PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oleg Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhony Crooket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Molotov has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. 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.

Molotov
vs
Crooket

195 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

191 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Molotov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jhony Crooket!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crooket has closed the distance and engaged Molotov in a clinch.
Crooket wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crooket avoiding damage.
Crooket pushes Molotov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Molotov is breathing heavily.
Crooket is trying to break the clinch but Molotov has him pressed against the cage.
Molotov tries to land knees in the clinch but Crooket avoids the damage to the body.
Molotov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Crooket is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Molotov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Molotov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Crooket is trying to force a seperation but Molotov has the dominant position.
Crooket working hard to break the clinch.
Crooket has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Molotov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The referee calls for Crooket to work.
Crooket has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Crooket tries to break free but Molotov pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crooket tries to break the clinch but Molotov is controlling the position.
Crooket lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Crooket stops a takedown attempt from Molotov.
Crooket has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Crooket tries to break the clinch but Molotov is controlling the position.
Molotov keeps control of Crooket as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Crooket wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Molotov is trying to break the clinch but Crooket has him pressed against the cage.
Crooket looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Crooket wants to break the clinch but can't.
Molotov prevents the takedown attempt.
Oleg Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhony Crooket.
Crooket lands a right hand that snaps the head of Molotov backwards.
Crooket works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Crooket jumps into guard, dragging Molotov to the mat.
Crooket wants to control the position but Molotov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Crooket wants to improve his position but Molotov is controlling well.
Crooket trying to control here.
Crooket is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crooket is looking to control Molotov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Crooket avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jhony Crooket was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Crooket moves into the clinch.

Crooket has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Molotov uses from the top position.

Crooket has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Molotov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Crooket.
Molotov working away.
Molotov is staying tight to Crooket's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Molotov is trying to get an arm triangle but Crooket is defending well.
Crooket is looking for a sweep.
Crooket is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Molotov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Crooket manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Jhony Crooket seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Crooket.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crooket lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Molotov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhony Crooket dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Crooket tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Crooket rushes Molotov and presses him up against the cage.
Crooket is trying to force a seperation but Molotov has the dominant position.
Molotov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Crooket is trying to drag Molotov to the mat but Molotov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Stalling in the clinch from Crooket.
Crooket missing with knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Crooket.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Molotov as Crooket tries to tie him up.

Crooket pulls guard.
Crooket not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crooket is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crooket is one step ahead there.
Crooket seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Crooket accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Molotov working for a triangle but Crooket defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crooket trying to control the position from guard on top but Molotov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crooket tries to stand but Molotov is controlling from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Crooket gets to his feet. Molotov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Crooket shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Molotov eats them both and turns towards Crooket to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Crooket moves into range and clinches up with Molotov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crooket lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Crooket is trying to break the clinch but Molotov has him pressed against the cage.
Molotov has Crooket pressed against the cage, preventing Crooket from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the fighters up against the cage, Crooket throws an elbow but misses.
Crooket tries to pull guard but Molotov holds him up against the cage and eventually Crooket drops back down to his feet.
Crooket is trying to break the clinch but Molotov has him pressed against the cage.
Crooket working hard to break the clinch.
Crooket wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Molotov has him pressed against the cage.
Molotov has Crooket pressed against the cage, preventing Crooket from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Molotov prevents Crooket from breaking the clinch.
Crooket tries to circle away but Molotov has him pinned against the cage.
Crooket lands a body shot.
Molotov has Crooket pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Crooket manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crooket wants to break the clinch but can't.

Crooket manages to pull guard.
Crooket keeping full guard, as Molotov tries to pass.

Molotov has gone for a leg lock! Crooket slips out almost immediately though and dives into Molotov's guard.
Crooket is looking to stand up but Molotov won't let him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crooket stopping the sweep attempt from Molotov.
Molotov keeping full guard, as Crooket tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhony Crooket showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Crooket wants to clinch.
Crooket fails to land the takedown.
Crooket misses with a body kick.
Crooket looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Crooket tries for a takedown but Molotov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Oleg Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhony Crooket.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Crooket.
Molotov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Crooket taking a breather here.
Molotov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Molotov tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Crooket are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Crooket decides to stand back up. Crooket steps back and let's Molotov get back to his feet.
Crooket looks to land a body kick but Molotov moved away.
Molotov slaps away a takedown attempt from Crooket, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Crooket moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crooket pulls Molotov into guard.
Crooket lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Molotov!

Crooket has hold of Molotov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Molotov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Crooket looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crooket has hold of Molotov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Molotov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Molotov is working to get back to half guard.
Crooket trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crooket controlling the position easily from mount.
Crooket tries to control but Molotov wriggling away.
Crooket throwing strikes here but Molotov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Oleg Molotov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jhony Crooket is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crooket trying to control but Molotov is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jhony Crooket comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crooket 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jhony Crooket!