PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Leonid Shcholkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josip Tukic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shcholkin's entrance music is King Ring. A fine choice. The key to victory for Leonid Shcholkin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shcholkin
vs
Tukic

184 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

177 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Shcholkin!
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, Josip Tukic!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shcholkin tries to land a leg kick but Tukic saw it coming and moves away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tukic, as that shot connected.
Shcholkin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tukic was well out of range. Poor timing from Shcholkin.
Shcholkin cracks a nice hook into Tukic's ribs.
Josip Tukic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tukic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Shcholkin keeps the fight on the outside.
Shcholkin throws a lazy right hand but Tukic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good exchange - Shcholkin coming out on top.
Tukic swinging wildly here.
Shcholkin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tukic.
Shcholkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big left from Tukic misses.
Tukic throws a right hand that Shcholkin ducks under and follows up with a left that Shcholkin also avoids with ease.
The fighters circle momentarily. Shcholkin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shcholkin scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shcholkin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tukic.
Shcholkin with a nice cross.
Tukic tests Shcholkin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tukic takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shcholkin scores with a nice right hand.
Shcholkin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tukic.
Shcholkin tries to work over Tukic's front leg with a kick but Tukic checks it.
Tukic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tukic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tukic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shcholkin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shcholkin throws a low kick but Tukic avoids it.
Tukic gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tukic takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tukic misses with a two punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some wild striking there from Tukic.
Tukic looks gassed!
Tukic is looking to clinch but Shcholkin is avoiding it.
Shcholkin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tukic.
Crunch! Shcholkin slams his shin into Tukic's torso.
Tukic scores with the left hand. Shcholkin knows he should have avoided that one.
Tukic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Shcholkin blocks a head kick by Tukic.
Shcholkin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tukic. Tukic circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Shcholkin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Tukic is rocked!
Tukic misses with a wild combination.
Tukic is still on wobbly legs! Can Shcholkin finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A swing and a miss from Shcholkin.
Tukic seems to have recovered his senses.
Tukic takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shcholkin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A left lands for Shcholkin.
Tukic walks into a stiff left hand from Shcholkin.
Shcholkin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Shcholkin scores with a four punch combination!
Tukic takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shcholkin catches Tukic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shcholkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shcholkin digs a good body shot into Tukic's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Shcholkin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tukic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shcholkin scores with a decent looking hook.
Shcholkin scores with the left hand. Tukic knows he should have avoided that one.
Shcholkin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shcholkin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tukic takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shcholkin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tukic counters with a three punch combo that has Shcholkin backing up. Shcholkin nods at Tukic to acknowledge the strikes.
Shcholkin cracks Tukic with an open hand slap.
Shcholkin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sloppy strikes from Tukic. Those never looked like landing.
Shcholkin throws a head kick but Tukic moves out of range.
Tukic throws a nice looking combination but Shcholkin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Shcholkin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shcholkin throws a head kick but Tukic moves out of range.
Shcholkin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tukic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tukic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Shcholkin slips a jab and a cross from Tukic.
Tukic throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shcholkin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shcholkin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tukic misses with the combination.
Tukic tries a head kick but it misses.
Tukic misses with a double jab
and Shcholkin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Shcholkin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tukic's head.
Leonid Shcholkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Shcholkin lands a nice hook to Tukic's body. Tukic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Shcholkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tukic looks to land a combination but Shcholkin avoids it well.
Tukic is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shcholkin lands a nice hook to Tukic's body. Tukic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Shcholkin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tukic.
A head kick misses from Shcholkin.
A jab from Shcholkin finds it's way through Tukic's defenses.
Shcholkin lands a jab to Tukic's midsection.
Shcholkin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Tukic's hands.
Tukic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tukic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Shcholkin misses with a wild combination.
Shcholkin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Tukic.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Tukic in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin digs a good hook to Tukic's body.
Tukic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tukic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Decent striking displayed by Shcholkin there.
Shcholkin throws a quick inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tukic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shcholkin scores with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Tukic.
Tukic drops his hands momentarily and Shcholkin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shcholkin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tukic misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tukic's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Shcholkin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tukic scrambles back to his feet.
Tukic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shcholkin counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shcholkin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tukic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tukic throws a nice looking combination but Shcholkin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Josip Tukic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tukic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shcholkin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shcholkin with a nice cross.
A head kick misses from Shcholkin.
Tukic tries to move into range but Shcholkin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tukic misses with a double jab
enabling Shcholkin to counter with a crisp jab.
Shcholkin avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tukic walks into a left hand.
Tukic misses with a combination
and Shcholkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Tukic might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Shcholkin has got the better of the exchanges.
Shcholkin connects with a body shot that sends Tukic's belly button to the back.
Tukic takes a jab right on the kisser.
A combination from Tukic does no damage.
Tukic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tukic throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shcholkin counters with a nice body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shcholkin throws a one two combo.
Tukic tries to bum rush Shcholkin with a series of wild strikes but Shcholkin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shcholkin throws a right hand that Tukic ducks under and follows up with a left that Tukic also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Shcholkin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tukic misses with a wild combination.
Shcholkin misses with a low kick.
Tukic displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tukic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tukic throws a right and a left that Shcholkin avoids nicely.
Tukic misses with a wild combination.
Tukic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shcholkin circles away quickly and effectively.
Shcholkin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A punch lands to the side of Tukic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Shcholkin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tukic blocks a head kick by Shcholkin.
Shcholkin throws a series of punches but Tukic avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tukic misses with the combination.
Shcholkin lands an overhand right.
Tukic on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shcholkin jabs Tukic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tukic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tukic tries to move into range but Shcholkin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Shcholkin lands an overhand right.
Tukic takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Tukic tries to clinch there but Shcholkin circles away.
Good work by Tukic as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tukic is looking to clinch but Shcholkin is avoiding it.
Tukic misses with a combination
enabling Shcholkin to counter with a crisp jab.
Shcholkin's corner calls for a 1-2. Shcholkin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Shcholkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shcholkin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tukics jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A slapping leg kick lands for Shcholkin.
Nice jab there from Shcholkin.
Tukic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shcholkin. Shcholkin obviously looking to wear him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tukic shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shcholkin eats them both and turns towards Tukic to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Shcholkin lands a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin lands with a nice body punch.
Shcholkin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Tukic gets a clinch.

Tukic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tukic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Shcholkin digs a good hook to Tukic's body.
Shcholkin scores with a head kick.
Shcholkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tukic.
Shcholkin throws a head kick but Tukic moves out of range.
Tukic throws a one two combo.
Tukic avoids the head kick by Shcholkin.
Shcholkin slips a jab and a cross from Tukic.
Tukic steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shcholkin. That one must have hurt.
A punch combination from Tukic misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shcholkin fails to land with a series of punches.
Tukic tries to bum rush Shcholkin with a series of wild strikes but Shcholkin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shcholkin jabs Tukic to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tukic doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tukic misses with a wild combination.
Shcholkin lands a leg kick that knocks Tukic off balance momentarily.
Tukic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shcholkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shcholkin thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tukic instigates a clinch.
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!
Tukic is trying to break free.
Josip Tukic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leonid Shcholkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Shcholkin breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonid Shcholkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shcholkin, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonid Shcholkin!