PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Heck Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artyom Linkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tate
vs
Linkov

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heck Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artyom Linkov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tate keeps the fight on the outside.

Linkov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Linkov stops a takedown attempt from Tate.
Linkov can't get the takedown.
Linkov tries for a takedown but Tate manages to get underhooks.
Heck Tate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artyom Linkov.
Tate prevents Linkov from breaking the clinch.
Linkov looking for a takedown.

Tate breaks from the clinch.
Tate avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tate tries to clinch up.
Tate throws a series of strikes that have Linkov backpedaling.
Tate fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linkov has closed the distance and engaged Tate in a clinch.
Tate keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Linkov's efforts to push away.
Linkov looking for a takedown.

Linkov successfully pulls guard.
Tate wants to control from the top but Linkov keeps moving.
Tate postures up.
Linkov throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Linkov is trying to keep Tate in close.
Linkov looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tate is looking to stand up but Linkov won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linkov trying to strike off his back.
Linkov wants to stand but Tate is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Tate closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Linkov did well to prevent Tate getting side control.
Linkov wants to control but Tate is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tate wants to take a breather but Linkov is having none of it.
Tate will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tate wants to stand up but Linkov is controlling the position.
Tate tries to pass to full mount but Linkov defends it.

Tate seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Linkov is just riding it out for now. Tate eventually gives up the hold.
Linkov is not content to let Tate control the position.

Tate seems to be looking for submissions.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Linkov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tate counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Linkov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linkov tries to hold on but Tate postures up.
Tate lands a big shot there that rocks Linkov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linkov tries to lock up and control but Tate gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Linkov wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tate.
Linkov is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tate shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tate showed some decent athleticism there.
Linkov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tate.
Linkov looks like he's trying to stand up.

Tate is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Linkov defends it well.
Tate throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linkov kicks off Tate and gets to his feet.

Tate bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tate wants to stand but Linkov has his arm trapped.
Tate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Linkov keeps working.
Linkov gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Tate seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linkov wants to get back to full guard.
Linkov is not content to let Tate control the position.
Tate sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Linkov defending well though.

Linkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Linkov tries to get to full guard but Tate has control of the leg.
Tate passes into side control, despite Linkov's attempt to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Tate lands a nice leg kick that just misses Linkov's sensitive parts.

Tate closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Linkov to the mat! Linkov manages to get full guard.
Linkov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Linkov tries to control but Tate wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Linkov gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Tate tries to score a power double leg takedown but Linkov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tate somewhat.
Linkov misses with a takedown attempt
and Tate connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Linkov misses with a takedown

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Linkov trying to control the position.

Tate gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heck Tate dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Linkov wants to clinch but Tate slips to the side

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Linkov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tate forces his way into half guard.
Tate keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tate trying to control the action but Linkov is working from the bottom.
Tate is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Linkov tries to buck Tate off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate controlling the position easily from mount.
Tate tries to control but Linkov wriggling away.
Tate with shots to the head and body - Linkov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Tate looking to finish Linkov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Linkov!
Tate is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Tate swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Linkov is now in Tate's guard. A big mistake from Tate there, giving up the dominant position!
Heck Tate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tate keeping moving, preventing Linkov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linkov is stalling in the full guard.
Linkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tate swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tate lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Linkov!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Tate circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tate counters with a left and a right that stings Linkov.
Some wild striking there from Tate.
Linkov misses with a takedown attempt

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Linkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tate defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Linkov has a closed guard, preventing Tate from standing up.
Tate is pushing down on Linkov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Linkov is fighting to maintain full guard but Tate has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tate wants to stand up but Linkov manages to regain full guard.

Linkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tate gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Artyom Linkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Heck Tate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Linkov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heck Tate showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tate, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heck Tate!