PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rob Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murad Tsekunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hunter
vs
Tsekunov

172 cm
23
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rob Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Murad Tsekunov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter looks to land a combination. Tsekunov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Tsekunov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hunter on his heels. He'll look to pass Hunter's guard now, I'm sure.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tsekunov cracks Hunter with a solid left hand.

Hunter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tsekunov defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsekunov landing some decent shots from guard.
Tsekunov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Let's hope that Tsekunov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hunter looking for a guillotine here but Tsekunov defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsekunov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Tsekunov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tsekunov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tsekunov scoring with some ground and pound.
Tsekunov 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.

Hunter working for a triangle but Tsekunov defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tsekunov is stalling in the full guard.
Tsekunov with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsekunov is in close to Hunter's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tsekunov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hunter's head.

Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hunter can't keep his opponent in guard - Tsekunov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tsekunov is looking for a kimura here.
Tsekunov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hunter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hunter.

Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tsekunov passes into side control.
Tsekunov lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is not content to let Tsekunov control the position.
Tsekunov grinds an elbow into Hunter's temple.
Tsekunov working the head with strikes.
Tsekunov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hunter's legs.
Hunter is letting Tsekunov control him for a moment.

Tsekunov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tsekunov working the ground and pound.
Tsekunov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hunter keeps working.
Tsekunov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hunter tries to improve position but can't.
Tsekunov just content to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tsekunov landing strikes.

Tsekunov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hunter knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hunter is looking for a sweep.
Tsekunov working the ground and pound.
Hunter is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hunter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tsekunov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tsekunov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hunter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tsekunov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murad Tsekunov 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.

Hunter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tsekunov.

Tsekunov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
Tsekunov is pressing down on Hunter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hunter is holding on for now.

Tsekunov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hunter sees it coming and defends easily.

Hunter looking for submissions off his back.
Tsekunov trying to control the action but Hunter is working from the bottom.

Hunter actively working from the bottom here.
Hunter is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tsekunov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunter with the active half guard here but Tsekunov passes nicely into side control.
Hunter tries to bench press Tsekunov off him but Tsekunov keeps the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tsekunov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tsekunov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hunter's shoulder. That is not cool.
Tsekunov scoring with punches and elbows.
Hunter is trying to improve his position.
Tsekunov taking a breather here.
Tsekunov working the ground and pound.

Hunter is rocked!
Hunter is trying to get back to half guard.
Oh Hunter is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hunter tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Tsekunov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hunter seems to have got his legs back now.
Tsekunov drops a big elbow. That's hurt Hunter! More shots from Tsekunov and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Murad Tsekunov!