controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ellington throws a lazy uppercut

so Sykov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sykov looking to sit in guard and control but Ellington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sykov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ellington defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sykov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ellington slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ellington stopping the sweep attempt from Sykov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Sykov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ellington lands an overhand right.

Sykov closes the distance and clinches.
Ellington lands with a short shot to the head.
Ellington fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ellington misses with a punch to the body.
Ellington is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ellington misses with a body punch.

Sykov pulls guard effortlessly.

Sykov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ellington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ellington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sykov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ellington can do to turn this around?
Ellington trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykov trying to keep a closed guard but Ellington is proving a slippery customer.
Ellington wants to control from the top but Sykov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sykov working for a triangle but Ellington defends it easily.

Sykov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ellington passes into half guard.
Sykov tries to roll over but Ellington keeps him under control.

Sykov looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Ellington trying to pass the guard but Sykov defending well.
Sykov wants to control but Ellington is keeping busy.
Sykov gets full guard.
Sykov trying to keep a closed guard but Ellington is proving a slippery customer.

Sykov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellington 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.

Sykov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ellington has passed into half guard!
Sykov works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sykov is looking for a triangle but Ellington pushes his legs off easily.
Ellington preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.

Sykov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ellington defends well.
Ellington sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ellington misses with a hook.
Ellington throws a hook to the side of Sykov's head but Sykov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sykov takes the fight into the clinch.
Sykov blocking some punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sykov pulls Ellington into guard.

Ellington avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sykov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alexei Sykov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ellington scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Alexei Sykov has been cut.
Ellington missing with a left hand there. Sykov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Sykov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ellington's guard.
Sykov trying to control but Ellington is working from the bottom.
Ellington keeping full guard, as Sykov tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykov preventing the sweep.
Sykov pushes down on Ellington's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sykov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sykov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Sykov working for a guillotine from mount but Ellington is in no mood to give up.

Sykov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ellington manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sykov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sykov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sykov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Alexei Sykov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sykov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ellington keeps working.
Sykov controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykov is looking to take a break and control but Ellington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ellington is looking for a sweep.
Sykov trying to control the action but Ellington is working from the bottom.
Alexei Sykov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sykov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellington is not content to let Sykov control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sykov misses with the ground and pound.
Sykov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Sykov trying to control the action but Ellington is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Sykov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sykov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Sykov!
Alexei Sykov was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.